Love that this is a part of Whole Foods. Food, cocktails and beer. I was only here for a brief trip and wanted to try some local brews before I flew out this afternoon. My cousin (a local) mentioned Whole Foods and I thought he was joking. But he wasn't! They have beer and wine tasting flights. I had a beer flight- 4, 4oz pours of beers $10 or less for ten bucks. They have a standard and seasonal drafts. Absolutely loved the Maui brewing imperial coconut stout and believe you me, you have not lived until you tried this. And it's only available at this location and Kailua. Creamier and higher ABV than your regular ol' coconut porter. Lots of seating, but probably can get crowded d/t the location and amount of foot traffic. Definitely an affordable place to check out some local brews and pupus. read more

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Wow, I've found a new favorite place to hang out at Kahala mall. Although it's been hot as hell these past few weeks, it's actually nice to sit outside (in the shade) and be waited on with food and drink by the Puka's staff. There's a nice little indoor seating area too. Even their logo is cute (and in my favorite color--teal!). Who knew that whole foods would be able to serve food and drinks in that little outdoor seating area in front of whole foods and Starbucks? After renovating the area, that little side shop that used to be Cinnabon so long ago has turned into a restaurant that caters to diners who wish to sit outside. Next to a parking lot. Lol it's actually not too bad. There used to be large umbrellas used to shade customers sitting outside, but they blew down apparently and were removed. The waitstaff is friendly and attentive. The first time I went, there were a few blips: my menu was printed wrong; both sides of the sheet were for food, when it should have been one side for food, one for drinks. The waiter also made a mistake with our order. In both cases, the problem was fixed immediately and courteously. The menu has changed a couple times since Puka's opened. The sushi doesn't seem to be popular. I honestly haven't tried it either, but I do like the tacos and pizzas. We tried the Greek pizza, which I liked a lot. The tacos are also good; I think the beef one is my favorite. They have nice happy hour drink specials and daily food specials like a beer and taco combo for the price of just the tacos. It's kinda like getting a free beer with your food! I will definitely be back for some great people watching while munching on tacos. :) read more

Puka's - Fish taco (opah and mango salsa) - Bars Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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We went on Taco Tuesdays. I was there with some co-workers. The place was very crowded, especially outside. And the music playing outside was quite loud, so we decided to sit inside. It was cool and much more comfortable inside. We decided to order the tacos and the cauliflower nachos. I have to say the cauliflower nachos were quite delicious. It was battered and deep fried. They were topped with guacamole, lemon, tomatoes, and jalapenos. The tacos were okay. I had the beef, pork, and fish tacos. The fish was cooked well but very bland. The tortillas were also quite hard. The pork had a pretty good flavor. The beef was dry. The servers were nice, but a little inattentive and forgetful. We had to ask numerous times for for refills of water, utensils, etc. Overall it was pretty good, but nothing special. read more

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Pukas is great if you want a quick, simple meal & even better with a beer. My first visit was about a month ago on a Sunday afternoon where drinks (beers & wines) were $1 off daily from 2-5PM (awesome). I had fish & chips & my bf had their charcuterie platter. I also has a Lindemans Framboise, one of my favorite beers (first time I've seen it on tap) & my bf had Rogue Dead Guy Ale. We were given popcorn as a snack while waiting for our food. The combo of food & beer was perfect. The fish was meaty & the batter was crispy. Fries were good. My bf loved his charcuterie platter & beer too. We had the molten chocolate skillet cookie for dessert, which I found to be dry, although it was accompanied by caramel sauce. Maybe a scoop of vanilla ice cream would have been helped. We had a quick meal before shopping at Whole Foods tonight. I chose the 3 taco for $12 option (2 fish, one pork since I wasn't in a mood for beef) & my bf had the fish & chips where you have a choice of sweet potato fries, truffle fries or regular fries where he chose the sweet potato fries. I had a beer blend of Lindemans framboise & pineapple beer (a nice recommendation from our server Amber) and my bf had a Guinness. The tacos were very good & I like the fish taco the most. I snuck some of my bf's sweet potato fries, which were very good. He liked his meal too. Our beers were refreshing. They rotate their beer taps so you'll always have a chance to try something new. Great, friendly service from our server Amber! I wish they had a few simple dessert options like Ono Pops (they feature their beverages) or a scoop of gelato or sorbet. read more

