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Stopped by for coffee and desert one night. The coffee menu highlights several locally produced coffees beyond the usual Kona Coffee from the Co-op. Instead there are individual farm coffees from several areas including Ka'u. The coffee is rich and full bodied with excellent taste without and bitterness.
The "coconut" a haupia sorbet in a chocolate shell with fresh fruit is by far one of the best sorbets and coconut deserts I have had. The tart fruit is a nice offset to the sweetness of the sorbet and chocolate. The sorbet itself is smooth with a full coconut taste and a silky texture.
I have eaten dinner here. While good it did not wow me like the desert and coffee does.
Bad, Horrible Service.
Not enough time to write full review now, but will try to add more later.
My family and I came here because it was top 5 places to eat in Oahu, possibly #1. For our family and vacation eatting...money is no option and we are sure that we all order different things so we can give each dish a taste. So if you're in Oahu and willing to spend money for good good, this is the place!!
May I Take Your Order?
- Duck Salad
- Crabcakes
- Lobster Crabcake
- My dad ordered a seafood mixture thing, forgot what it was called. haha
- I ordered a dish that was a local fish, it was trout-like texture with crispy skin.
- 5-spoon creme brulee (included 5 flavors:Macadamia nut, coffee, coconut, chocolate, and regular custard)
- "The Coconut" (Coconut ice cream covered with chocolate/mac nuts to look like a sliced coconut, and a medly of fresh fruit)
My mom ordered the $100 5-course meal which consisted of:
- Macadamia Nut Crusted Halibut
- Fried Wonton with Kalua Sandwich over bisque (to wash it down according to the waitor)
- Hawaiian Ranch Steak w/ Lobster Crabcake
- a sampler of chocolate cake and the "tapioca dessert" (fruit, tapioca and manga icecream)
- I don't remember the 5th course to be honest. lol.
It's All About the Food!:
If you do come, you should definitely try one of the pre-set multi-course meals. There was a 5 course for $100 and a 10-course available as well. The fish was fresh, the courses were unique and beautifully presented and each dish was full of flavor and perfect combinations of taste! The Ranch steak is from the local ranch on Oahu and the desserts were to DIE FOR! an ABSOLUTE MUSSST is "THE COCONUT!!" If you come here and do not order this as a dessert, you are gonna miss out! The coconut ice cream is smooth, creamy, and has a natural taste rather than a corn syrup/frozen taste.
Foodless thoughts:
Alan Wong's is perfect for a anniversary, proposal, birthday dinner, retirement dinner, or even just a great dinner for high quality fine dining. It is impressive when the chef has the food ready, he gathers the waitors and informs them on how to present the dish and what the dish consists of in a professional and informative manner. The Waitors bring each dish one by one, explaining the dish in great detail and how to eat it (if applicable). You must make reservations and it's Valet parking only.
The Pro's opinions:
- Zagat Hawaiian Guide 2009 lauds Alan Wong's as top restaurant.
- Food & Wine Magazine's Go List 2008
- Top 50 restaurants in Steve Plotnicki's Opinionated About Fine Dining Survey 2008
I went here thinking it would be "fancy" but was disappointed when it wasn't. I know it's the food that really matters, but they use a new interior designer.
We made dinner reservations days in advance and walked in five minutes early only to be told we would have to wait another 15 minutes (which actually ended being about 22 minutes, but who's counting?) Then in walks a couple in their dirty shorts and flip-flops, fresh from the beach and with no reservations and they waited the same amount of time, if not less. What was the point of making a reservation?
Anyway.. I ordered a pasta dish which was decent and we also tried the twice cooked pork, which didn't live up to the hype at all. I was kind of annoyed because I had heard so many good things about this restaurant and it was one of our last nights in Hawaii but it just kept disppointing... then dessert happened!
I ordered the Coconut dessert and was blown away! When it arrived, I was so confused. I know it was meant to be in the shape of a coconut, but not taste like an actual coconut and was supposed to be composed of chocolate and other fruits... I just kept staring at it thinking, what is this!? it's so cute... but what is it!? HAHA.. it ended up being scrumptious! (photos uploaded) And then with another glass of wine and some other chocolate dessert, Alan Wong's turned out to be not so bad afterall. Lesson learned: sometimes there are still a few surprises left =)
First off, visiting from LA, the tax rate felt like a discount off our bill.
With a party of 10, we ordered all of our drink at the bar, which probably took off over $100 from our dinner bill had we just stayed put at our table and ordered from our servers.
Valet and hostess right up front from the street and then you take an elevator to get to the restaurant. The place is small, tight squeeze, but decent size for being a flagship restaurant. Personally love the open kitchen and open air balcony.
There is a 5-crouse and a 7-course...I almost got either one, considering I was visiting. But after looking at the dishes listed on the menu, my first impression was "hmmm - overt descriptions on common household dishes make me weary." Luckily a couple of friends did the pre fixe and I was glad at the end I didn't.
