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A Taste of the Bayou - CLOSED
Category: Restaurants Cajun/Creole Cajun/Creole [Edit]
740 Kapahulu AveHonolulu, HI 96816
Neighborhood: Kaimuki
(808) 732-2229
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
35 reviews for A Taste of the Bayou
Review Highlights
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"The red beans and rice were great and jambalaya was mighty..." In 10 reviews -
"I got the chicken and andouille sausage gumbo the first..." In 4 reviews -
"the cajun rice and the corn maque choux were awesome." In 4 reviews
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35 reviews in English
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Review from Amber C.
8/29/2010
NOOOO!!!! Taste of the Bayou, I never got to visit you :(
Ohhhh and this country girl surely wanted a taste of home, I just kept puttin' it off for a better occasion, for another day when I wasn't too tired to find parking, when I had more money, when... when... :( and now you're gone!
I really hope you'll be back. I had the grand opportunity of tasting some of your take-out from a friend at work and... I've rarely had creole food any better, even back home in the bayou :( and certainly not on the island.
Please say you're opening a new location!? -
Review from Jason P.
Washington, DC
7/23/2009 ROTD 1/10/2010
My mother was born and raised in "Nawlins" and because of this I've been raised on Cajun Cookin. Regular nightly dishes around my family's table included red beans and rice, jambalaya, and gumbo. I look forward to my frequent trips down to New Orleans not only to see my family but also to enjoy the incredible food that I THOUGHT could only be found in the bayou.
Most places think that just by coating dishes with Cajun seasoning and dousing them in Tabasco that it somehow creates a Cajun dish. They try to get by with stiffening up their soup with some corn starch and adding a little artificial smoke and passing it off as "gumbo"... But people that know Creole know the difference and know how to do it right. And the folks at Taste of the Bayou know how to do it right. Cajun & Creole cooking should contain rich, deep, complex flavors. They are savory and spicy dishes that "stick to your ribs". And Taste of the Bayou delivers on all counts.
The "Taste of the Bayou" dish, which is a sampling of their chicken and andouille sausage gumbo, their chicken and tasso jambalaya, and their red beans and rice, is just outstanding. It's everything great Cajun food should be: deep, rich, and hearty with complex, smokey flavors perfectly balanced with just the right kick of spice. All three samples were so good in their own ways that there's no possible way I could pick a favorite.
The Shrimp Po' Boy is also very good. (And btw... It's a "Po' Boy" folks. Not a "Poor Boy".) The French roll was crunchy on the outside, soft on the inside. It was filled with 5 jumbo shrimp, which was plenty enough to get a big bite of shrimp in every bite. The shrimp were seasoned perfectly with just enough spice. They were lightly fried with juuust enough breading to create a good crunch without masking the great shrimp. It was served with an excellent remoulade which was a little bit sweet, a little bit spicy, and a perfect compliment to the shrimp. The po' boy was served with a hefty serving of sweet potato fries which were also excellent. I'm not usually a fan of sweet potato fries, but they're subtle sweetness was a great match with the mild kick of the po' boy and they were perfect to dip into the remoulade.
Look folks, if you don't love the food here, then you just don't like Cajun cooking, because this is as genuine as it gets. I can't believe such a great Cajun & Creole place can be found in the middle of the Pacific. -
Review from Rei K.
Honolulu, HI
12/15/2008
I confess that the only exposure that I've ever really had to Jambalaya is watching Emril make it on the Food Network. A Taste of the Bayou was the perfect place for a novice like me. They have a whole page on the menu dedicated to explaining a few Creole terms that were foreign to me. In addition to that, our waiter was very helpful and patient when recommending various items on the menu to us.
We ended up ordering the Seafood Gumbo, Chicken Jambalaya and side order of the hush puppies. The first two are not for people who don't like spicy foods. The waiter had warned us that the Jambalaya would be spicy, but we found the Gumbo to be a lot spicier. The portions here are generous without going overboard, and the food was definitely good enough for a repeat visit. :) -
Review from Ken G.
10/20/2009
I first had Cajun food about 8 years ago and when we drove by this place, I thought it'd be a great opportunity to have it again.
The food was very good. We started off with Hush Puppies, which were very good - slightly sweet, but with a good cornmeal-grain texture and not overcooked. I then had the Red Beans and Rice dish, which was generous and full of flavor - I opted for the spicy version and it really was spicy. The sausage they used was very good and juicy and not at all dry.
The cool thing about the greater Honolulu area is that there are so many choices when it comes to dining and it's great to have another unique restaurant in the area. -
Review from Aku Z.
Honolulu, HI
5/15/2009 3 photos
Judging by how the professional media outlets are reviewing this place, you'd think there'd be a line stretching to Waikiki by now, or at least down to Rainbow's. What I found wasn't quite as googly-eyed nor star-struck, but I did, however, find lots to appreciate here.