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First off, Tyson was fantastic!!! 5/5! We had another lady who came to help us, however, who was not so. 1/5, which brings me to my current 3/5 review. As you can see from my pictures, the happy hour menu states that the CHEESEburger comes with cheese. When this other server (not Tyson) took our burger order, she brought it as a plain hamburger. When I inquired about the cheese on it, she rather rudely offered to bring cheese. I kindly pointed out that the burger on the menu indicated it came with cheddar cheese. She then brought out a plastic looking slice of cheese on our burger. We also asked her for water (a simple request, I thought) and she never brought them. Tyson returned a bit later to save the day and got us more food and drinks. A great night due to him, but not so much due to this other server. I do want to add that this place has one of the best and most varietal beer menus on tap. I'm thoroughly impressed. Their happy hour is also from 3-6 with a rotating food+beer on certain days of the week. **Also, BRING CASH. They take credit for purchase but you can't tip on it. Tips are only in cash. Please bring cash to tip your servers accordingly (20%+). Thank you and be sure to come here to enjoy a beer or wine. Happy hour is $2 off draft beer and wine. $1 off cocktail. And food specials are awesome. Definitely try their cauliflower nachos. You will not be disappointed. Due to the fact they refuse to fix their tipping system, I'm going to give them 1/5. This is simply unacceptable and not fair to their servers. read more

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Junk! Long line, awful employees, specifically the one that cooks the fish tacos and fries located just behind the register. He got sassy because he had to get a box of frozen fish from the back to cook and remind ed me that "it would take 30 mins to prepare". what was I supposed to order? You ran out of everything else!! Will never come here again EVer!!! read more

What was in this spot before? Was it Cinnabon? Well anyway, Kahala Mall isn't one of those places that I go to very often unless I'm buying stuff from Whole Foods. And of course, if I'm going to Whole Foods, I might as well go next door for a beer. Right? Duh. All that said, I've never had anything to eat here before until recently when I ran into a friend who had also been shopping at Whole Foods. Since it was a Tuesday, we ordered the Taco Tuesday trio of Tacos with Pork, Fish, and Beef, and also got an order of Truffle Fries, and Cauliflower Nachos. The Taco Tuesday special, by the way, included one of three beers to choose from for $12. Bikini Blonde Lager, 12th of Never Ale, and the Obsidian Stout. We chose the Ale, and since I prefer dark beers, I ordered the Obsidian Stout separately. Out of the three tacos, I enjoyed the fish the most and pork the least. If not for the beer included with this special, I don't think it would be worth ordering again. The Cauliflower Nachos were a little greasy, but it was good when they first came out hot and crunchy. So you gotta hurry up and grind fast! The Truffle Fries are winnahz and definitely are to be ordered again. Next time you're in Kahala, come and check 'em out! read more

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What up Whaole Foods ..Chad here from NickelBack going by my Alias when I travel Tommy S or Nacho ...Have to with my Status and Stuffs . So in Hawaii for a gig and stopped by on recomendation from a Legendary surfer friend of Mine to pop in for some "Grinds " and some Cervezas FaKing Rad Spot and the Beer selection is Awesome Brobrahs !! So keep it up ... WARNING for any little kids or sensitive Eyes !!!! I'm about to go Nice Canuk on your Shitty SITUATION That Whole Foods has manifested for its Employees So WTF !!!!!! I got my check and wanted to tip ..but my new bestie TJ couldn't cause the POS (kinda ironic ) wasn't working or changed ? Look I'm from Canada and I get not tipping ..me and Ed Kenney from Town we're having this conversation just the other night BUT fuck ..let AT Least let us Choose !!!!!! These peeps pop together good food with LOVE and Great "Service on a Daily" (next song title about a moose and his Hockey playing Son) TJ said this Sucks Donkey Ballz and I said "Yeah" U should be fa King ashamed of urself whoever is in charge of this ...Fuck that So I decide to Boycott this establishment and also Blast ALL Whole Foods Social media until this is remedied ...#WhyWholeFoodSucks and it will go on BookFace And Da Tweeker and Onda interwebs in Full Bore !!! It's gonna take some time for TJ to get over this but it's Firing today so ... #WholeFoodsSuckDonkeyBallz read more

Puka's - Cerveza ..TIP not shown because you CANT TIP!!!!!!!!! - Bars Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Location - Connected to, but sort of outside of, Whole Foods. Seating inside, not sure if you can sit outside and have food delivered out there. They have some TVs inside. Service - Not bad, but I think we came in the middle of a shift change. Someone greeted us, but had someone else serve us later. Food - I had the cauliflower nachos. Never had anything like that anywhere else. Pretty interesting, and I kinda like it. Pretty much just nacho toppings on battered and fried cauliflower. Makes me feel a little healthy, probably isn't really any better. Probably wouldn't eat here again unless we were in the area and didn't have anything else to try. Not horrible, but not something I'd crave. Maybe need to try something else if we come back. read more