I got:
Mini Loco Moco: loved the dual crispness and soft chewiness of the mochi and the same play with the water chestnut and unagi eel inside. The quail egg on top was a bonus.
HV Foie Gras: Perfectly seared. Appreciated the chutney to match, however, I would have prefer ed it to be less oily and less tart with the Li Hing Mui that was mixed in with dried apples, apricots or such. Overall, I've had better chutney and better foie gras at a steakhouse.
Richard's Whole Tomato Salad: I'll give him props for the construction of a salad with the juiciest most beautiful tomato in pure form, but if I closed my eyes it was like feasting on tomatoes and cucumbers with In-N-Out dressing.
Kula "Strawberries Romanoff": There is more content in the description than the dessert itself. But it was very delectable and refreshing. The goat cheese sorbet is memorable, light and just enough of its pungency to not offset any other flavors.
Overall experience, with friends, was quite pleasant. I would go back when I visit again.
Plus, the other highlight of the night...Sidney Poitier was dining just a few tables from ours. And yes, reservations are a must.
The first three courses of the 7-Course Menu Tasting=WINNAHS.
One star for each of those amazing three!
"COLD SEAFOOD SALAD"
Crab, Lobster and Abalone on
Soy Katsuo Gelee, Edamame Honda Tofu Panna Cotta
Soft, sweet, tender, springy, chewy, salty, creamy... insane tastes and textures marry so well!
"SOUP AND SANDWICH"
Chilled Vine Ripened Hamakua Springs Tomato Soup with
Grilled Mozzarella Cheese,
Foie Gras, Kalua Pig Sandwich
Tangy tomato soup with crispy crunchy toasted cheesy sammich... the smoky kalua pig inside was moist and tasty.
"MINI LOCO MOCO"
Seared Hudson Valley Foie Gras, Mochi Crusted Meatloaf,
Sunny Side Quail Egg
Flavor explosion!!! Every bite was like heaven.
The rest of the courses? Forgettable...
4.5 stars??? Ya'll need to get out more.
Alan Wong's = MEGAFAIL. WORST SERVICE EVER.
On a recent trip to Oahu, my buddy and I were on a rampant hunt to taste the best Oahu had to offer in terms of local cuisine. We are both discerning foodies from Los Angeles and live less than 5 miles from both Nobu and Roy's, neither of which we wanted to rediscover 3,000 miles away from home. We had received numerous recommendations to dine at Alan Wong's from out hotel staff, so off we went.
First off, I had read the Yelp reviews of Alan Wong's beforehand and knew to expect to find the restaurant an "unassuming building." Let's just say that was putting it mildly. We were greeted by a man who ushered us up in the elevator where pictures of Alan Wong and his local produce were tactlessly scotched taped to the walls. When I exited the elevator, I was shocked to discover how small the actual restaurant was. I immediately noticed the lack of fine dining ambiance, but figured, hey, we were on an island!
We were seated immediately by the hostess and eagerly opened up the menu to plan our scrumptious feast. First thing I noticed was that the menu was very, very limited. Only a handful of appetizers, salads, and entrees. Being the greedy li'l piggies we are, we decided we wanted to try as much as we could (a la tapas-style), especially because nothing on the entree list seemed particularly inventive nor promising.
Our waiter, an older Japanese man, finally approached our table after 5 minutes +, and took our drink orders. I had been taking a slew of medicine due to a nasty bug I had caught on the plane ride in, so I skipped on wine and opted for sparkling water. My friend ordered a martini. Apparently, our waiter was of the opinion that our drink order was insufficient as he proceeded to ask twice (in a row) if we would be ordering a bottle of wine, which I personally thought was a little absurd.
I explained to the waiter we would be dining tapas-style and then we proceeded to order 4 appetizers, the lobster corn chowder soup, and the shellfish bowl. I told the waiter that we might be ordering more (depending on, of course, how good the food was and how full we got), and asked to keep a menu. NO LESS than 3 minutes had gone by and the waiter came back asking us if we would like to "complete our order." At first, I sat there confused, but after he came back a record-breaking 3 MORE times, asking the same question, we got downright annoyed. It was the same kind of uncomfortable pressure I imagine one would feel at a used car dealership. Still, I politely said "not at this time."
OK -- do we typically order an an entree per person when dining out? Sometimes. When we don't, do we always order enough additional appetizers and the like to make up for it? YES. I've done exactly the latter in some of the best restaurants in the world and have never been questioned by waitstaff. Meanwhile, this waiter couldn't be bothered to refill my water glass once during the entire meal. In fact, we barely saw him after that.
Aside from ridiculously awful service, here's what I thought of the food:
Tomato/beet salad: easily forgettable.
Lobster corn chowder: I was expecting white, thick, creamy soup. What I got was tortilla soup, topped with tortilla strips. Lobster was completely overpowered by the taste of tortilla soup. It wasn't awful, but I had been expecting something completely different. In desperate need of a name change.
