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Boots & Kimo's Homestyle Kitchen
Categories: Restaurants Hawaiian Restaurants Breakfast & Brunch Hawaiian, Breakfast & Brunch [Edit]
151 Hekili StKailua, HI 96734
(808) 263-7929
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 7:30 am - 2 pm
Sat-Sun 7 am - 2:30 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- No
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Breakfast
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
920 reviews for Boots & Kimo's Homestyle Kitchen
Review Highlights
"MAC nut pancakes are the best pancakes EVER."
(in 164 reviews)
"On the side was some yummy Portuguese sausage."
(in 93 reviews)
"I'll have the Macadamia Sauce Pancakes", cheehoo."
(in 33 reviews)
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920 reviews in English
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Review from Mike L.
2/5/2012
When my friends told me we were meeting up at Boots & Kimo for brunch, the first thought to cross my mind was: "who are Boots and Kimo?". The first image that popped into my head? Cat dressed like a swashbuckler and a panda (random, I know). For some reason, I didn't think that was right.
After making the drive over from Waikiki, we lucked out quite a bit - a free parking space in front and a short line of people ahead of us for a table. Dope! Looking around as we waited, I was impressed to see the crowd was pretty mixed. Not only is it popular with the locals, but there were a bunch of tourists (besides us) as well!
As we waited, a couple of my friends recommended the infamous macadamia nut pancakes, as well as their fried rice. Both sounded really good to me, but when it came to order, I went with the Huelo Paniolo Omelette instead (Corned Beef, Kula Onion, Tomatoes, and melted Haleakala Swiss Cheese). After I saw it listed as "Boot's & Kimo's favorite", I figured if it's their favorite, then I should definitely try it!
I was kind of worried that it might end up being heavy on the egg and light on the filling (like how so many other places do it), but I should have known better! After all, it's Boots & Kimo's favorite. Instead, the omelette was almost like a crepe - just a thin layer of eggs kept all that tastiness on the inside from spilling outside. The filling was a bit wet from the tomatoes, but it wasn't too bad. The corned beef and cheese were awesome though, and the combination of everything worked well. The side of hash browns was nice too, but really, it was all about that omelette.
Although I was definitely happy with what I had, there's definitely some regret for not having ordered those pancakes (or the fried rice). Especially so after seeing all these reviews and pictures. I feel so left out! I guess that's what PTO and vacations are for, right? Kimo & Boots, you WILL see me again. I tried your favorite...now to try everyone else's...Listed in: ALOOOOOOOOOO-HAAA!, Brunch!
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Review from Cheryl K.
Because of Yelp, I am able to be readily prepared for a long wait for this place. I have eaten here with a friend before but just recently ate at their new location just a little down the road. We were probably the only locals among all of the Japanese tourists who were super excited to eat at this restaurant. Our wait was about 30 minutes so we walked to the nearby supermarket so I can take out cash. It's cash only people. I know its a little humbug but just be prepared.
We finally sat down. The decor is the same as the last location but this place was a little bit bigger. Football decor was so totally appropriate for the Super Bowl that I wasn't going to watch. Looked at the menu and my eyes continued going back to the pancakes with mac nut sauce. But I have tried it before and it was meh as pancakes with a delectable sauce. You can pretty much make your own at home and buy their mac nut sauce so I decided on something else. Their 'Onolicious Fried Rice' and a side of papaya. The husband had the 'Maui Wowie Omelette'. Let me just tell you that my ears perked up when I heard food names with the words Maui Wowie and Pakalolo but I knew they would never serve such an illegal substance. It was entertaining though when the Japanese tourists next to us ordered the Pakalolo omelette. Anyway my fried rice was really good and my husband inhaled his omelette. We were super satisfied with our food. The only thing is the prices are a little high. Not ridiculously high but it seemed like Waikiki prices.
Because we don't go to Kailua side too often, at least we have an option for breakfast when we are in the area. Just be prepared to be culturally sensitive, bring cash, and patience.Listed in: What a way to start you day!
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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10/8/2009
All the hype about this place and no go. Yes i admit the banana pancakes with the famous macadamia… Read more »
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Review from Anh T.
San Diego, CA
2/3/2012
The best meal I had on Oahu was at Boots & Kimos. Breakfast plates are massive - and the macadamia nut pancakes melt in your mouth.
A great - less touristy (at least when I went a few years ago) experience to really carb up before hanging out in Kailua (where the beaches are the best on the island). Not as packed as everyone says, but we went in November and it seems to be less crowded during rainy season anyways! -
Review from Tiffany C.
Long Beach, CA
1/31/2012 1 Check-in Here
BANANA PANCAKES with MACADAMIA NUT CREAM SAUCE.