First and foremost, was the complexity and depth of anything coming from a roux, which happens to include a sizeable portion of the menu. I know we're used to mixing cornstarch or flour with water, then adding it late as a thickening agent to so many dishes, but in Cajun cuisine, you may just get shot for doing so. The slow-toasting of the roux before-hand, until all the starchy-flour taste is gone and that browned, nutty, smoky flavor develops, is always something to be appreciated when done right. And it seems to me, they're doin' it right!
Though the portions of seafood were not large nor plentiful, the seafood file (fee-lay) gumbo was excellent - a little sweet, a little spicy, and oh, so deep, coming from a roux and gravy that were as diverse, complex, and rich as it gets anywhere on the island. A can or packaged mix will be the furthest thing from your mind after one spoonful, and you'll appreciate the home-style, no-cutting-corner's type of taste. If all else fails, it's at least a flavor that's very much foreign to the islands, and a novelty in itself!
For a few other samples, the chicken/andouille sausage gumbo was more tangy-hearty than the smoother, richer seafood version - pick your preference, is all. Chicken po'boy came on a super-hard French roll, along with sweet potato fries that were fine by themselves, but both seemed to over-power the thin chicken patty way too much. Gator? Not bad at all, but again, the delicious roux/gravy completely stole the show, and I still don't know exactly what gator tastes like for sure - but it's more like super-lean pork than chicken! Chicken and tasso jambalaya? Only had one taste, and after several large bottles of beer (byob for $5 per table), I don't remember much about it! Shimp etouffee was great, coming in an even thicker, more butter-rich roux/gravy than gumbo.
Next time - crawfish etouffee, shrimp creole, and shrimp/sausage jambalaya! And more beer!!! -
Review from David G.
Honolulu, HI
4/12/2009
I know there are some pretty good reviews of this place so I am sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but I really didn't think this place was good, in fact it was pretty bad.
We ordered a shrimp poor boy (that was just OK) with fries, hush puppies and Seafood File Gumbo. The shrimp poor boy came with 4 shrimp on a hard French bread roll with Lettuce, Tomato & remould for $8.95. Yes, that's right, 4 shrimp! Next, the poor boy came with a heaping mound of Sweet Potato fries straight from the freezer. Try making your own fries, it might have been a nice touch! Also, it would have been nice to say what kind of fries your sandwich comes with; instead of just writing: fries or a small salad.
Next, came the Seafood File Gumbo which was really flat tasting along with having no seafood in it. Well, sorry I think I found one piece of something. The soup was REALLY A POOR SHOWCASE of what they offer at Taste of The Bayou.
To be honest, I will say that their hush puppies were pretty good and at $2.50 a fairly good deal. Their corn muffins/corn bread that everybody has been raving about were fine, but nothing to jump up and down about!
I really don't think I would go back to this place again! -
Review from Scott K.
1/30/2010
Driving down Kapahulu you can miss this establishment! You ask yourself, where do I park? The answer......Bank of Hawaii across the street.
I love the trio that they have. Throw in the green tomatos and your set for a complete meal. This is a must place to try! -
Review from Mick K.
Waipahu, HI
12/16/2009
The entire mood of the restaurant is cheery and the murals on the walls are a welcoming sight as you enter the establishment. The overall vibe of the place is "no none sense and comforting."
I went there for lunch with a cousin. I found the menu to be short. Right away, I ordered the gumbo since I was in the mood for something hearty and hot. As I ate the gumbo, I was wishing that the meat and the sausage were cut chunkier rather than of "uniform size", which is to say they were all cubed. The thing about southern cooking, which I've come to expect and stereotyped is that the sizes of any stew's ingredients are cut in various sizes--chunky. This was more of a soup rather than a stew.
I liked the corn bread muffin that came with it, but I wish it was served in a small basket, such as a basket of dinner rolls in restaurants. I was given only one piece.
The restaurant is a great place to hang out and I envisioned it as the place to be at at nights, but because of the restaurant's odd hours of operation and that it does not have a live band and it's limited street parking, it's mainly somewhere to eat and go.
Overall, not bad. I'm looking forward for the place to expand into something as grand as Emeril Lagasse. -
Review from Page I.
Fort Collins, CO
12/29/2009
My BFF and I LOVE this restaurant! He's from the South so I'd say that he knows what he's talking about when he says that the food here is really, really good. It's a little pricey for 2 broke college students (~$40 for two entrees and one appetizer), but whenever we feel like splurging we try to make it down here. At 5:30p it's still a little empty; service was consistently very attentive and friendly.
He always orders his favourite dish, crawfish étouffée, which he says is very well made (unfortunately, I wasn't able to taste it because I can't eat shellfish). The sweet potato fries are perfectly made, crispy on the outside, soft and fluffy on the inside; it's also served with this AMAZING sweet/tangy sauce (I don't know the proper name--sorry). I got the chicken and andouille sausage gumbo the first time, and then the chicken and tasso jambalaya the second time. Both are very, very solid dishes, ingredients are high quality and it's got a strong flavour with a hint of smokiness. My only complaint as "Mick K." said, is that the meat is cut really small and uniform... would've preferred it if they were of a larger size.