Share review Embed review Write an update Edit review 11/8/2019 First time here for happy hour. My friends always come here and have heard good about this place. The chicken wings and cauliflower nachos were good but the service we got was horrible!!!! Hope you never get Michael as your server. My friend ordered a glass of white wine and extra sauce for our nachos. After 25 minutes trying to get his attention, which we could not get nor would he ever look our way so I went to the bar and said, I think our server forgot our order. The bartender said he made this drink 15 minutes ago but he was not the sever but he was nice enough to bring that to the table and went back to get our sauce. So our server finally came up to us at 6:10pm after 30 mins of neglect. My friend asked if it was possible to get one round of drinks for 4 of us at Happy hour price although it was 10 mins over. We told him that we were waving him down and you never came around for 30 minutes. It was OK that he said no and we all would have understood because happy hour ends at 6pm but the way he said it to us was so sarcastic! He looked at us like are you serious!! Then he replied you all already had a 6 beer and 2 wine at happy hour price and then rolled his eye at us. I can't believe his attitude towards us. Hope you never have him as your server. read more

Puka's - Not a nice server - Bars Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

I don't get out to Kahala area very often, but I'm glad that my family and I got to try Puka's when we stopped by Whole Foods. The atmosphere is really laidback and chill. The best part of the decor has to be the beautiful honu picture by Clark Little (An amazing underwater photographer). Wait time was a little long, but to be fair we went in during prime lunch time hour so it was definitely expected. Also, I give the cooks two thumbs up for working in such a small kitchen and being able to bang out food. We decided to sit at the bar because my dad loves to try new beers. It turned out great because the bartender let us sample a bunch of different beers which helped with the wait time. I decided to get the BLT which was an awesome choice. Soft yet toasted bread, lots of crispy/thick cut bacon, fried green tomatoes, Avocado, and a nice sauce (I think it was chipotle). It was so huge that I could only eat half. Served up with french fries and paired with a glass of ACE Pineapple Cider made for a great lunch. read more

Puka's - BLT...Bacon, fried green tomatoes, Avocado, and a chipotle sauce. - Bars Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Taco Tuesdays?! Yes please! After Whole Foods discontinued their taco Tuesdays, we decided to check out their new side restaurant. First of all, I highly recommend to grab a seat inside because the outside seating can get very hot and busy. Unfortunately we weren't able to sit inside so we had a table outside. They have these blocks that you can move whether or not if you would like service or not. Though we wanted service, it took a while for someone to notice us. Service was okay but really slow. Waters were left empty after one refill. The food....... Tacos were okay but not worth the price. We also order their special burger which was really good w/ fries. The burger had a whole lot of different toppings which actually went really well. It was an okay experience but maybe next time I'll skip out on taco Tuesdays. Hopefully service will be a little faster. read more

Puka's - Bars Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Taco tuesdays here are pretty worth it. Their tacos were only $3 and were huge. The beer battered fish was seasoned nicely though it was a bit on the oily side. I love the slaw topping but it was missing something.... more. Maybe avocado? Maybe something with a kick? Not sure but I was content with how much I paid for it so it didn't bother me too much. The cauliflower nachos were almost perfect. Lightly battered smothere in sauce. read more

Great burgers/food, good beer selection, and the layout is simple with ample TVs. I usually get the Burger, Wings, Fish n Chips, and their fries are sooo good. I always sit here while I wait for my other half to finish work. Food and drink specials daily. Happy hour is mon-fri 3-6pm. read more

Puka's - Daily Specials - Bars Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

There getting slower and slower. Was nice while it lasted. I ordered a cheeseburger, and they said 15 minutes, but half an hour later it still wasn't ready. The happy hour specials went from $8 to $10 I don't think they're not really set up to cook. There's only one chef in one little corner with a stove top size grill. . read more