Ahi/avocado stack: Quality of Ahi was not great. The flavors were lackluster. Honestly, you could get better at any LA/NY casual restaurant.
Foie gras: Foie gras wasn't properly cooked. Accompanying chuntey was just wrong. First time in my life, I didn't finish a plate of foie gras.
Nori wrapped tempura ahi: One of the worst things I have ever put in my mouth. Hardly tempura, just greasy nori with a few pimples of popped breadcrumb. Wasabi sauce was disgustingly strong -- ahi never stood a chance. Gross.
Shellfish stew: Soup tasted overly fishy. Shellfish was overcooked.
Needless to say, we did NOT stay for dessert and instead opted for a much needed do-over meal at Sasabune (I was completely against going to a restaurant I could find in LA all the way in Oahu, but I desperately needed to get back in touch with good food/service).
Tip for you Alan Wong's:
http://boss.blogs.nyti...
after 6 hrs of kayaking, my boyfriend rewarded both of us to a nice dinner here and also reserved us at the balcony area.
Well, I rather have sat inside as there was not a good scene to look at but it was a very nice restaurant overall.
the staff were attentive.
we were served their dinner rolls with a dijon mustard/butter spread of some sort. it was so good.
we had the kim chi sprind rolls, casear salad and then his steak and my shrimp and clam linguine plus the 5 flavored brulee.
presentation on all the items were superb. the food were tasty to each bite.
the lychee martinis are to die for. i had a couple and my bf had a glass of spanish wine w/ his steak (recommended by the chef). it was perfect with our meal.
we will be back to try other dishes or their tasting menu :)
Ranked 6th in the nation? Of course I had to try this place out! The service is great!! The food was really good and it was the perfect amount in one sitting.
I ordered the linguine with clam and shrimp. The clams were juicy and fresh, and the shrimp were cooked perfectly and packed so much flavor. The linguine was cooked in a black bean sauce (I think) and its such a great twist to a regular clam linguine.
My sister ordered the mahi mahi and the bite I had of it was really good. I love fish!!
Oh their dinner rolls and spread are really really good too! Man I'm hungry now :( But please eat here! Its really really good.
The service and decor is nice.
I can't believe this place gets such high reviews. I think anybody who has actually eaten real chinese/korean/japanese food would be disappointed. Really disappointed. This is what I call fusion done badly. Food is 5x as expensive and only 1/5th as good.
Flavors are way too heavy and overpowering.
Asian Fusion Menu. Superb food, a blend of unusual flavours to produce dishes of exceptional quality. This restaurant may be pricey but is great value for the quality. Extensive wine list, superb attentive service. Situated slightly off the main drag but valet parking available. A "must" visit in Honolulu.
One of our favorites, Alan Wong's, did not disappoint last night at their "Next Generation" dinner, featuring chefs Wade Ueoka and Michelle Karr.
Starting with a wonderful quartet of appetizers, the next course, ahi and foie gras terrine was the piece de resistance. The rich terrine was enhanced by tasty vinegared vegetables that balanced its richness. Its complex combination of tastes was incredible. The third course, a trio of crab dishes was delicious, too. The taste of the crab came through very nicely. Next came the duck course: beautifully roasted duck breast accompanied by foie gras and a tasty corn relish.
The main course gave the diner a choice of beef or lamb. One of us had the lamb, a succulent and beautifully Frenched lamb rib, generous in portion and done to perfection. The lamb sausage was also delicious, as well as the tender lamb sauerbraten. I was so full by this course, that I took my beef trio home in order to save room for dessert.
And, what a bonanza the dessert was! Each of us had a plate of tropical dessert sampler, followed by a large dish of chocolate goodies as well as chocolate ice cream sandwiches and chocolate "lollipops."
Our dining experience was enhanced by Shawn Beck, a recent addition to Alan Wong's wait staff. Shawn, a very pleasant and knowledgeable Californian, made our anniversary dinner in late July so enjoyable that we requested that we be seated in his section.
I can't wait to go back to Alan Wong's!
I've been here 3 times. greatness all 3 times. i mean it's super expensive, that's why i didn't give it 5 stars.
quality of food is top notch. service & ambiance - as u would expect for an expensive place.
must eat: coconut sorbet
Came here with my friends over labor day weekend to celebrate our birthdays. I had let them know who the birthday girls were when I made the reservations and they gave us our own personalized menus that said Happy Birthday with our names on it and I believe the staff signed all around the menu. That was a cute touch.
We had the kim chee crab spring rolls for appetizer and I thought it was very creative and good. You wrap the fried crabmeat along with kim chee and mint in lettuce and you dip it in their chili sauce.