The complementary corn muffins are also wonderful, soft, warm, and obviously made from scratch. They only provide one per person, though.
Like I said, even though this place is a little expensive, portion sizes are MORE than enough... we always leave this restaurant completely stuffed. -
Review from Jeremy D.
Updated - 6/16/2010
Oh my. I tried to call on a Saturday night to set a reservation and they never answered the phone. Had a friend stop by to see if they were still there and the sign said closed (not Open). I haven't tried again, but I have that sick feeling in the pit of my stomach that they are no longer in operation.
I sent an email to them but it was kicked back immediately. Sad. If anyone comes across another restaraunt with Cajun/New Orleans menu items, speak up! :(1 Previous Review: Show all »
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3/1/2009
Talk about an excellent first time, we chose Taste of the Bayou for dinner on Fat Tuesday. The… Read more »
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Review from Guy H.
Honolulu, HI
Updated - 12/15/2008
So I had a craving for the Shrimp Etoufee and took my sister to try the food. I was not disappointed. This time I actually ate in rather than take-out. We paid the $3 for evening parking at the Diamond Parking behind the Kapahulu Pizza Hut and walked over to the restaraunt. We got there about 7pm and there was a sign saying due to reservations they would have no walk in tables till about 7:30pm, so we figured we would put our names down and kill half an hour. As we walked out the guy actually chased us down and said they actually had a table they could seat us at. We thought that was very nice of them.
They had a special appetizer for the evening, Alligator tenderloins with Anduli sausage. We figured what the heck and ordered it. Everyone tells me gator tastes like chicken, but the tenderloins had more of a beef consistancy to me and took on the flavor of the sauce which was really good. It was served with the sauce on cajun rice with slices of the sausage. It was very good.
My sister ordered the Taste of the Bayou sampler and was very happy with it. She made it through the Gumbo but had to take home the rest of the Red Beans and Rice and the Jambalaya. I had my Shrimp Etoufee and was very happy with it.
For desert we shared a piece of Bread Pudding with a Whiskey Cream sauce. The bread pudding was moist without being liquidy and the whiskey sauce had a great flavor to it.
It got really crowded while we were there but service was still excellent. All in all I was very happy.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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11/16/2008
I've never had actual southern-bayou-creole type cuisine before, so I don't really have anything to… Read more »
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Review from Dayners P.
Pearl City, HI
2/2/2010
First off...I think a lot of Hawaii folks have yet to taste "real" Creole-Cajun food so the reviews are probably based off what they "think it should be." Second...I really, really wanted to love this place but just couldn't.
Basically, the run down:
Food - 4 stars
Value - 1 star
Ambiance - 2 1/2 stars
Total - mmeehhh...ok
Me (a native of Louisiana), along with two friends (one an ATL-ian and a Longhorn), had to eat here one night. We had the hushpuppies (hushpuppies=yum, sauce=epic fail), fried green tomatos (totally not worth it), file gumbo, jambalaya and beans and rice. Basically, it was OK...I think a $2.99 box of Zatarans and some seafood from Foodland would get you the same effect. Just not worth the amount you pay for mediocre food.
Went a second time, again with someone from another semi-Cajun/creole influenced state (good ol SC)...he wasn't throughly impressed, either.
With that ending note...the cornbread was yum, but what's with just one piece??? I could get the same thing at (the now defunct) Orleans Express for a dozen for a couple bucks.
Final verdict - save your $$ and hit up your supermarkets seafood aisle and buy some Zatarans...it's about as authentic as this place and a whole lot cheaper. Plus, the owner kept on giving us his little shpiel about how this is "not a SOUTHERN restaurant, this is a Cajun-Creole restaurant." The last time I checked the bayou was in the south, if you are a taste of the bayou and the bayou is in the south...ahhh, you get it. -
Review from Lena H.
Honolulu, HI
2/15/2009
HAPPY VALENTINES DAY TO ME!
I've been looking forward to this place all week!
Last night my husband, my son, and I went here for Valentines Day. We got reservations at 8pm and got there exactly 8. We were told by the manager that she had us down at 8:30pm which I knew was wrong because I bummed that the earliest was 8pm when we spoke on the phone earlier during the day.
We got seated, got our water and drinks, got our order taken, and got our corn bread muffins, then we waited..........waited.............and waited......
The food took pretty long to come out. My husband and son got there order and they said mine would be coming up. I didn't want them to wait for me so they started eating. My husband stopped and waited for a while because he didn't want me to be eating alone. 20 mins went by and my meal still hadn't come out.
They didn't check on us and they barely looked in our direction. As the minutes were going by I decided I wasn't going to eat because the boys were finishing up.
I called the manager over said we're done and I wanted to leave and I still hadn't gotten my meal after my family had finished theres. She looked puzzled like she had no clue MY meal hadn't come out yet. Which make me wonder because there were only two servers out on the floor and the manager was helping serve as well so how could she not know?!!