Hmm just woke up and feel like...a beer at 10am. Where can I go? Pukas! They open every day at 10am and are conveniently located in Whole Foods Market in Kahala Mall. What's the first thing I notice when o step inside? The Clark Little honu photograph on the wall and ceiling. It's absolutely stunning. This place is not a huge bar but quaint little nook. There's an entrance from the mall and from inside the store. The bathrooms are located in the store toward the back by the meat section. They have 24 beers on tap with local names like Kona Brewing and Lanikai Brewing. There will also be seasonal choices. They have beer flights and even gluten free beer! They also have wine ranging from the Ulupalakua red to premium wine like Duckhorn. I love that Lanikai Brewing porter and the Maui Brewing Bikini blonde! 2 completely different beers depending on my mood. They have stepped up their game and have fancier bar food. Come on, they are a part of Whole Foods. They have charcuterie! The cheeses and meats will rotate depending on availability. I wish you could choose which ones you want since I don't like all cheeses and meats. They have pupus, sushi and even vegan options. The beer salad is a must. And fries! 5 different fries- regular, Cajun, sweet potato, furikake and truffle! I tried the vegan chocolate mousse- it tastes healthy so you don't feel guilty eating dessert. They have small keiki plates too so you can shop with your kids and when they get to be a little too much to handle, you can stop here for a bite and an adult beverage to get you through the rest of your shopping. They use local ingredients when possible and the food must meet the same high standards as the food that they sell in the store. You can eat local, healthy and delicious. There's food specials and happy hour on its way towards the end of May. I'm excited about this place and how they will turn out. Don't forget tag #WFMPukas read more

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I tried Puka's today for the first time and it was fantastic. It's located at Kahala Mall next to Whole Foods where Cinnabon used to be. This place is an extension of Whole Foods and I'm sure it's owned by the same company. The take out box that they gave me to pack my leftovers had the Whole Foods logo on it. Also, if you buy food from Whole Foods, you're allowed to eat it in Puka's. The guy sitting at the other table had asked one of the servers and it was fine. The one thing that I didn't like was that the place opened at 10am but don't start serving food until 11am. I hadn't eaten anything all morning. I got there at 10:15am and sat down. The server brings the menu and informs us that they don't serve food until 11am. We weren't about to just sit there for 45 minutes, so we head to the Cookie Corner and munched on some cookies before heading back to Puka's. They should have a sign on the door informing the customers before they sit down. We ordered the wings with Korean sauce. It was good but the wings were on the smaller side. $10 for eight individual sectioned pieces. I loved my oyster po'boy. It came with pickled vegetables, so it was actually a banh mi. Oyster po' boy banh mi might sound a little weird but it works. All the ingredients worked well together. There were about five pieces of broken fried oyster in the sandwich. The oysters were really fresh. I could taste the sweetness of the oyster as I bit into it. The grilled cheese sandwich was also good. They put in a thick layer of cheddar cheese with caramelized apple in it. The sweetness of the caramelized apple offset the saltiness of the cheese. Both entrees came with fries or a side salad. The service was decent. The server was nice and asked if we needed anything. He was the only server I saw working the floor though. It took a little while to order our food and pay our tab. Since it's an extension of Whole Foods, I wonder if everything that they serve is organic. read more

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Great food, especially the pub burgers, indoor or outdoor seating. Great staff. There is even entertainment on the patio. The daily special includes free beer or wine. read more

Puka's is killer joint that I think people forget about sometimes which is only a bonus for us lucky ones that find ourselves frequenting. I come here all the time to fill growlers - they sell them in two different sizes for $10 or you can bring your own; beer prices for growler fills depends on the beer but are pretty reasonable for the quality of beers. We often come for grapefruit sculpin! That being said, I obviously love the beer choices here and stop in often for a beer or four. While it switches up, the beer menu is consistently strong and has a nice variety for any beer or non beer snob out there. The food menu isn't huge but has something for everybody: burgers, pizza, salad, sandwiches, tacos & more... even sushi! Over a few visits I've gotten to try the tacos, a spicy tuna roll & Da Big Kahuna Burger. The burger was by far my favorite but everything was yummy. Don't forget to upgrade to sweet potato fries! I side order them to go all the time, they're some of our favorite on island. The daily specials are bomb and reason alone to come here:: -Monday is Wings & a Brew for $10 -Tuesday is Taco Tuesday for $12 [3 tacos] -Wine Down Wednesday discounts -Thursday is Burger & a Brew for $10 -Friday is Fish & Chips & a Brew for $12 The burger is simple & plain with LTP but tasty as all hell, you can always pay for cheese and other goodies. The fish & chips are on my must try list. Such good prices + you get a beer! You gotta love it. You can sit inside or outside now which is nice. I really like the casual vibe in the bar area. Friendly staff and excellent service. Prices are reasonable for what you're getting. I hate sharing the goodness but you should really check out Pukas if you haven't. read more

