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Vein At Kaka'ako

4.1 (542 reviews)
Open 11:00 am - 2:00 pm, 5:00 PM - 9:00 PM

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VEIN AT KAKA'AKO ATMOSPHERE

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Recommended Reviews - Vein At Kaka'ako

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Uni w/ Scallion Aglio Y Olio
Josh O.

Parking: Located at SALT with complimentary one hour parking and discounted rates with restaurant validation Service: table service Ambiance: cozy and intimate Food: went for their lunch offering an entree with house salad and foccacia or koshihikari rice. If you're an uni lover, would recommend the Uni pasta that comes with an ume stock, yuzu, and chili. Pastas only come with spaghetti noodle choice (its not my favorite noodle), but the toppings are delish

Uni Carbonara
Taylor E.

The uni carbonara was very decadent and rich with a generous portion. The uni complimented the sauce of the dish. Service was extremely friendly providing recommendations and consistently checking on our table. The restaurant itself has a unique garage style entrance but creates a high end feel inside to match their menu items and typical prices. Definitely more of an upscale fancy restaurant over your everyday takeout location. But the pasta happy hour is definitely a plus and will definitely have me returning to try the other pasta dishes.

Artichoke Karaage
Reid H.

VEIN at Kaka'ako is a great place for a nice dinner. Tried the Artichoke Karaage, Uni Carbonara, Miso Salmon with Risotto. Artichoke Karaage: the hearts were meaty yet not too chewy, and the leaves were light and crispy. The mayo was goooooood. Gave me fried calamari vibes. 8.5/10 Miso Salmon and Risotto: you think it's just miso-flavored salmon, but there's a something else there (and not just the risotto). This was the fresh catch option so not sure how often it's on the menu but recommend. 8.5/10. Uni Carbonara: normally skeptical of uni dishes, but this dish was tight. There were some magnificent bites. If you like the taste of uni and carbonara, or think you might, I think it's worth it to try, 9/10

Bolognese
Casey H.

Salt at Kaka'ako has a few amazing restaurants, and this is one of the OGs. Vein is a trendy, Japanese-Italian influenced restaurant that is perfect for a nice date night or meal out. If you don't want to break the bank and give them a try, I highly recommend their Pasta Hour from 4:30 to 6 pm everyday for 18% off pastas and appetizers. While it's best to get reservations, I've always found that the staff will do their best to squeeze you in and find you a table. And even if they are slammed, you don't feel like they are rushing you through the meal service. The food is just as excellent combining flavors that are traditional Italian with bits of Japanese and local flair and ingredients. While some restaurants may have great food and okay service, Vein, and its staff, seem to go through great lengths to provide every customer with amazing food, drinks, and service.

Food and service were phenomenal, great ambiance too. Food was delicious and very tasty! Our waiter, Ryan, was extremely pleasant and attentive! Thanks Ryan!

Menu
Wayne I.

Vein is a great lunch spot in the Kakaʻako area, offering a nice variety of lunch specials. The food was delicious, the service was friendly and timely, and the overall vibe was good. Since it's an open-air restaurant, it can feel a little warm for those who prefer air-conditioned dining. A nice bonus is that they offer validated parking, making it a convenient option for lunch.

Hamburger steak
Brian I.

Went here for lunch and found that they have some great lunch specials. It's an open air restaurant so it can get a little warm during the day but the lunch specials are a great deal for around $20.00. The hamburger steak and shout pasta were probably the best.

Vein Aperol spritz
Jess K.

I've never been disappointed with this place. The menu since the first time I visited to my most recent visit has changed quite a bit but it still leaves a lasting impression every time. I recommend making a reservation as I saw people turned away as the night went on. Service was incredibly friendly and welcoming! I even got to chat with the bartender about his drink creative creations and it was so fun to hear the passion in his descriptions. These people really seem to like what they do and I love that. Between my date and I, we ordered two types of pasta (because if you can't decide, order both, right?!) and two sides as well as a fish dish. That lemon pasta haunts me to this day. I need to go back for more. Thursday was ladies night and all the drinks were massively discounted! I may have taken advantage of the discount and tried quite a few more cocktails than I typically would. We sat near the outside where we could people watch shoppers throughout Salt. Ambience was low light chill and elegant. If you're debating if this is a good place to take a date, do it. FYI If you have amex plat, you can use your $100 quarterly resy credit here as they are in the Resy system. Cheers

Uni pasta (bottom), shoyu pasta (top), Italian sausage (right)
Alisa B.