For our main course I had the pork chop which was probably the most juicy and tender pork chop I've ever had. The sauce was so good too. My friends ordered the surf and turf and the ginger crusted kona blue water farms kampachi. My friend said the surf and turf was okay, nothing special and I forgot what my friend said about her fish, but there weren't any complaints.
For dessert... where to begin... between the three of us we ordered 2 of the 5 spoons of creme brulees that come in spoonful sizes, the strawberries romanoff, and "the coconut". When our waiter brought out "the coconut", their most popular dessert, we were so excited because it really did look like a real coconut made with a chocolate shell and filled with coconut sorbet. It even had the ridges on the sorbet to make it look textured like the coconut meat is when you cut one open. To top those off, the birthday girls each got a complimentary strawberry tiramisu. I think the strawberry tiramisu and "the coconut" were the best out of all 6 desserts.
This place is definitely worth a trip if you're visiting Honolulu. It seems like such a nice place for a date too. Definitely cannot wait to go back to try some of the other things on the menu and to get another "coconut"!
This is not one of the top ten restaurants in the country. It just can't be. It doesn't make sense to me. I don't regret eating dinner there, and I basically enjoyed my meal, but I wasn't overly excited about any of it.
I went by myself and was seated on the balcony-side, very nice and fun to watch people getting their fancy dishes served. The first thing I got was the Sassy Salad, and honestly it was the best part of the meal. It was original tasting and refreshing. It has these little kim chee squash pieces on the side. Very nice and actually a fair price, $7.50. For my 'entree' I got an appetizer, the poke avocado dish that people were recommending here. It was fine, but it was just too much. Too many ingredients mashed together i.e cilantro, 2 sauces, avocado, chips, poke - and I didn't think it enhanced the poke to be served that way. At Roy's I had a simple, delicious poke dish that put this avocado thing to shame. And for $16.50 this was a pricey app.
Finally, I was particularly excited about dessert. I asked my waiter about ten questions about the menu and finally asked which he recommended because I couldn't decide. He immediately suggested the strawberries Romanoff. When the dish came out, I almost clapped my hands, it was so pretty. The strawberries and sauce were good and I thought the goat cheese sorbet was pretty interesting, and the fancy vanilla garnish thing was good too. The only part I disliked was the goat cheese panna cotta, which I thought I would love, but I have had numerous better panna cottas than this (twice this year, in fact... mmm, good panna cotta). Plus it had lemon curd in it which did not appeal to me. The panna cotta is unfortunately bigger than the sorbet.
So I liked all 3 items, but I thought all of them suffered from too many ingredients and flavors. I would have much preferred something more simple done really well. I paid $35 for app, salad, and dessert, so I thought that was a reasonable way to approach this pricey restaurant. If I went again I'd get one of the other apps that's a few bucks cheaper.
The service, however, is unarguably top notch. I forgot to bring long sleeves as you Yelpers recommended, and after a few minutes with folded arms, the hostess materialized with a warm, pretty shawl for me to borrow. It was a good meal just to make you feel like a princess for a little while.
Thanks to all for posting photos, it really helped me decide what to order by looking at the gallery before going.
About half way through the meal, I declared this the best meal that i've ever had. After i finished this best meal i've ever had, i waltzed on over to the bathroom where i discovered that this restaurant was ranked #6 in the nation.
I don't know if the normal food he has is as good as this but i came on a night where he teamed up w/ Team Hawaii( 2009 national champs) and produced a prefix menu for $75/pp.
shit is legit people.
First of all, for those who wrote bad yelp reviews about the atmosphere, shame on you.
As you are greeted with the valet, your server is also waiting downstairs to accompany you on the elevator upstairs to your table. I have never had that happen to me before.
We were seated at a table by the window. Our server was super nice and attentive. The service overall was outstanding.
We ordered the five course tasting menu and a few other items including the salad described below which was amazing.
Hamakua Springs Tomato, Beet and Avocado Salad
Hilo Hearts of Palm, Li Hing Mui Ume Vinaigrette
Below was our 5-course menu:
APPETIZER DUO
BUTTER POACHED
KONA LOBSTER
Honda Tofu, Nagaimo Potato Cake,
Green Onion Oil (this dish was good, but not great)
GINGER CRUSTED ONAGA
Organically Grown Hamakua
Mushrooms and Corn,
Miso Sesame Vinaigrette (a bit too much ginger flavor but the fish was nicely cooked)
TWICE COOKED SHORTRIB,
SOY BRAISED AND
GRILLED "KALBI" STYLE
Gingered Shrimp,
Ko Choo Jang Sauce (a bit dryer that I would have liked)
DESSERT DUET
The total for two was $140.
This place rocks! This is a must-go when you are visiting HNL. The food is SOOOOOOOO good, both aesthetically pleasing and very good quality.
Don't let the name fool you, this is not a pure Asian restaurant, this is Asian fusion food, and they way it's done is quite sophisticated.
For starters, the tomatoe salad (if you love tomatoes this is heavenly) is awesome, the plum that they use in the dressing is perfectly done.