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Got a chance to check out Puka's on our Sunday Funday! We were a little worried about seating but soon saw the great way WF decided to handle it: All of the outdoor seating is available to Puka's consumers or Kahala Mall customers. (Which is great because it makes Puka's dog-friendly also.) There is a wood sign that you can just flip over for service. Although this allows alcohol in places it would not normally be, Whole Foods is very clear with their signage. The draft brews are mostly local or west coast brews and it was refreshing to see that the prices were not too high. They also offer wine. Puka's food menu was surprisingly diverse! Justin had a burger and I had the vegan Mediterranean burger.... with feta cheese of course! You could get a side salad or fries- even with truffle oil. The service was excellent also. Currently Whole Foods has trainers in from the mainland so hopefully the quality of the service will be consistent. Working so close to Kahala, I texted my work friends right after and told them I found where our new pau hana spot would be! read more

Puka's - Kona brewing co tap takeover - Bars Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Went in at 7:20p with my toddler on 4/21/23 to order cauliflower nachos and fries and was told by the bartender that the kitchen was closed and I could only order drinks. Hours list 8pm as closing. I ordered food from somewhere else and sat outside Wholefoods to eat and watched other people get served until 7:45p. The servers walking around said I could still order when I inquired. The bartender either doesn't know what's going on or just didn't want to serve me. Needless to say, super frustrating. If you do come here make sure you arrive by 7pm. They're only open supposedly until 8pm even on busy Friday nights. read more

Whole Foods is oasis in a desert of nothingness. The waterhole makes the voyage to island of earthly delights like a warm blanket on a chilly night sleeping in the back of the VW van at the beach. Eating GMO Waikiki tourist food is stupid. The atmosphere you will love it they have big screens and sports for fans with Very trendy. Brandi knows her wines and the staff is clean, hip and they are happy to see everyone Daily specials are great idea You can order drinks at your table outside .... They have a sophisticated downbeat club vibe at night. WFM is so on top of it... Coming back for Burger and beer $10 specials this is social gathering spot with no poison in the food, IPA on tap. good looking people who live Hawaiian lifestyle ... It is a place to meet friends, meet new people and share memories on the road of life. read more

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I had a really good dinner here with my boyfriend the other night. Usually we just get takeout from WF but decided to try something new for a change. There was a few seats indoors but we sat outdoors. Inside it very beautifully decorated with a nice ambiance. We sat outside mixed in with patrons that didn't have table service. We had great, attentive service and there were several employees working the outdoor section available to help when needed. The food menu is simple but wide ranging. There's standard bar fare like burgers and fries, but they also have sushi and flatbread pizza! On the Friday I went, they had a special for fish and chips and a Rogue brew for just $12! Awesome deal! The fish was delicious and the burger and sweet potato fries my partner got was also very good. We will definitely be back! Love the menu, service and a fun way to eat good food from Whole Foods! read more

Puka's - Rogue Hazelnut Brown Ale on tap - Bars Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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The ipa battered fish and chips were my favorite of the night. The fish was so soft and pretty much melted in your mouth. You can have it with regular fries or sweet potato fries (sweet potato fries is an additional 1 dollar charge). We also had the fried oyster po boy. It was like a gourmet bale sandwich. And I LOOOOOOOVEEEEE bale sandwiches so you bet I'd recommend this sandwich to anyone. We didn't order any sushi but it all looked really tasty and fresh. They have a great selection of 24 different types of beer, lots of wine to choose from and even lots of sodas and other non-alcoholic beverages. Seems like a great place to hang out either friends but also family-friendly--they have a pretty amazing kids menu. And surprisingly everything is reasonably priced! You might spend a lot at whole foods but you won't break your wallet at pukas fortunately :) read more

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I've been to Puka's a handful of times since they opened and I'm always very impressed. Last night we went for happy hour and as I checked in I was surprised to see the rating at a 3.5. Every time I have been to this place it's been nothing short of perfect. As I'm writing this review I'm trying to think of a time where I had bad food, drinks, or service and I can't think of one. Usually when at Puka's I'm here for the beer and food specials, M-F they usually have a special with a brew for $10-12 my favorite is the Fish& Chips on Friday, or the Burger on Thursday. The Burger and Fish & Chips are always cooked well and very tasty. Surprisingly they give generous portions for the price. Last night was Taco Tuesday so they offered 3 tacos (pork or beef) and a brew for $12, you can't beat that. The tacos were very flavorful and the pork was juicy! As far as the beer goes they have a great selection of brews with around 30 on tap, with local, national, and a few international. From what I've seen they do rotate the beers pretty often and it always gives you a chance to try something new. Overall this is a great spot for a tasty meal and drinks. My favorite part about it is you can sit inside or outside, and drinks outside in the afternoon or evening when it's not as hot is nice. The food is great, the beer selection is greater, and service has always been good. Can't rave enough about this place. The only thing that could make it better is if it was open later. read more