Came here around late lunchtime and absolutely loved it. Not sure what took me so long to try this local neighborhood gem but better late than never! Service was great, our server was very attentive. Compliments to the chef as all the lunch pasta dishes were light and didn't feel heavy but yet so rich in flavor. Each pasta dish had its own unique taste. It's hard to choose which I loved most because I loved them all. I tried the Uni pasta, Shoyu butter pasta, and Italian sausage Neapolitan. Safe to say I'll be back for Pau Hana next time to see what dishes they have in store for dinner!

Focaccia and salad
Jocelyn O.

This is my new favorite pasta! The spaghetti noodles are covered in a delicious brown butter shoyu sauce with pancetta and mushrooms spread throughout. Then topped with a cured egg yolk and furikake. Soooo good! Great service as well and a great spot for lunch with family and friends.

Bascaiola
Dee T.

We've walked by this place many times and finally had a chance to try it!!! My bascaiola was REALLY tasty!!! It has small chunks of Italian sausage! I also highly recommend the artichoke karaage! It was really good with the sauce . . They have a pasta happy hour too!!! Bread would have made it a 5

Outside
Nadine C.

Dinner in Kaka'ako, Honolulu, Hawaii... My calabash nephew wanted to take me to dinner and asked where I wanted to go. I told him that I hadn't been to Vein at SALT yet, so I made a reservation. Parking was free for an hour and a half in the structure - enter from Keawe Street. It's a paperless system. Scan the QR code, enter your license plate number, and pay online. Located on the ground level, Vein had an open-air, dimly lit, quiet atmosphere. Our server, Andrew, was so efficient that we made it back to the parking structure in time! Our water glasses were refilled promptly and we didn't have to ask for the bill. He made great suggestions and explained menu items competently! We ordered the Pre-Fix menu which included a green salad starter, pasta, entrée, and dessert of Bread Pudding! Both types of pasta were delicious because of the wagyu and sausage sauces. Both entrées (tender lamb and catch of the day) were tasty and had beautiful presentation! I wouldn't mind returning! Thank you, nephew Benny and server Andrew!

Shoyu butter pasta with cremini and porcini
Lorie G.

Located in SALT on the ground level, our party of 4 came here for lunch. With 6 items to choose from, Vein made it simple and easy for people who are indecisive to choose. The prices are very reasonable for what you choose - starting at $17 for salad, bread or rice (depending on what you order) and entree. I decided to order the shoyu butter pasta and WOW!!! Umami screams from the dish. It comes with an egg yolk for you to mix into the pasta dish. With pancetta and shredded nori added into the mix, the flavor profile is rich, creamy, a little sweet, perfect amount of salt and totally stretch pants worthy ;). For $17.50, this is so worth it.

Oct 2025 menu

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Vein At Kaka'ako Reviews in Other Languages

Ask the Community - Vein At Kaka'ako

Are the prefix menus only for big groups or can a party of 2 enjoy it as well?

Small parties can order as well

Do they sell gift cards/certificates?

Aloha, your profile here has masks are still required, is that true? Please let us know, mahalo.

No, they're not. We had dinner there last week without masks. Get the scallops! Enjoy!

Hello. I am trying to find a restaurant to host my partners surprise 40th birthday dinner. We are visiting from California. The party would be a total of 19 people. Would you be able to accommodate us? I'd like to make a reservation for 5/24.

Check out the Barefoot experience at The Beach Tree Restaurant at the Four Seasons. It's a private table right at the ocean and you have your own chef. Its a beautiful setting right at the ocean.… 

Are they open for dine in lunch again?

We asked. Our server said yes.

How much is corkage?

Expensive! $25 per bottle.

