We had two separate servers, one, Josephe, before our reservation, for drinks and another, Cliffe, for our dinner reservation.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: The Joy Crab Special, Fish, Halekulani Coconut Cake, Ahi Tataki, Crab Cake, Caesar Salad, Sushi, Hawaii’S No Ka Oi Poke
Randy Young
Unfortunately, the place is not great given all the reviews. The coconut cake is delicious because it's not saturated on essence of coconut and takes like an actual non-sugar packed coconut cake. The views around the restaurant are great but not unique to the line of restaurants here in Waikiki. Between the stage, the hedge, and the crowd you can't really see anything once seated either. The worst part is the inside bar, it is packed with people that just seem like they're trying to drink and not dine. Which is fine for them, it's the restaurants fault, not theirs. However, they're incredibly loud drowning out the table conversation and the performance on stage.
The food and drinks were fine, but not great. Service was really good, and Jan was a delight to be around and offer great suggestions. It's more the atmosphere mixed with the okay food than anything else.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 5
Will S
Just had drinks at the bar
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
William Perdue
My favorite hula dancers
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Mike Lindsay
Is there room for a sixth star? Outstanding dining experience right on a private beach.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
E K
Pros: hostesses are very sweet, show during dinner and beautiful views of course. Hotel seems very upscale and great location. Server was great.
Cons: food was bland, but some people like that so I don’t think it’s a “bad” thing. It’s quite pricey for the quality. It also took forever for the food to come out. All of this being the kitchens fault, of course.
The Cesar salad was just three sad pieces of lettuce with barely any dressing :( Curry chicken was so bland, chicken tasted more like turkey (?). Pizza was amazing! But $20+ for a small pizza… we’ll pass. Sweet potato is flavorless as well
I’d come for cocktails, coconut cake, and some coffee maybe. The pumpkin soup of the day was pretty yum as well.
Overall, don’t plan a dinner here. But definitely worth checking out!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 1
Service: 3
Julia
The prices suggest an upscale experience but unfortunately the details didn’t quite match. The Mai Tai arrived buried in crushed ice with a flower on top. Not exactly the presentation one expects for a $24 cocktail. Appetizers and main courses were brought out all at once, even though the table wasn’t ready for them. A bit more attention to pacing and presentation would go a long way.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 2
Service: 2
Ronin
Its one of the few good breakfasts buffets I've experienced.
At 7:30am on a Saturday, my entire family and I (roughly 8 of us) met in front of the restaurant. Since they dont take reservations, everyone in your party must arrive before you are seated. Hotel guest and visitors are seated on a first come, first serve basis.
The food cruisine is split into two sections, a Japanese breakfast section and an American breakfast section. Overall the food and variety was good, but there were some items I didnt care for. The sausages/links are overcooked and dry. The French toast maple and coconut syrup was way too watery. Some of the Japanese dishes were alittle plain, no umani flavor to it. Randomly before the japanese dishes are two Mediterranean type foods. Lol out of place. One was the hummus and the other was an orzo salad. The pork kimchi fried rice didnt had much flavor either.
Items the stood out were the pastries, the wet scrambled eggs and the egg omelet station.
For atmosphere, the buffet had and interesting L-shape layout, no real organization so many people just jump in and around others to grab food. Also the egg omelet station was a bit hidden, meaning location of the kiosk was not well lit. Most of my family didnt realize the kiosk. Only when I pointed it out, they said it was too dark and didnt realize it was part of the buffet.
Service was good, but they somehow exaggerated on the kona coffee they serve. The coffee tasted horrible. Metalic after taste and it didnt appear to be kona coffee. Regardless the guava juice was delicious and the staff were attentive to remove dishes we finished, taking it away so we could grab more food.
All-in-all, it was a good breakfast buffet for locals. Also, their website notes casual business entire, but many come in t-shirts, shorts and slippers. So up to you. I felt overdressed wearing my collar shirt, jeans and shoes.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Lisa
A great evening dinner with family. the best part was the mild live music although there are 25% tips added. It was a good experience.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
EDan
Service and food usually good but New Year’s Day sucked. We were sat for cocktails. Ordered drinks. Server forgot about us then told us the bar was backed up. He brought the drinks then we never saw him again. I struggled sitting there trying to pay.
Then when I found out they were putting an automatic 20% gratuity, I was furious. He made $10 for nothing.
I also found him to be rude to my wife and arrogant when she asked a question about the band. The server J***** (according to the check) needs lessons in customer service skills.
Food was mediocre resort food. I got the short rib, and it was dry and the sauce was meh. The food came out so fast that I think it was just sitting on a shelf ready to be served but like… what? My sister got the Caesar salad with the fresh catch. A few pieces of iceberg lettuce and an unseasoned steamed fish. Everything was just so rushed. My other sister ordered one of the pizzas, and it was fine, but like she was still eating and the server kept trying to take her plate away, mid-chew, to clear the table. They started taking chairs away and rushed us out as soon as they were ready for us to be done, and it was only 6:30pm (we were sat at 5:30pm so it’s not like we were lingering for hours). Also we were sat behind a giant pillar with absolutely no view of the sunset. Definitely would never go back and definitely do not recommend. Should have just made a cheese board and gone to ala Moana for sunset.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Jerry Wang
A magical place. The food is excellent. The service is personal and top notch. The sunset view is magnificent. What a treat for a birthday dinner.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Lucy
We visited recently for the first night of our honeymoon. The staff were so lovely and attentive. They sat us at table 97 with an amazing view of Diamond Head. The live music was beautiful. Was very special. The food was also incredible. Could not recommend more.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Sabrina Kern
So amazing! The service was 10+ the food was even better
Amazing view of diamond head and the beach.