The short ribs are flavorful and even the bread and mashed potatoes are yummy! The seafood is always fresh, and beautifully presented.
Service is impeccable. The bartender makes some great mixed drinks too, and lastly, don't skip the dessert! You can always work it off by swimming in the ocean the next day.
We bought their cook book because we were so mesmerized by their food!
Not one bad thing about this place, other than the fact that you better book in advance because they have limited seating!
P.S. this place may be a little difficult to find, it's on the top level of an un-assuming building so open up your big eyes when you are looking for it!
While I'm on a roll dishing out the 5 star reviews, here's another one...
My family and I were celebrating my recent engagement(!) and our evening at Alan Wong's was just amazing from start to finish. First of all, our menus were addressed to us, saying "Congratulations!" and were signed by the staff of the restaurant. What a great way to make you feel special. Our waiter congratulated us too, and they rolled up the menu for us at the end of the meal to keep.
Here's what we ordered:
Kimchee spring roll appetizer (I don't remember exactly what it was called): Delicious! This is a good appetizer for a large group.
Tuna Tartar and Avocado tower: This was very tasty, but pretty standard as far as an appetizer goes. Nothing out of the ordinary.
Duck Nachos: Good for a large group. The duck melts in your mouth!
Foie Gras Appetizer: Haha, definitely not a good appetizer for a large group. It was $20, but soooo tiny. Delicious, though. How can foie gras not be delicious?
Mini Loco Moco Appetizer(!!!): My FAVORITE appetizer! Instead of the usual rice, you got MOCHI. Instead of spam and gravy, you got UNAGI and teriyaki sauce. And instead of a fried egg, it's topped with a QUAIL EGG! OMG, I wanted more!
Corn crusted Onaga: This was my main course. The corn was perfect--sweet and slightly crunchy. There was a panko coating on the onaga, and the fish itself was soft and mild. Very good!
Coconut Sorbet with fruit: This was one of the prettiest desserts I've ever eaten. As for the taste, I thought it was pretty good. The fruits were wonderful.
Strawberries "Romanoff"(!!!!!): I LOVED this dessert. This was a twist on the standard Romanoff, with goat milk ice cream in a strawberry and hibiscus soup. It was garnished with peppercorn leaves, which added the perfect "Mmmm! What is that?" factor.
The complimentary "congratulations" dessert was deliciously light, as were the complimentary toffee coated macadamia nuts. I also enjoyed the bread and aioli they give you in the beginning. Somehow I managed room in my tiny stomach for all of this food. I don't know how I did it, but I can honestly say that I wasn't hungry for at least 18 hours after that meal.
*See pics*
MY FAVS
The guava daiquiri was incredible - - so good that I couldn't even taste the alcohol (not that I don't like alcohol). As an appetizer, we had the chopped ahi sashimi and avocado salsa stack - also incredible.
WARNING
If you DO NOT like anchovy, make sure to order the ceasar salad without it or on the side, whatever. Biting into that salad was like swimming under the ocean with my mouth open. YUCK!
OVERALL REVIEW
I'm glad I went to this restaurant with a friend who can eat like a fat hawaiian man - we were able to try so many things and I wasn't disappointed. We were able to (somehow) fit in appetizer, entree, and dessert. As main courses, we had the lobster bisque and a special - lobster, shrimp, and scallops cooked in a bouillabaisse reduction. Both were good. Technically, we did not have room for dessert.... but since we were celebrating a birthday, we received a complimentary chocolate crunch bar with ice cream - no complaints there!
If you are going here to celebrate a special event, let them know when you make the reservation - my menu and dessert plate were personalized with "HAPPY BIRTHDAY IVETTE" - very nice touch!
One of the highlights of our trip to Hawaii! The SERVICE is awesome.....and I was totally surprised by my meal. Can't wait to come back :)
- Chinatown Roast Duck Nachos and Chili
Homemade Tapioca Chips, Avocado Salsa
- "Poki-Pines"
Crispy Won Ton Ahi Poke Balls on Avocado with Wasabi Sauce
- Ginger Crusted Onaga, Long-Tail Red Snapper
Miso Sesame Vinaigrette, Organically Grown Hamakua Mushroom and Corn
- Pan Steamed Opakapaka, Short-Tail Pink Snapper
Shrimp Pork Hash, Truffle Nage, Gingered Vegetables, Tapioca Pearls
- Twice Cooked Short Rib, Soy Braised and Grilled "Kalbi" Style
Gingered Shrimp, Ko Choo Jang Sauce
- Passion Fruit Mojitos ; )
Seriously? They took out the BEST appetizer on their menu!! The Hot Cali Roll! Unbelievable...I was so disappointed. They better bring it back...