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Island Vintage Coffee

Island Vintage Coffee

4.3
(4.2k reviews)
2.5 mi
$$

Excellent customer service . The coffee serve as an excellent ad you go , smoothies , açaí bowl are…read morereally good as well . No one can't beat it.

This is a great spot to grab coffee and brunch, but be prepared to wait a bit for your drinks. The…read moreline moved quickly when ordering, and the staff was efficient, but the drinks took longer than I expected to come out. The wait was worth it, though. The Lava Mocha is hands down my favorite mocha I've ever had. Rich, smooth, and perfectly balanced. It was the reason I came back and waited! Mauna Kea Iced Coffee is my FAVORITE coffee of all time. I will be drooling over this coffee until I return. It has coffee, sea salt caramel, a scoop of ice cream, and black sea salt. Already it sounds delicious and it was. I finished my drink within 5 minutes. I didn't order any food this time, but everything coming out of the kitchen looked delicious. The menu is extensive with plenty of options, making it a great place for brunch whether you're craving something sweet or savory. The café also has a small section selling Island Vintage merchandise, which is fun to browse while you're waiting. If you choose to sit outside, don't be surprised if a few birds decide to join you for breakfast and they're regulars too.. Overall, despite the longer wait for drinks, the quality of the coffee, inviting atmosphere, and tempting menu make this a spot I'd happily visit again.

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Order counter
Order counter
Taro Bagel with Ube Cream Cheese
Taro Bagel with Ube Cream Cheese
2025.03.21. Island Vintage Coffee Waikiki, Honolulu, O'ahu, Hawaii

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2025.03.21. Island Vintage Coffee Waikiki, Honolulu, O'ahu, Hawaii
Nalu Health Bar & Cafe

Nalu Health Bar & Cafe

4.1
(458 reviews)
0.7 mi
$$

Nalu Health Bar & Café is such a solid spot, especially if you're looking for something fresh,…read morequick, and actually satisfying. Parking is super easy with the complimentary structure, and the café is located on the bottom floor alongside other vendors. One thing I immediately appreciated was how well air-conditioned the entire market is--it's nice and cool, which makes sitting and eating there really comfortable. The cashier recommended the turkey pesto croissant, but suggested swapping it onto ciabatta since it's one of her favorites--and I'm so glad I trusted her. It was phenomenal. The flavors were balanced, the bread held everything together perfectly, and it felt like a step above your typical sandwich. I also had what looked like a simple salad, but the vinaigrette and candied pistachios really elevated it and made it feel more thoughtful than expected. The staff across the board were friendly and welcoming, and there's plenty of seating--whether inside the café or out in the open market area. Honestly, the value surprised me the most. I paid under $13 for everything, which is hard to beat for the quality. Definitely a spot I'll be coming back to.

I love this place. I come time and time again…read more I got the monkey kine smoothie and the steak sandwich. Though my favorite is the steak wrap. I love the little cacao nibs in the smoothie. The sandwich was so good. Omg. So many flavors. I always never order steak, but I always do when at Nala.

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Logo items for sale
Logo items for sale
Ahi wrap
Ahi wrap
Mango colada smoothie

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Mango colada smoothie
Peace Café

Peace Café

4.5
(1k reviews)
2.2 mi
$$

Peace Café has been my go-to for years and truly remains one of the best vegan spots on Oʻahu. The…read morevariety is incredible -- sandwiches, wraps, noodles, smoothies, plates, soups, and specialty drinks. One of my longtime favorites is their Yuzu Lemonade, but I think the new Aloha Energy Drink may have officially taken the top spot. It has medical-grade beet powder, natural caffeine from guarana, ginseng, and maca -- and you genuinely feel the aloha and the power. Today I ordered the spicy Yakisoba, and the noodles had the perfect bite and mouthfeel. The salad was fresh and crisp, and while I personally could handle quite a bit more spice, I appreciate that they balance the heat so it's enjoyable and approachable for everyone without overpowering the dish. Beyond the food, the atmosphere is always welcoming. The chef is consistently friendly, the staff is kind, and the restaurant is always clean. It's such a great feeling being able to eat somewhere with confidence knowing they're using fresh, clean ingredients. Highly recommend SYOY! Deb B

No Tempeh! My barbecue tempeh dish not available! Heart and…read moreSoul used to have marinated vegetables, now they are plain! Not as tasty! No more infused water! We were disappointed that things had changed since our last visit! Still friendly and kind service. That has not changed... Hope the changes are temporary! We want the wonderful Peace Cafe that we remember!