We had two separate servers, one, Josephe, before our reservation, for drinks and another, Cliffe, for our dinner reservation.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: The Joy Crab Special, Fish, Halekulani Coconut Cake, Ahi Tataki, Crab Cake, Caesar Salad, Sushi, Hawaii’S No Ka Oi Poke
Unfortunately, the place is not great given all the reviews. The coconut cake is delicious because it's not saturated on essence of coconut and takes like an actual non-sugar packed coconut cake. The views around the restaurant are great but not unique to the line of restaurants here in Waikiki. Between the stage, the hedge, and the crowd you can't really see anything once seated either. The worst part is the inside bar, it is packed with people that just seem like they're trying to drink and not dine. Which is fine for them, it's the restaurants fault, not theirs. However, they're incredibly loud drowning out the table conversation and the performance on stage.
The food and drinks were fine, but not great. Service was really good, and Jan was a delight to be around and offer great suggestions. It's more the atmosphere mixed with the okay food than anything else.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 5
Just had drinks at the bar
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
My favorite hula dancers
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Is there room for a sixth star? Outstanding dining experience right on a private beach.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Pros: hostesses are very sweet, show during dinner and beautiful views of course. Hotel seems very upscale and great location. Server was great.
Cons: food was bland, but some people like that so I don’t think it’s a “bad” thing. It’s quite pricey for the quality. It also took forever for the food to come out. All of this being the kitchens fault, of course.
The Cesar salad was just three sad pieces of lettuce with barely any dressing :(
Curry chicken was so bland, chicken tasted more like turkey (?).
Pizza was amazing! But $20+ for a small pizza… we’ll pass.
Sweet potato is flavorless as well
I’d come for cocktails, coconut cake, and some coffee maybe. The pumpkin soup of the day was pretty yum as well.
Overall, don’t plan a dinner here. But definitely worth checking out!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 1
Service: 3
The prices suggest an upscale experience but unfortunately the details didn’t quite match. The Mai Tai arrived buried in crushed ice with a flower on top. Not exactly the presentation one expects for a $24 cocktail. Appetizers and main courses were brought out all at once, even though the table wasn’t ready for them. A bit more attention to pacing and presentation would go a long way.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 2
Service: 2
Its one of the few good breakfasts buffets I've experienced.
At 7:30am on a Saturday, my entire family and I (roughly 8 of us) met in front of the restaurant. Since they dont take reservations, everyone in your party must arrive before you are seated. Hotel guest and visitors are seated on a first come, first serve basis.
The food cruisine is split into two sections, a Japanese breakfast section and an American breakfast section. Overall the food and variety was good, but there were some items I didnt care for. The sausages/links are overcooked and dry. The French toast maple and coconut syrup was way too watery. Some of the Japanese dishes were alittle plain, no umani flavor to it. Randomly before the japanese dishes are two Mediterranean type foods. Lol out of place. One was the hummus and the other was an orzo salad. The pork kimchi fried rice didnt had much flavor either.
Items the stood out were the pastries, the wet scrambled eggs and the egg omelet station.
For atmosphere, the buffet had and interesting L-shape layout, no real organization so many people just jump in and around others to grab food. Also the egg omelet station was a bit hidden, meaning location of the kiosk was not well lit. Most of my family didnt realize the kiosk. Only when I pointed it out, they said it was too dark and didnt realize it was part of the buffet.
Service was good, but they somehow exaggerated on the kona coffee they serve. The coffee tasted horrible. Metalic after taste and it didnt appear to be kona coffee. Regardless the guava juice was delicious and the staff were attentive to remove dishes we finished, taking it away so we could grab more food.
All-in-all, it was a good breakfast buffet for locals. Also, their website notes casual business entire, but many come in t-shirts, shorts and slippers. So up to you. I felt overdressed wearing my collar shirt, jeans and shoes.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
A great evening dinner with family. the best part was the mild live music although there are 25% tips added. It was a good experience.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Service and food usually good but New Year’s Day sucked. We were sat for cocktails. Ordered drinks. Server forgot about us then told us the bar was backed up. He brought the drinks then we never saw him again. I struggled sitting there trying to pay.
Then when I found out they were putting an automatic 20% gratuity, I was furious. He made $10 for nothing.
I also found him to be rude to my wife and arrogant when she asked a question about the band. The server J***** (according to the check) needs lessons in customer service skills.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 2
Restaurantji Recommends
Drinks were top notch
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Food was mediocre resort food. I got the short rib, and it was dry and the sauce was meh. The food came out so fast that I think it was just sitting on a shelf ready to be served but like… what? My sister got the Caesar salad with the fresh catch. A few pieces of iceberg lettuce and an unseasoned steamed fish. Everything was just so rushed. My other sister ordered one of the pizzas, and it was fine, but like she was still eating and the server kept trying to take her plate away, mid-chew, to clear the table. They started taking chairs away and rushed us out as soon as they were ready for us to be done, and it was only 6:30pm (we were sat at 5:30pm so it’s not like we were lingering for hours). Also we were sat behind a giant pillar with absolutely no view of the sunset. Definitely would never go back and definitely do not recommend. Should have just made a cheese board and gone to ala Moana for sunset.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
A magical place. The food is excellent. The service is personal and top notch. The sunset view is magnificent. What a treat for a birthday dinner.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
We visited recently for the first night of our honeymoon. The staff were so lovely and attentive. They sat us at table 97 with an amazing view of Diamond Head. The live music was beautiful. Was very special. The food was also incredible. Could not recommend more.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
So amazing! The service was 10+ the food was even better
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
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