Puka's - Bars Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

I tried to give this place the benefit of the doubt, so I came twice before I wrote a review. As much as I want to love this place, there are too many wrinkles that need to be ironed out. They might get better, but I would wait a few months before trying this place out. Maybe the time will allow them to improve. After my second visit, I pretty much will have to wait for the steam to blow off before I can even consider going here again. First and foremost, the service here is terrible. It's slow when it's crowded, and it's slow even when it's not crowded. I asked for extra crackers for my cheese, and the server never came back with them. He did not check on us for a very very long time. He finally brought them when I asked for them a second time. Paying our check both of the times that we have gone also took longer than it should. That is probably the most aggravating thing--twiddling your thumbs waiting to pay so you can leave. You'd think people would be more eager to leave a good lasting impression when you are getting ready to pay and tip. Second, the first time we went, they were out of like four beers, sweet potato fries, and a number of other items. That did not happen the second time we went, so hopefully, that will not be a problem in the future. But it did not leave us with a very good first impression. Now, for the food and drink...They have a pretty good beer selection with twenty-four beers on tap for reasonable prices. They have a grilled cheese sandwich with fries for only $8. That's a good deal, but I thought the grilled cheese, which has apples or pears on it, was nothing special. It tasted better when I dipped it in the Iilikoi jam from my cheese board. The fries with the sandwich were not very tasty and were kind of cold. But it was only $8. So I can't really complain too much. My fiancé really enjoyed the grilled cheese, however. I also tried the tuna avocado roll, but some of the rice seemed kind of dry. You get four pieces for four dollars. Not bad but not great The first time I ordered the cheeseboard, it was sooo wonderful. It had honey comb, Iilikoi jam, and a nice selection of cheese. That's part of the reason why I came back. But the second time I ordered it, it was much smaller and only came with three crackers. It was so sad looking. What a poor presentation! It was probably the worse cheeseboard I have ever seen ever, and I order a lo of cheese. Although the portions were smaller, three crackers was not adequate. Based on my second experience, I would say the cheeseboard is definitely not worth the $14. Next time, I will just go into the grocery store and just buy some cheese. We also tried the wings with the Sriracha, and they were really really good. I would highly recommend those. I think they were ten dollars. This place has potential because of the reasonable prices and some of the good menu items. I just hope it blooms into what it could be. read more

Puka's - Cheese platter (the first time when it was actually good). - Bars Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

So sad to have to give this place a one star. :( Pros: I enjoyed the Clark Little artwork on the wall of a honu and the super fun skateboard that holds the beer sampler but the food is a huge disappointment. Cons: I ordered the fish and chips and they were so greasy I couldn't eat it. I know that they are fried but the fish and the french fries were literally soggy and soaking in oil, a puddle of grease underneath them. I am not one to complain but I had to send back the food which the server agreed was not edible and apologized. The server was nice and sadly did not seemed surprised that there was a problem. This is the second time I have visited pukas and the first time the food was cold and the service was lacking. The restaurant is small and is set up with bar seating and about a dozen or so side seats then there is outdoor seating which is shared with the mall and Wholefoods as well as the restaurant which is kind of goofy. The outdoor seating has wooden blocks on the tables that you can flip over so that the restaurant will know if you want to order or if you are just hanging out. Again I am sad to have to post a bad review but 2 bad experiences here is enough for me to stay away. read more

Puka's - Bars Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

I have been here 2x and far apart between visits. Both times service has been subpar. While dining in the 1st time, we were almost completely ignored to which the waitress believed someone else had been helping us. My most recent visit, we dined outside for happy hour aka pau hana. The cashier was completely useless with any knowledge. Did not know what items were on happy hour menu, which wines nor beers. He was also less concerned about it. He called the bartender who himself, did not know the wines other than "they're new from California" and couldn't say if they were dry, sweet, etc. He then left. The cashier just shrugged. A question of food was asked and again, he did not know the answer. Yet, you have to go to the cashier stand to order your food. The waitress herself was on her cell phone checking what appeared to be her messages. Both were not helpful and each disputed to each other what was on the menu. She finally took a deep breath, sighed and shook her head that she had to help my partner. Finally the cheese platter came out and we noticed there was plastic on it. Or wax she thought. She took it back. The truffle fries were good. The cheese platter, nothing to scream happily about. The food runner was very pleasant. I will say the waitress did return and offered water. It may be a while before I return to this location. read more

Puka's - Happy hour cheese platter $5 - Bars Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