Anyways of course they took MY meal off the bill and took another 25% off the bill which made it come to $23. Our server came by and apologized and made it sound like were lucky to get an additional 25% off the bill. He also added that he didn't know what happened to my order and didn't know why it never came out. Well if you are a server (i was one for a little while in maui) then you would check on the food, check the kitchen, and check your table! Thats what you do when you are a SERVER! I decided he didn't deserve any gratuity and I will never return to this place. In fact all my friends on Twitter were waiting to hear back about this place and now they will.
It really made me more sad and disappointed because I was so excited to go here.
We ended up going to Bubbies to make me feel better and it did!
**Two stars are because the sweet potato fries were good. -
Review from Erin R.
Honolulu, HI
4/2/2009
"There's a party in my mouth and you're not invited!" - Honest to God words out of my mouth after taking my first spoonful of Taste Of The Bayou's Gumbo.
This is the first restaurant that we've gone too where all our plates were clean at the end of dinner. The food is to die for! The Corn Maque Choux is ethereal. The corn muffins are light and tasty. Their Fried Green Tomatoe are delicious and I always find myself fighting off my dining companions for the last bite! Don't miss their Alligator (WOO-HOO!) andouille sausage appetizer! The Seafood Gumbo is spicy and full flavored. Their "Taste of the Bayou" offers a generous tasting portion of their Red Beans and Rice, Gumbo and Jambalaya and is an excellent intro to their full meals. Everything was outstanding!
Then to end with the best sweet potato pie and pecan pie I have ever had. Parking is a little difficult but the food makes the hunt for parking worthwhile. Make reservations beforehand. They do not lack for guests. The ambiance is great. Made me feel like I was in Cajun country enjoying a meal at the shack down the street! Only problem I found was that the service can be a bit slow if the restaurant is packed, but when that food arrives, the wait is definitely worth it! -
Review from bifyu j.
Honolulu, HI
9/21/2009
Can't say I know what authentic cajun/creole cuisine tastes like, but I did enjoy myself. It certainly beat other examples of what's been passed off locally as jambalaya.
The corn bread muffins were ono. A little butter, and broke da mouth.
The fried green tomatoes were well balanced. The tomato was slightly al dente yet tender without being mushy and just acid enough to provide the counterbalance to the savory, crunchy, crust. They were topped with lightly dressed greens that provided another foil for this deep fried delectable.
The alligator appetizer was a bit disappointing, both from the perspective of portion size - you get two tender medallions of gator about two quarters in size each, with some rice and their andouille sausage; and because it was hard to distinguish any distinctive flavor of the alligator itself under their piquant sauce (but perhaps this is just the nature of the beast). This was really more of a novelty dish for us anyway though.
The seafood file gumbo was rich and complex without being heavy. We ordered it "medium" spicy since it was out first time here and had no callibration for how they did it. I would have characterized what was served as "barely mild" but a little of their tableside "medium" hot sauce provided the right amount of kick without overwhelming the flavor.
Their Taste of the Bayou sampler with chicken and andouille gumbo, chicken and tasso jambalaya, and red beans and rice rounded out our entrées. They were all deep, hearty, very satisfying and easily qualify as comfort foods for me. The jambalaya in particular was a favorite.
We finished with a sweet potato and coconut pie with chantilly cream. The pie was a bit lighter than your typical pumpkin pie, and the coconut refreshingly subtle. SWMBO did not care for the chantilly cream, but I enjoyed it.
They could stand to upgrade their air conditioning though... unless their aim is to also recreate the feel of the bayou. -
Review from Rachelle M.
Honolulu, HI
11/29/2009
I have been to this restaurant a couple times. Each time the food is pretty satisfying. Each dish has a kick, the portions are fair and cajun food is a welcome change of pace for the island of Oahu, but the service is always lacking. The food takes a long time to be prepared so just know in advance that the wait will be awhile.
The cornbread is pretty damn delicious. -
Review from Alyssa K.
12/10/2008
I ordered the namesake dish, " Taste of the Bayou". Very very flavorful.
I especially liked the rice dish (jambalaya I think), and the gumbo in the middle.
My boyfriend ordered Shirmp Etouffee and loved it and also the side of corn.
I'm a fan! -
Review from demur e.
Honolulu, HI
11/3/2008 5 photos
I lived in New Orleans for six months (pre-Katrina) and have missed cajun food ever since. A Taste of the Bayou is probably the closest I've come in Hawaii to recapturing those awesome flavors!
Food: Very good. I was happy with everything I tried.
Warm corn muffins come first and are light, but have that nice "tooth" to it because of the grind of the cornmeal.
They offer a "trio" of gumbo (hearty soup made thick with file), red beans and rice (with smoky tasso ham), and jambalaya (with andouille sausage and probably more of the ham). *sigh* Awesome.