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Inside
Inside
Yakisoba Sandwich (@miguelmoralesphotography on Instagram)
Yakisoba Sandwich (@miguelmoralesphotography on Instagram)
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Aloha Salads

Aloha Salads

3.4
(337 reviews)
5.0 mi
$$

It has been a while since I last ate here, but this place used to be a go to for me back in high…read moreschool. Their salads were just that good and it never felt like you were eating "healthy" food. We ordered the Ono Island Ahi and the Mandarin Ginger, and flavor wise the salads themselves still hold up. Portions felt fair and the prices were reasonable in my opinion. I also appreciated that it came with two pieces of pita bread. That said, the service really took away from the experience. When we ordered, the employee took our order but did not really start making the salad. His manager had to come out, at which point he jumped a bit and then started assembling the salad. He did not ask if we wanted it tossed, which they used to do, and instead just layered everything together. The biggest disappointment came when I got home and realized my Ono Island Ahi salad had no dressing at all, not on the side and not inside. That was frustrating and honestly a letdown, especially since the dressing is a big part of what makes these salads so good. The space itself looks clean and it is very convenient being inside Kahala Mall, with plenty of parking which is always a plus. Overall, the food concept is great and the salads are still tasty, but the service is lacking and needs improvement for me to fully enjoy coming back regularly.

This place is great. Quick and tasty. So glad I ventured to their salad menu. Family loves their…read moreBig Island beet salad with goat cheese and passion orange vinaigrette! This time we also tried the Paniolo salad. To get our protein in, I added ahi (their seasoned seared ahi is delish) and steak to the salads. I also decided to add mandarin oranges, bell peppers, and cucumbers to the Paniolo salad for 99 cents each. Was little disappointed at the portion size of those additions. Was also disappointed with the steak. There was lots of crunchy/hard/chewy pieces that had to be tossed. I normally always order online but to get the seasoned ahi, best to order in person.

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Storefront
Storefront
Aloha Salads
Eating healthy

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Eating healthy
Capriotti's Sandwich Shop

Capriotti's Sandwich Shop

3.9
(321 reviews)
5.0 mi
$$

The hot Bobbie and the classic Italian sandwich was tasty and meaty. The hot Bobbie sandwich was a…read morethanksgiving meal wrapped into a delicious sandwich, the bread was soft, and turkey was salty, the cranberry sauce was sweet and the breading just soaked up all those sweet and savory flavors and gave it the perfect transition mix. This shop is on the left side of Foodland. The small size sandwich was big enough for us. We were so full afterwards that was about to explode. The cashier was very friendly and nice, always kept her smile. There are many tables for 2-4 people inside. Mobile order is available to skip the line. Next time we have to go hiking or do lots of exercise to deserve such a calorific and delicious treat.

Capriotti's in Honolulu delivers on fresh ingredients. The meats, cheese, and vegetables were all…read morefresh, tasty, and clearly high quality. The sandwich itself was satisfying, but it was missing one thing: flavor from seasoning. Everything tasted fresh, yet somewhat bland because there was little to no seasoning to bring the ingredients together. My biggest disappointment was the bread. Growing up with Capriotti's back in Delaware, the rolls were a huge part of what made the sandwiches special. The rolls at this location just aren't the same. They're soft and remind me more of the standard hoagie rolls you can pick up at a supermarket rather than the distinctive rolls I remember from back home. Overall, the ingredients are fresh and the service was good, but the lack of seasoning and the difference in the bread keep this from being the Capriotti's experience I was hoping for. Not a bad sandwich by any means, just not quite what I remember from Delaware.

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Inside
Inside
Photo 3
Photo 3
Classic Meatball

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Classic Meatball

Vein At Kaka'ako - mediterranean - Updated July 2026

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