'Healthy' may not be the word I'd use to describe the menu items, but 'delicious' is definitely one of them! After attending the preview event through Yelp, I figured I'd come back to check out the atmosphere, other food items I missed at the preview, and some of their drinks. I ordered Da Big Kahuna Burger, and I fell in love. I think that may just be my new favorite burger! Packed with a juicy piece of beef, bacon jam, avocado, shallots, and roasted jalapeño... My taste buds were jumping for joy. No, really. You MUST try this burger. Added bacon to it for $1 and it made it spectacular. Also opted for the Mediterranean Flatbread Pizza. I have to say this was good, not great. Next time I think I'll try the Pepperoni. They've also got a whole list of wines and beers for you to try. Sushi, steak, fish and chips, appetizers, salads. Lots of menu items. There's indoor and outdoor seating. Staff is friendly. I have to say they are off to a great start! I will definitely be back. Enjoy!! read more

Puka's - Side one of their menu - Bars Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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I routinely stop by WFs when I am on the hunt for a nice bottle of beer, cured meats and cheese. For the past few months, all I heard from WF was the sound of banging and sawing. WTF is all that noise?!?!?! A cashier of theirs told me about a bar that WF was creating and slipped in the words "24 beers on tap". What did you say, sir? Did I just hear you correctly or did my mind just make it up because honestly, I can't distinguish reality from fantasy sometimes. Seriously, do you ever wake up from a dream and think your dreams were real? Luckily this was reality. Whew! I heard the bar was opening on Friday, May 8th so I texted my coworker and cousin the night before and they were eager to join me after work. When I got to the bar it was busy. There is an indoor and outdoor seating area, however I chose the inside area since their 3 TV screens were showing the Clipper's game. I thought their beer list was really good. About a 1/3 of it showcased local breweries such as Lanikai Brewing Company, Maui Brewing Company, and Kona Brewing Company. Other beers on tap were from Breakside, Deschutes, Sierra Nevada, etc. I have tried their fries and wings so far which were decent. I have yet to try their burgers, cured meats platter, and fries. They have happy hour specials, a dollar off a pint and specials on certain days (such as beer and wings for $5 on Monday's). Puka's is a nice addition to Kahala Mall. The parking situation is incredibly easy in comparison to a bar like Brew'd. The prices of their pints are comparable to other bars in their category. Although I haven't tried a lot of their food, their menu looks good. I can't wait to go back!! In fact my bf and I plan on going this weekend and my coworker and I have officially named Puka's to be our go-to bar. read more

Puka's - Bars Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Terrible service. Im so disappointed. Out with my wife and 3 boys for a simple dinner on a Saturday night at 6 PM. We sat inside and waited and waited and waited. When he finally took our order, he was extremely rude and robotic. What gives? If you want to be in business, show some aloha. This isn't New York! If you're understaffed, that's not the customer's fault.....AVOID THIS RESTAURANT. You should just go and self serve yourself at the whole foods buffet..... The Honolulu poke bowl is bland and not worth it. The chicken fingers were very dry. Did I mention that the service was terrible? Our food sat on the shelf for a while because no one would simply take it to us. No water refills, no check in from our waiter....I had to ask them to pay my bill!!!!! Seriously, what gives? read more

Darin, Kyle, & Ryan, are very attentive! Ask them for recommendations and they do not disappoint. perfect spot for a pau hana beverage. We got there late and didn't get to try the food, but the other diners plates that were coming out looked delicious! read more

Great beer selection. Awesome service. Love the Pub Burger as well as the salmon toast. read more

Puka's - Salmon Toast. Fantastic. - Bars Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Hi I have eaten at puka's a couple of times - but there is 1 female server who is not very friendly and/or welcoming. My sister and I ate there SATURDAY NIGHT. The band was COVER5. Our female server was AWESOME, FRIENDLY! She had brown long ponytail. We had a FANTASTIC time! Server and band = great time!!! read more

I was pleasantly surprised by the food. Which had a good special on Monday. 10 wings and a glass of beer. Both tasty But the fish from the fish and chips was Not too tasty. They use the wrong kind of fish for this. However, the fries were good. I think I'll return for taco Tuesday's and check out other specials in the week read more

Puka's - Beer wings and side salad - Bars Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Ok I'll have to admit that the sushi on the menu does not really sound like sushi but I got to try their tacos and it was delicious! The taco order is 3 pieces. You pick from fish, pork, or beef. I decided to pick one of each so I could try it. The fish was my favorite with the mango salsa on top. However, the other two were quite delicious as well. I also had sweet potato fries and the side and that was great too. Puka's has a large beer selection for those who enjoy a good beer with their meal. If you have any questions, the servers are happy to answer them for you. There is also indoor or outdoor seating. If outside, you just flip the no or yes service sign. The service here is good. Everyone works to try to make the customers happy so they come back for more. Will definitely be back to try more! read more