I loveeeeeeee Alan Wong! I wish I have enough money to hire him as my personal chef! This is one… Read more »
I was torn between dinner at Alan Wong's or La Mer for my birthday as both of those names come up as top tier restaurants in Oahu. I chose to go with Alan Wong's because the Chef appeared to have a certain appreciation for local ingredients and the restaurant seemed to be a little more intimate. (Although I wasn't aware of who the Chef was before watching No Reservations, his name and face is plastered everywhere in Oahu. Apparently I'm out of the loop.)
The decor is subtle but classy in that island way. The pictures I've seen don't do it justice. And because it seems as though people ONLY eat there if it's someone's birthday due to the fact that every table was celebrating a birthday, the staff really know how to make you or that loved one feel special/mildly embarrassed.
Really. They make a fuss.
The hostess wishes you a happy birthday. The server wishes you a happy birthday. Your menu wishes you a happy birthday (signed by the chef and staff with your name and date). And at the end of the meal, they sing happy birthday. It was fantastic.
We, once again, decided to "create" our own tasting menu by ordering 4 appetizers, 2 entrees, and 2 desserts. Our server was gracious and happily accommodated our demands. I opted for all of the comfort foods such as:
Duck Nachos, Kahlua Pork Quesadillas, Foie Gras Grilled Cheese, Kim Chi Egg Rolls (kudos for dressing down foie gras). All unique and quite amazing.
For entrees we had the bouillabaisse and butterfish/smoked trout duo. I was so stuffed at this point I was in physical pain. But I do remember the soup being excellent.
For dessert we ordered the ice cream trio and chocolate variations. I have no idea how I did it, but I ate it, and I loved it. Especially the ice cream because it had mochi rings.
Cocktails were good with lots of pineapples. Also, I tried the "Alan Wong" Riesling--not bad. It's becoming rather trendy for restaurants to collaborate with wineries to create something custom.
Also, the Chef, Mr. Alan Wong himself was out on the floor talking to guests. That's always nice (I don't see Michael Mina doing that...at least not in San Francisco..sure sure, multiple locations, whatever).
After eating here, I feel like California Fusion needs to step it up a notch. 5 stars for flavor, creativity, and execution.
Hands down the best restaurant of all time. Impeccable service with the most delicious food. For the appetizer we had "Da Bag" clams, spinach, tomatoes, mushrooms steamed. So flavorful! I had the ginger crusted onaga soo moist and flaky! My hubby had the seafood stew some lobster, crab, fish clams, shrimp, and scallop. He licked the bowl clean! We hada complimentary dessert with Happy Anniversary spell out!! =) Strawberry shortcake it was delightful!!
The critques of Alan Wong's are not merited. First off.. to the person that whines about it taking 3 hours for 7 course... yes that is what fine dining is all about.
Next... Alan Wong's is a top notch, world class fine dining establishment. For the Bay Area reviewer that was disappointed.. give me a break Alan Wong's is comparable to Gary Danko's & Cyrus.. two of the three best fine dining establishments in the Bay Area.
Now on the other hand... people need to adjust their expectations. There are thousands of restaurants in the world at this level. Even in 3rd World countries I've had better fine dining experiences than Alan Wong's... for this price point & class of restaurant... I would say Alan Wong's is solidly in the middle of the pack globally. I didn't have any mesmerizing dishes or life revelations (like I've had at other top notch fine dining restaurants)... but any one who says its not top notch is lying.
If Michelin did a Honolulu rating (and I will say I personally piss on the Michelin Guide).. Alan Wong's would deserve at least 1 star maybe 2. Hell there are truly mediocre fine dining restaurants in San Francisco like Michael Mina's that have gotten Michelin stars.
Between Alan Wong's and La Mer, I would definitely choose Alan Wong's. I think it highlights the local food (well, I will admit that I'm not being perfectly fair since La Mer is a classic French) much better. Rather than the tasting menu we picked 3 appetizers and 2 entrees from the menu, all of them were very delicious, seasoned perfectly. I could taste that the sweetness comes from all the produce as they were super fresh and in each dish, I could taste all the ingredients well.
OH MY GOD...we had a course meal there and it was superb. Family style appetizers looked beautiful and tasted great (tuna wrapped in nori, tomato with Li Hing Mui vinaigrette, Peking duck.quesadillas) Then, the meal followed by panko-crusted fish and flavorful steak...but the best thing we had during the course meal (or during the trip to Hawaii) was the coconut sorbet. Coconut ice cream usually rich and heavy, but this coconut sorbet was light, yet full of coconut flavor! It's huge, but I finished it because it was just so good.
Another thing I would like to mention is their vegetarian substitutions. For example, they made the panko-crusted fish out of tofu which was YUMMY (better than the fish, I would say).
I'll definitely go back to this restaurant next time I go to Hawaii!
We both had the five course tasting menu. We were quite stuffed at the end of the night. This restaurant gets a mix of about half tourists and half locals.
For appetizers we had the soup and half sandwich and poki-pines. For entree we had griiled fish and braised beef. The dessert was quite good.