Also tried the chicken etoufee on rice which came with corn maque choux, this sweet corn side that is rich and savory with cream and onion and other yummy stuff. (Pause to wipe drool).
Shrimp Po' Boy is dressed with a spicy mayo, lettuce and tomato. The shrimp are fried in a cornmeal batter that keeps the juices in.
Also had to try the hush puppies, which are andagi-shaped and a sweet/savory combo. Loved them. Not too greasy, I could have eaten an order by myself.
The one thing that was a tad disappointing was the desserts. We tried the bread pudding which had banana in it (yuk) and the pecan pie, which was good, but not outstanding. Also, I kept tasting banana and while I thought I was going crazy, I finally figured out that the whipped cream on the pecan pie had banana flavoring! (yuk!) I would have been happy with more corn muffins. I would have paid for those corn muffins!
Service: I think they're trying to find their groove. The wait staff were kind of slow and when we first got there, someone (not our waitress) offered to get our drink orders because (and I quote), "I don't think your waitress wants to do it." Okaaaayyyy. When our actual waitress did come by to take our orders, she was nice. If she didn't want to serve us (for whatever reason), it didn't show. She also kept my diet coke flowing (so she got a good tip).
Ambiance: There's a mural on the walls that include pelicans (Louisiana's state bird) and other local flora and fauna. Only one thing was kind of weird...I think the alligator is going to eat the racoon and it's kind of disturbing to see that while one is eating. Yes, I'm definitely a supermarket carnivore. You mean cows don't come wrapped in plastic?
Also, the place is a tad squishy as they try to fit the most number of chairs and tables possible in a relatively small space.
Overall: I will definitely be returning to try more dishes. There was no crawfish on the menu. I would love me an authentic crawdad boil! (pause to wipe more drool).
Note: Currently they're open Wednesday through Sunday. -
Review from Eric A.
Honolulu, HI
9/18/2009
I couldn't help but think of the opening Credence guitar riff for "Born on a Bayou" as I made my way to this place. Though I wish I was "rollin' with some Cajun Queen", it was basically (cept for one) another sausage party. Five mutha-truckaz: hungry, chipper and "chasin' down a hoodoo there". Whatever hell that means...
Nice corner spot on the Avenue (with luck, found street parking fast). Brightly lit room with big, loud paintings of the ocean and what looked like to members of 90's group Arrested Developement. Everyday people? Yessum'! Since there was no sign of "mastah" in sight, our mood was quite jolly and so we started droppin a dish-list to our waiter.
Jamalaya! Hush Puppies! Chicken Estouffee! I was so happy to see our party having such an eccelctic pallet this evening, as everyone ordered something different. In this process, I also got to try four diffrent types of food I've been wanting to for the longest time: gator, fried green tomatoes, gumbo and catfish. Yay to the popping of culinary cherries FRICE in one night! Though will I ever forget any of these firsts? Hrmm...
The gator, like another Yelper mentioned, didn't seem so bizarre/gamy because it was seasoned so well. It reminded me of "real" imitation crab meat, if that makes any sense? Good but not interesting. The batter of the fried green tomatoes was like biting into a deliciously seasoned onion ring (same with the hush puppies) but with a vinegry and tart inside after thought. The way any raw, crisp green tomato should be. *Check mark* .The seafood file gumbo? Very tasty! At first it looked like a bowl of (local-style asian) curry, with a scoop of rice and macaroni salad floating around on the inside. Alas, what I first thought was hints of mayonaised carbohydrates was actually seasoned shrimp.
I felt other Yelpers (who also liked this gumbo) were very precise in their descriptions: "slow cooked" "rich" "savory and spicy" "no cutting corners". With each bite you could taste the sinew of the scallop, crab and shrimp coagulated into a nice goey green goodness. Heat I felt was just right. Then again, I am one of those assholes who takes shots of chili pepper water before I eat pupus and drink beers. Your miles may vary. Another winner is the sweet potato fries. How are they different from others of the same potato? Think of those addicting "regular" fries at McDonald's. YEAH. The same cut, crunch and salt cept it's sweet and NOT greasy! They're also accompanied with a great mustard/vinaigrette dipping sauce. As another Yelper said, she could eat them "every single day". I agree, they're excellent! Most of them were gone, even before I had the chance to touch my catfish po' boy (southern-style hot sub).
Finally, my first taste of catfish! Nothing wrong with the flakiness or seasoning, though it took some getting used to. They say you can taste the food/envirorment of an animal in their meat. Heh, ever see River Monsters on Animal Planet? The catfish (to me) tasted soft and murky. Though in this po' boy, w/a hearty fillet & a good tartar sauce, it was like a beefed up Filet-O-Fish. This so happens to be my favorite Mickey-D sandwhich since childhood.
With the negative reviews on service here, even if it was busy & with one server on the floor, last night we were lucky.
4 stars
A Taste of the Bayou on Kapahulu Avenue -
Review from Mr. M.