Puka's - Tacos - Bars Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

I've dined at Puka's twice in the last couple of weeks - so that says a lot. Puka's (attached to Whole Foods) is a full-service restaurant with a limited menu of beer, wine, and food. The food menu is extremely limited here but the major pro is that you can bring in food you purchased at Whole Foods (think burritos, wraps, salad bar, etc.) Personally, I love the sushi at Puka's so I usually don't bring in food (try the Tiger Roll). My husband gets the regular burger and truffle fries, and both are delicious. The beer menu at Puka's is impressive and features fun drafts such as the Lanikai Pillbox Porter and Kiss the GOAT. You can buy growlers to take home (one time fee of $10 for the growler). They have a daily happy hour, I believe 2-5p.m. They also have daily weekday specials listed at the bottom of their menu. So here's what makes Puka's more than just A-OK: customer service. During a recent trip to Puka's my husband purchased a growler. We got home to discover we were given the wrong beer (impossible to tell while in the growler since the bottle is so dark). Having spent $40 on a growler just to be given the wrong stuff, he called Puka's to see if he could bring it back. Within an hour we were informed that they would have a gift card waiting for us at Customer Service to make up for the inconvenience, and also, so we wouldn't necessarily have to drive right back that day. We were both really impressed by how the management and staff at Puka's/Whole Foods handled the situation. Good customer service coupled with amazing sushi and a casual ambiance makes Puka's a win in my book! read more

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Puka's is a nice addition to the Whole foods in Kahala. There's indoor and outdoor seating. If you're dining outside simply request service by flipping over a block on your table. This is the second time I've been here. I really enjoy a Belgium beer I had here. They have a nice selection of drinks in general. Loco Moco~ I saw this on the menu and knew I had to have it. The waiter made it sound like their gravy was pretty special, so I thought I'd try it. The presentation was fine, but the meat was bland in my opinion. Not a tasty burger patty at all. They should have seasoned it or something. It was missing some flavor. I assumed maybe it was a really healthy tasting organic burger because it's whole foods, but I don't believe that was the case. The gravy was lacking flavor as well. I was having real cravings and this didn't satisfy but it filled me up thanks to their hearty portion. I'll have to give 3 stars this time around. Regardless of this, I'm sure they have other food dishes that are more appetizing. Puka's is a great place to chill in the evening with a friend, grab some drinks, and enjoy food. I know I'll be going back. read more

Puka's - Loco moco - Bars Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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It's going up on a Monday. No really it has a good flow of customers if you don't want to sit inside and enjoy the weather there are ample seats outside. The block system is similar to Bubba Gump's where if you want service flip the block to the green side, if not just leave it with the red side facing up. Again it is inside Wholepaychecks. Parking can be a beezy, unless you are those lucky people who pull in the parking lot and someone magically leaves the same time. I'd just park upstairs and walk down a little exercise never hurt anyone unless you cannot walk... This place is pretty trendy/hipster beer on tap is local brew. I went on a Monday and fully took advantage of the buy wings and get a free beer (of the selected few) but still free beer is always good. If you can't decide on what flavor wings you want (like me) then ask for the sauces on the side, all 4 of them. Second the IPA Fish and Chips are probably ranked one of the top Fish and Chips I've ever tried. Just because of the meatiness of the fish and the batter is so crispy goes well with the wasabi mayo. Don't worry if you don't like Wasabi you don't have to worry because there is no kick where it's like you just inhaled a whole container of Vics Vapor rub. Just can't wait to try the other delicious items they have to offer. Good food, good vibes & good place. -x read more

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This little spot is totally underrated. Delicious burgers, excellent crispy fries that are seasoned! And reasonably priced at $12. Although Counter Burger is just a few doors down, I've become loyal to Puka's for the damn burger. The patty tastes great! It's beef in all it's glory! The bun is grilled or toasted nicely. Fresh lettuce and tomatoes too. They cook the burger to order and know what medium means. And the cheeses you get to choose from include provolone and pepper jack. If I could change one thing, it's the nasty ketchup they serve. I get it though, Hunt's and Heinz are not in-line with the all-natural vibe. Everyday, they have one special for $11 that comes with a beer! Thursday is burger day. Although it is connected to a grocery store, it's a restaurant with cloth napkins and stainless-steel cutlery. A gentle reminder - - - 20% tip is customary for good service. read more