Azasu - CLOSED

Azasu is a pop-up tempura shop located inside Mitsuwa Marketplace in Waikiki. They are known for their tempura bowls that have sauce drizzled over the rice and each piece of tempura. The tempura is made to order and you should eat it right away. The seating area is still closed in Mitsuwa Marketplace but you can find a spot to stand and eat around International Market Place. The prices range from $11 - $21 and they a big portion. Each bowl or plate will also come with miso soup. My go to item is the shrimp bowl because they give 4 pieces of shrimp tempura. If you have dietary restrictions, let them know and they will let you choose another vegetable to replace it.

They are open daily from 11am - 6pm. The line inside starts to form around 10:30am and it is best to go early. If you go around 12pm, you might end up waiting 45 minutes for your food. They only accept credit card for payment. The pop-up ends on 5/15/2021.

International Market Place
Mitsuwa Marketplace Hawaii Waikiki
2330 Kalakaua Ave., Level 2
Honolulu, HI 96815

Shrimp Tempura Bowl

Original Bowl w/ spicy sauce

Cheese Tempura

 

Kapa Hale

Kapa Hale is chef Keaka Lee's first restaurant. The menu is inspired by Asian, American and Hawaiian flavors. He also uses local ingredients when possible. The restaurant is open for dine in and they offer brunch, lunch and dinner. The interior of the restaurant has a modern design along with some kapa patterns and a mural on the back wall. They have indoor and patio seating. The staff are friendly and they gave us a few suggestions on what to try and the most popular items. Some of my favorites from dinner were the beef tartare, tako, corn bread, and the koji aged beef.

The food portions are small and the prices for the entrees are high so I'd save this place for a special occasion. If you are on a budget but still want to try this place, you can come for appetizers instead. For parking, the lot is small and it fills up quick. There is street parking on Pahoa Ave. but read the signs before you park.

For more information about Kapa Hale, visit www.kapahale.com.

4614 Kilauea Ave., Suite 102
Honolulu, HI 96816
(808) 888-2060

Hawaiian Beef Tartare

Let's Tako 'Bout It

Ahi Kapa-ccio

Corny Bread

Sunchokes

Roasted Chicken

Brussels

Koji Aged Cote De Boeuf

Avo-Matcha Made in Heaven

No Name BBQ Sandwich

No Name BBQ Sandwich specializes in banh mi. They are open for takeout only, their dine in space is still closed. The sandwiches are priced between $8-$10. My favorite is the roasted beef sandwich. The meat is shredded so every bite has roasted beef. They also put a generous amount of cilantro into every sandwich. The portions are small so you might want to order 2 sandwiches if you're extra hungry.

They are located in Kaimuki. I recommend calling in your sandwich order before going there down. They will make your sandwich after you pay but calling in advance reduces your wait time to about 5 minutes inside the shop. They accept cash and credit card. For parking, they have 3 metered spaces in front on Waialae Ave.

3394 Waialae Ave
Honolulu, HI 96816
(808) 200-1268

Roasted Beef Sandwich

BBQ Pork Sandwich

Hau Tree

Hau Tree offers locally inspired cuisine along with an amazing view of Kaimana Beach. They are located in the lobby of the Kaimana beach hotel. Their menu has changed and the dishes are lighter. They offer a lot of seafood. I recommend coming here for special occasions or if you want to splurge and treat yourself to a great meal because it's pricey. My favorites were the trout roe verrine, roasted brussels, and chocolate caramel tart. If you plan to come for dinner, make your reservation 1-2 weeks in advance and ask for the lanai seating. You'll be able to watch the sunset while you eat.

For parking, they offer valet parking in front of the hotel but if you don't mind walking, you can park in the metered spaces across at Kapiolani Park. The beach parking is also another option but those spaces are usually all taken up.

Kaimana Beach Hotel
2863 Kalakaua Ave
Honolulu, HI 96815
(808) 921-7066

Trout Roe Verrine

Bigeye Tuna TarTare

Mussel Escabeche "Toast"

Seared Maine Scallops

Burrate Nicoise

Roasted Brussels

Washugyu Flank Steak

Yuzu Tart

Cheesecake

Chocolate Caramel Tart

Kona Abalone - CLOSED

Kona Abalone is known for their grilled abalone sold at the Oahu farmers' markets. On Saturdays, you can find them at the KCC Farmers Market or the Kaka'ako Farmers Market. They also have a store front at Market City Shopping Center where you can purchase fresh abalone. Since abalone is a delicacy, their prices are high. Each grilled abalone cost about $7-$8 but at the farmers market they sell them in 3's or 5's. You can also add toppings like butter garlic, miso, ginger scallion, or the original which is plain. I recommend bringing cash if you go to the farmers market since some vendors do not accept credit or debit cards. 

Kona Abalone
Market City Shopping Center
2919 Kapiolani Blvd #201B
Honolulu, HI 96826
(808) 941-4120

KCC Farmers Market
Kapiʻolani Community College
4303 Diamond Head Rd
Honolulu, HI 96816

Kaka'ako Farmers Market
Ward Village
1050 Ala Moana Blvd
Honolulu, HI 96814

Butter & Garlic

Original