Honolulu, HI
5/8/2009
The best southern tasting chicken & sausage gumbo and jambalaya I have had outside of the south. I understand everyone from the south has a different way of cooking their favorite dish. For me, this was very close to what I have experienced from my relatives and in my home, taste wise.
Went with a party of four the other night. We ordered one appetizer, four main courses, and two sides. My ratings are as follows:
Appetizer:
- Alligator Tenderloin: 4 out of 5, Sauce was flavored well. Alligator had a good texture. Sauce highlighted the taste of the dish.
Main Course:
- Seafood Gumbo: 2 out of 5, A bit salty for my liking. Grew up on my grandmother's gumbo, which makes me quite biased. Have not been able to match her seafood gumbo in or out of the south.
- Chicken & Sausage Gumbo: 4 out of 5, Good flavor to the gumbo. Nice combination of meats and vegetables in addition to the spices. Only complain is that they burned the rue. It is a difficult process that requires precise timing, but makes a big difference. Outside of making my own gumbo for 6 hours, this is the best option hands down.
- Jambalaya: 4 out of 5, Great rice! This was spiced very well, along with the corn. Both together were excellent. The shrimps were lacking in flavor though. This was really surprising. With pan fried or spice boiled shrimp, I believe this would be their best dish.
- Shrimp Creole: N/A, I personally don't eat this dish in general so I will not comment. Others at the table seemed to enjoy.
Side Dishes
- Corn Maque Choux: 5 out of 5, Comes with the jambalaya. We effectively had two orders. See above comments.
- Hush Puppies: 3 out of 5, Good looking hush puppies. Not used to such a sweet hush puppy. Would like to have had corn and other veggies mixed in. Good overall.
Overall a good experience. Will eat here probably 2-3 times a month. -
Review from Emiko T.
2/18/2010 1 photo
Fabulous little place with delicious cajun food which was perfect for our mardi gras celebration. Tables were decked out in purple, green, and gold beads galore. Cajun style food is definitely one of those rare dining experiences for me and it was a tasty fried filled treat to eat here. Ordered the sweet potato fries, catfish, grilled chicken salad and the hushpuppies and MmmMmm...Fat Tuesday never felt so good. You might perhaps already know that it's madness to just try and drop in without a reservation, but in case you're that crazy I wish you luck. This tiny restaurant is (or should be) in high demand.
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Review from sachiko k.
Honolulu, HI
9/6/2009
I was very excited to try the food here after driving by it almost everyday and especially after reading the reviews online. Unfortunately, the service was very poor and we were unable to get anywhere past our sodas and their complimentary corn bread. We made a reservation and showed up 5 minutes before, but they had given our table away so instead we were seated at a table for 4. We were more than happy for the extra leg room until 15 minutes into our sodas and corn bread we were asked to "move to a different table because 4 people WITH A RESERVATION showed up" and they needed the table. Don't get me wrong, I have no problem moving down the sushi bar or switching tables as long as I'm not that far along into my meal and have been asked politely. What irritated me was her insinuating that we did not have a reservation, which we did, and how she obviously did not know what was going on in the restaurant because another 4 top right next to us opened up immediately after everyone had been seated. 45 minutes into it, we still hadn't received anything or even any word on what was going on with our food. Initially our server asked if we wanted our food to come out in any particular order since we ordered quite a few sides, appetizers and a couple entrees (we get excited when we order and don't usually finish it all), we told him it didn't matter, we would just eat whatever was ready. Other than to refill our drinks, that was the last we had heard of our order. We decided to leave when the 4 top who took our table started to receive food and over heard apologies for their wait. After I flagged down our server, he brought our check and apologized by telling us "i'm sorry, we're really busy tonight. you should come back again. next time you should come in on a slower night."
Oh ok, next time (if ever) I make another reservation, I'll make sure to ask if it will be a slow night!! Seriously?!
Oh and that 4 top that opened up, it was never filled! -
Review from Derek F.
Honolulu, HI
12/19/2009
I gave this review 3 out of a possible 5, however I kind of like this place and will be going back to get a better assessment. So I will start off with the bad. Parking is a bad, however we lucked out and landed a sweet spot by Ono's. Price is also a bad. Way over priced considering portion size and overall effort and ingredients in their dishes. This is a huge turn off. By the way, corn maux choux is freak'n Jolly Green Giant corn niblets FYI. I didn't know what the heck maux choux was and felt kinda deceived when low and behold I saw that my side dish was plain ol' corn. Shrimp were also kinda on the small side. When I pay $16.95 for a dish, I expect more than rice, corn niblets, and 8 small shrimp. Even the dirty tourist raping shrimp trucks in north shore offer a better deal and they are thieving bastards.