The restaurant is a little noisy. Many people celebrated their birthdays while we were there.
One of my favorite dinner here on the Island! The service at Alan Wong's is excellent A++++! The staff really makes you feel welcome here as they are very attentive and even prints out customized menu for their guests! I had a "Happy 21 Month Annivesary" printed out for my BF and he was quite surprised by my ROMANTIC gestures! Haha.
The food is De-licious and very pretty to look at! The cooks really take their time to make sure the presentation stands out. At our table, all the ladies had the 5 course tasting menu and the men ordered separate entrees. All their entrees were really good as well, it was the salmon (good), butterfish (ok), and steak (good) i definately had a bite of everything!
But here's a quick rundown of my meal:
Bread- really soft and comes with a delicous butter aioli sauce!
1st course- Fried Tuna Porcuppine- really good!
-Grilled pork w/ foie gras, parmesan crisp, and tomatoe bisque- i like dipping everything in the tomatoe bisque!
2nd course-Lobster and Potatoe Cake- YUMM!
3rd course- Ginger Crusted Onaga- only thing i didn't like- too gingery.
4th course-Short Ribs- really good but i was getting full!
5th course-Dessert- by this time, i have a really good buzz from the couple bottles of wine and don't remember much else but being stuffed silly!
Dinner was pricey but it was really enjoyable. We literally all passed out after this food feast! What a great way to start off the vacation!
I was very excited to try a local fine dining restaurant while in Oahu, but I have to say, I was very disappointed with this place. The presentation of the food was very beautiful and artistic, but the flavors just didn't mesh very well. Not that the food was inedible, but it just wasn't very delicious.
If you are visiting Oahu, I would skip this place.
I was expecting a lot from this place. Hmmm...didn't really live up to all the hype. First of all - weird location. Uninspiring Beretania street. Then we were seated in the back corner of the restaurant. Uncomfortably hot. Icy service (hostesses were sweet though). Waiter took forever to greet us. Drinks took even longer. Said we were ready to order, but the waiter disappeared for 10 minutes. Annoying. The entrees were delicious - at first. I don't know if it was because it was so hot in there, but after a while, everything started tasting overwhelmingly rich and salty. And I looove salt. Really wanted to try the desserts, but was feeling too queasy after dinner.
Another unpleasant thing - the couple at the table next to us started arguing. They were only a few feet away, so it was hard not to notice. Especially when the girl began cussing the guy out, calling him insecure...blah blah blah. Awkward. He finally got up and walked out on her. Not Alan Wong's fault, but just added to the overall unsatisfactory experience.
The sheer number of reviews and a recent "Top 50 Restaurants in America" listee as number 8 in 2006, and a 2009 Hale Aina Award Winner for Restaurant of the Year speaks for itself. I swear this guy is a culinary God and in my opinion kick's Roy's ass. This is pure heavenly bliss for the palate.
Note: Duck nachos, "Da Bag", Opakapak, Butterfish are all a must. It nearly made a grown man cry (yes, me). Worth every penny.
I really love it here. I came here several times and came here for dinner last month while visiting Hawaii.
I ordered the fried poke, short ribs and their famous coconut dessert... I loved everything. What I didn't think was that great was their salad, bread rolls and specialty butter. My friend ordered their fish... I believe it was onaga with corn, which I thought was fabulous. Never had corn with fish.
What I don't like is their weird location, even if it's central... it's located upstairs of a random building... and it's only valet parking which you have to pay for and it's under the building. Seating is pretty tight. You have a view for the mountains. Service was okay.
I do enjoy my favorites there and will probably like to have dinner here next month when I come back to Hawaii for the summer. Alan Wong's is always on my must go to places to eat while visiting. Dress nice, don't come in rubber slippers... I came in a dress with heels and made my friend wear a collared shirt and pants.
Try their fried poke, short ribs and coconut dessert! yummy!
4 stars from me. I'm a fan and will return. Not much fine dining places on Oahu but this is one of them. So it's on the pricey side, but worth it!
I'm sad to report one of my favorites has lost a lot of ground with me. I'm not sure if the quality has gone downhill or my taste have evolved, but for real fine dining in Honolulu go to Chef Mavro and if you want slightly upscale Hawaiian go to Roy's.
Cost to worth it ratio: 2.5 (not bad on a pure price scale, but not sure if it was worth it)
Highlights:
- Grilled cheese with kalua pork and foie gras: still the best thing at the restaurant and lovely pairing with the tomato soup. Give me a whole sandwich of this and I'd be good.
- Poki-pines: points for creativity here, as it's a ball with a bunch of spines coming out of it. A bit hard to eat. but good flavor with raw tuna and avocado
- Tasting menu: we did the 5 course and as Bora said, the portions were huge, good variety of items, and extremely reasonable pricing on the wine pairings.