Now for the good. Louisiana style food is as rare in Hawaii as are Kosher Jewish NY style delis. They just don't really exist. Taste of the Bayou is a welcome change of pace and some of their dishes are tasty. Hushpuppies are decent, but kinda greasy. Shrimp gumbo is above average. Fried tomatoes are interesting (kinda tasted a pickled flavor). Bread pudding with whiskey sauce was pretty good. All in all our meal was edible, overall pleasant, and the service was not as bad as some other reviewers experienced. I just felt that we should have had much bigger portions considering the price. Taste of Bayou is on the skimpy side and the food is far from gourmet, where you can get away with being skimpy.
I am looking forward to going back to the Bayou b/c a lot of their menu items sounded interesting and they have roused my curiosity. I'm not looking forward to getting the bill though. -
Review from Doug B.
Honolulu, HI
10/9/2008
A full house and loud, but not overbearing cajun music. Wait staff friendly and attentive. A friend from southern Louisiana and I went to A Taste of the Bayou and everything scored high points with my native consultant.
The roux in the gumbo was some of the best he'd ever had; it must've taken all day to make. The Maque Choux was right on. The red beans and rice were great and jambalaya was mighty fine with fiery andouille sausages. I sweated a bucket from the heat of the spices! The rather small corn bread muffin that came with had just the right hint of sugar. Once you see the large portions, you realize you don't want a bigger muffin, because it'd take up too much room for the food to fit in your stomach.
BYOB was nice with no corkage fee at the time we went. The menu doesn't have all the treats of a New Orleans diner; it's an awful long way from the nearest crawfish pond. They did say the were hoping to line up a source for mudbugs to expand the menu some. It passed "the native test."
It was a bit lighter on the salt than standard swamp-cookin', which was appreciated to keep down the blood pressure -
Review from uilani c.
3/13/2010
i sit here devouring "taste of the bayou's" sweet potato coconut pie topped with chantilly whipped creme and i am in heaven. the pie is long on flavor and the just the right consistency. homemade, i am sure!
we ate at the restaurant which offered a mediocre atmosphere though the wall murals were entertaining and the ragtime music filled the air. the food we ordered was well-flavored. we ordered the po' boy shrimp and the po' boy chicken. both sandwiches were tasty and the meat fillings were done up just right with lettuce and tomato inside a crispy french roll. the sweet potato fries were sweet enough that no condiment was needed though it was served with a sweet/very mildly spiced dipping sauce.
the cajun rice and the corn maque choux were awesome! rice was spiced just right and the corn was all one could want from creme and butter!
corkage fee is $5 per table.
note: parking is tight...find it on the street or at bank of hawaii parking lot across the street (when bank is closed). -
Review from Mike C.
Honolulu, HI
Updated - 8/3/2010 4 Check-ins Here
Sorry to see that these guys have shut their doors for good. Hate to see them go...word has it a Thai place is coming into the space soon.
Listed in: Top Restaurants
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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10/2/2008
Good food, friendly service, and BYOB helps make it inexpensive. Not perfect but definitely off to… Read more »
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Review from Joanne V.
Kaneohe, HI
8/11/2010
Well, I guess Taste of the Bayou is a memory now. Stopped by yesterday and there were construction people in there tearing the place up. I tried to talk to one of them and there was a language problem. He just kept shaking his head and signaling "gone" with his hands. That saddens me. This is the only restaurant in town that I've gone to where I have cleaned my plate. I hope they just decided to move to a better spot with parking. I will be watching for them!
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Review from Satoru Y.
8/31/2008
A tamer application of the unique Southern cuisine.
I have not had Cajun food in quite some time. The last time I had some was at a BBQ, when a friend made some Jambalaya. When I heard that a Cajun place had opened up in Kapahulu, I jumped at the chance to try it out.
I noticed that every dish was either Chicken or Shrimp. I was expecting to see a larger variety of meats in each of the dishes; maybe Gator or Crawfish. They did have Catfish though. I had the Chicken Etouffee; which had a combination of seasoning and a rich gravy sauce. The dish was good, but actually had less seasoning than I was expecting for Cajun food. I shared the "Taste of the Bayou" Sampler; which had Jambalaya, Gumbo, and Red Beans and Sausage. The Jambalaya was seasoned well, was very flavorful, and hearty (I love andouille sausage); the Red Beans with Sausage was okay, but not too memorable; the Gumbo was a little less flavorful than I was expecting. I kept wondering why they are holding back the flavor; isn't that a fundamental characteristic of Cajun/Creole cooking? It would seem that the place is holding back to better patronize to Hawaii's tastebuds: Don't pander and become confined to what Hawaii's palates are. Push the envelope, and truly showcase the regional foods you serve.
Although not the most authentic Cajun/Creole food I've ever had, it is the closest that a restaurant has come in Hawaii. -
Review from Sara C.
Montour Falls, NY
2/27/2009
Roommate and I went to A Taste of the Bayou the day after Fat Tuesday because I was having so much fun at the party downtown I forgot to eat and I was still craving some cajun food. Once we FINALLY found parking (an oddly-shaped pay lot sort of behind the Pizza Hut down the block), we walked into a cute bistro-type restaurant. There were only maybe 12 tables, so if it's a weekend you should definitely call ahead to see whether you need a reservation.
We brought our own beer, of course, and one of the servers put it in the fridge right next to where we sat, so convenient! Gail was our waitress and she was nice and answered all of our questions.
We started with the fried green tomatoes because both of us are pretty big fans, but they weren't great, just meh. The tomatoes were a little too thick, and the breading was pretty heavy, and we only got 2 slices for $7.95. For dinner we shared the Taste of the Bayou (which, like everybody else says, is chicken gumbo, chicken jambalaya, and red beans and rice; we subbed shrimp in the gumbo and were kind of disappointed that we got 2 little prawns) and the fried catfish with hush puppies. The hush puppies were out of this world good! I lived in Tennessee for 8 years and I'm pretty picky about hush puppies; these were awesome and not to be missed. The catfish was fried up nicely, but I'm not a huge fan, even with the tartar sauce they serve. Roommate loved it. The trio was okay but disappointingly bland. There are only so many ways you can do rice, beans, and meat (or some combination) without adding some spice. All 3 of the dishes tasted pretty similar. They had tabasco and another kind of hot sauce available and I used them pretty liberally.
One of my coworkers showed up with his girl and ate too (boy this is a small town!), and they liked the crawdad etouffee but also weren't impressed with the tomatoes or the trio.
Overall the restaurant setup was cozy and the staff was great, but the food needs some kick to call itself cajun. -
Review from Tara W.
Arlington, VA
9/7/2009
Trust me, get the seafood gumbo! I had the po'boy which was pretty tasty but not the best I've ever had! However, the whole trip was made because of the sweet potato fries! Truly amazing! I could eat those every single day and not tire of them! Totally effin' soft and sweet and served with honey mustard dressing for dipping! Killer! See you soon ATOTB!!!!!
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Review from Leslie G.
Honolulu, HI
10/21/2009
Limited menu but the food they do have is delicious. Wish the place was bigger & parking more convenient.
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Review from Becky T.
1/30/2010 ROTD 5/9/2010
This is a really cute restaurant and I had a nice meal here. I liked the corn bread that was brought out at the start of the meal. It was light and cake-like. It's probably good that they only brought out one more each because I would have just kept eating them and would have ruined the rest of my meal. (How's that for glass half full?) I ordered the crawfish etouffee which was good, but not great. I think I would have liked it with shrimp better because the crawfish that I got was sorta wimpy. My buddy got the chicken and tassa jambalaya, and his dish was a lot better. It was spicy with that great Cajun kick. Both dishes came with this side of corn that was really good. Best part of the meal though had to have been the sweet potato coconut pie with chantilly cream. It's made in house and just fabulous! Service was slow but really friendly. Overall a nice experience once you find parking.
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Review from Faye D.
Honolulu, HI
1/30/2010
Initially, pure curiosity and a sense of adventure lead us to "the Bayou". We were sooo very happy we decided to stop in at the spur of the moment! The Jambalaya was Exceptional so was the Seafood Gumbo! We kept laughing at ourselves because between the two of us, we kept saying "wow-this is so good"-"wow-this is great"! Yes, we love to eat good food!
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Review from Julia L.
Honolulu, HI
2/2/2010
This restaurant is very quaint and very themed, all the way down to the little "mardi gras" confetti underneath the glass on the tables. The music, decorations and southern hospitality set the mood.
The corn bread will knock your socks off and is all you can eat, they give you a small amount of honey and butter for your desire.
The portions are decently sized, but expensive! My friend and I shared a meal and were left wanting more. The best thing to get is the sampler which I saw others getting, they give three choices of entrees. Although it is spicy food, which I love, don't be alarmed because you can pick your desired "spice" and they give you hot sauce on the side. I hope next time to try the catfish, which look delicious.
The desert was delicious, but small. I had the Bread pudding in whiskey sauce. I used to make this desert, so I wasn't a fan of the banana in the bread pudding, but the whiskey sauce was served warm and was delicious. Topped with a little vanilla ice cream and it was ono!
Make sure you are ready to spend some money, but you will not be left unsatisfied! -
Review from Ballin B.
Honolulu, HI
10/18/2009
Whatever happened to customer service? Here's the story. A good friend recommended the "Taste of the Bayou." He had nothing but good things to say about this particular restaurant. So I gave it a try. Well, as soon as I arrived at the Taste of the Bayou I was told that if I ordered it would take 45mins to an hour wait. I didn't mind the wait they were busy but it seemed that they were shocked that I was willing to wait. So I ordered and paid for my food. As I was waiting another customer came in and wanted to be seated. There were no other tables available. So the waitress asked me to move to a reserved table. I was like "WHAT!" There are some certain customs when you address a customer, especially a customer who already paid their hard earned money. I was so furious I just waited outside. As for the food it was decent. It wasn't bad but it wasn't all that great. As a customer they lost me forever. I sincerely hope you have a better experience.