- Birthday acknowledgement: was my mom's birthday and they provided her with a signed special menu as well as a dessert with a candle on it.
Midlights:
- Other items (fish, lobster, shortribs): just ok to me and kind of uninspiring overall. I love these 3 items normally and was disappointed here.
Lowlights:
- Service: was a bit awkward and disappointing. I expected it to be more polished and was not up there with its stellar reputation.
- Temperature of room: very cold, especially for ladies in dresses for a nice night out
I had high expectations returning to one of my past favorites and left bummed after my experience here. The combination of the shortcomings on the food and service just didn't feel right. Not sure if it was an off night or what but it's no longer on my list to come back to.
One of my top 5 restaurants... and I've eaten at a lot of restaurants. ;-) Went for my birthday and… Read more »
Went there for a bday party, very nice staff, had some nice touches and gave out the menu for that day that was personalized with all of our names! The food was great as always and packed with people!
Mmmmm, mmmm, m! Just unpretentious yumminess.
This is where you go for culinary mastery that treat your senses to local flavors, mellow ambience and great service.
The mochi crusted opakapaka is not currently on the menu, but, I understand if we call ahead and request it, there's a good chance they can spoil you. Speaking of spoils, do not (and, I mean, DO NOT) leave without tasting Alan's--I'd like to think that since I've transcended to culinary heaven in his dining rooms, I can refer to him on a first name basis--crunchy chocolate bars...I don't care if you don't even like chocolate, that's not the point! They are just too delicious to pass up.
Book ahead when you are just thinking of visiting Oahu as this is one experience you simply cannot overlook!
If you like Fusion and Hawaiian food this is the premiere Hawaiian Fusion restaurant in Hawaii. Somewhat like Roy's, Alan Wong's award winning dishes are elegant, visually stunning, as well as savory delicious. he uses locally grown foods to showcase his skills and local flavors. The pupu's are all winners and each has their own 'flavor' to them. My favorite is the Chinatown Roast Duck Nachos. Even the dinner roll is excellent down to the tangy butter you spread over it. If you are looking for a different burst of flavor each bite I recommend the Kona Coffee Crusted Maui Cattle Company Striploin. Wong has tons of coffee's to choose from, many coming from the Kona coast. For dessert I love The Coconut which is "haupia sorbet in a chocolate shell, tropical fruits and lilikoi sauce." It looks just like a coconut and the haupia sorbet is a nice and light after dinner topper. The lighting is warm and the decor is inviting once you step out of the elevator. It feels like you've been transported to some other place. The service is excellent and even though the restaurant can get crowded it's nice to be able to enjoy your dinner while being able to view other restauranteur's dishes in quite a friendly environment. Prices can get quite spendy. I spent about $200 for two which included pupu's, dinner, dessert, and wine (plus tip). You will also need to valet your car but it's a nominal fee of $3. Reservations highly recommended.
Since my husband and I travel quite a bit we do enjoy fine dining in every city. Alan Wong's definitely has great atmosphere inside.
When we first arrived to the restaurant, we weren't too sure as there isn't much of an entrance, but we found our way upstairs and there it was an unexpected surprise of hussling and bussling. We sat out by the window with a slight view of the Hawaii valleys. The service is great here. The food was very fresh.
Desert was more of the highlight of our meal. They do have incredibly great coffee to select from. The creme brulee served in the sample Chinese spoons are delicious.
It was a good experience to try Alan Wong's, and the desert was the highlight for our palette.
man i must be loosing it, i thought i got this one out a long time ago but NOT. not gonna bore anyone witha long drawn out review that 300 other have already given, it's fricken ono! service, super! atmosphere, the view ain't the greatest, but hell, your here to eat right.
on a side note:
kids meals was super yummy too, my wife wants to try one next time (kal bi)
last time there we got poke (i know, i know, what the hells exciting bout that) and i got surf & turf, wife got steak something or other, everything was perfect
divine!! probably one of the best dining experiences of my life!!
we arrived a bit early (15 mins) and they made us wait a few minutes although we could see our table was ready.
we sat and our waiter seemed a little weird initially but then we realized he was just a bit stressed out but so nice.
we hadnt eaten lunch to save space for the much anticipated cuisine. i was so hungry i ate 2 pieces of perfectly fluffy and warm out of the oven bread with a delicious butter spread. i regretted eating so much bread within 30 mins bc i was so full i could barely eat!
i ordered 5 appetizers to share with a friend. we figured the appetizers would be individual sized and small. we were wrong. they were pretty big, a very nice size.
the loco moco, duck nachos, pork quesadillas, ahi wonton, and spring rolls were all soo good i cant even pick a favorite.. but if i absolutely have to pick.. it would probably be the ahi tuna wonton or duck nachos.
we tried the strawberry shortcake and chocolate mousse for dessert. both were amazing!!
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Honolulu, HI
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Honolulu, HI
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Honolulu, HI
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