If that's all I said in this review, it would be enough. We waited an hour just to get into the door, but the wait was well worth it! I'd wait that long again for those pancakes.
They have a decent size dining area, although, it can get a little tight in spots, but rightfully so in order to get enough seats in the place to accommodate the large crowds that they get here. The place is decorated with various sports jerseys, some autographed. Table tops featured the logo for various football teams.
But the true highlight of this place, as if I haven't said it already, is that MACADAMIA NUT CREAM SAUCE. Sure they offer it with regular pancakes, but I feel the banana pancakes made it even better. The sauce is so creamy. It was also not too sweet, and the macadamias were cut to a consistency that they weren't overwhelming in the sauce. You got just enough cream and just enough macadamias with each bite. The pancakes were perfect as well. Bananas were a perfect amount, and the pancakes were nice and fluffy.
I also had the eggs benedict, which were ok. Nothing to really go gaga over.
My mistake was thinking that I should share the plate of pancakes with my friend. We opted to share a plate so we could order something else as well. I've learned my lesson. Next time, I'm just getting the pancakes. One whole plate for myself! Maybe even TWO! :-XListed in: Hawaiian Adventure
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Review from Desmond C.
San Jose, CA
1/24/2012
Pancakes? Oh, yes.
CLEANLINESS: N/A
SERVICE: N/A
FOOD: 5/5
+ Banana Macadamia Nut Pancakes
So I ordered takeout from this place, because my friend said it's usually packed and a long wait. Good thing we did that because the line was out the door! I ordered the Banana Macadamia Nut Pancakes. This is probably the best pancake I've had so far. The sauce was delicious and just the right sweetness for me. They have real bananas mixed into the pancake, so that made it more amazing. The sauce just topped it off. I asked for the sauce on the side, so it wouldn't get soggy by the time I pick up my order. They were ready in about 20 minutes, which was just enough time for me to get to Boots & Kimos.
I will miss these pancakes when I go back to California.Listed in: Hawaii
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Review from Sharina N.
Honolulu, HI
2/7/2012 1 Check-in Here
The only reason I did not give 5 stars is because of the long (but well worth it) wait! This place needs to be bigger but that is the only bad thing. The food is tasty and reasonably priced but if you do not get there early you are SOL and will have to wait for at least an hour to get in. The macadamia pancakes are awesome (and I do not even like macadamia/coconut). Staff was ok...busy but some what attentive.
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Review from Carrie D.
Orlando, FL
2/8/2012
Great pancakes especially the Macadamia Nut!!!! Awesome omelets! We recently tried the seafood omelet, delicious! Ive had the ham and cheese one as well which was just as good. Usually there is a wait but it's worth it! Cash only but they have an atm inside!
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Review from Dinah S.
Poway, CA
1/29/2012 1 Check-in Here
This will have to be listed as a place to visit when in Kailua. Yes we had a wait, but that was no different than other breakfast places. We were actually told 30 minutes, but it was way less than that :)
They have definitely outgrown their current location, but I'm sure all the employees and the owners know that. Hopefully they are working on expanding or moving?
The food was delicious. I had a hard time choosing. The Mac Nuts pancackes are a must, I highly recommend. I loved the fried rice omlette. I can't wait to go back and try other items on their menu! -
Review from Rae D.
Kaneohe, HI
1/21/2012
The wait to get inside is rather well-known, so I went with one of my more interesting fellow foodies. He's a scholar with a sense of humor. Well, any wait doesn't seem that long with someone like that with whom to converse.
However, I was kind of surprised and disappointed when I walked into this restaurant. I thought people were drawn to it because of nostalgia, but it didn't seem nostalgic at all. It seemed more like a tourist trap, complete with souvenirs for sale. Moreover, the tables were so close together that if I stretched my arm all the way out, I could've easily stolen the meal of the old man seated to my right. Why did I entertain this horrible thought? I was hungry and our food order seemed to take forever! Hey, even with sparkling conversation, my stomach will stay silent for only so long.
When the food finally came, it was good. My friend's pancakes were way better than my food. In fact, I forgot what the heck I ordered--that's how unimpressive it was. Oh yeah, they also don't take credit cards, so my friend--who insisted on treating me--had to use a nearby ATM with a ridiculous fee, which I thought completed the idea of a tourist trap. -
Review from Ramfis B.
( I ) f you have a lot of patience, then come here
( F ) lustered is how you feel after waiting forever
( E ) veryone in Japan knows about this place now =(
( E ) xpect to wait at least two hours on weekends
( L ) aidback Kailua is no more
( L ) anguage barrier is a problem here
( I ) used to like this place a lot
( K ) ailua is where they are located
( E ) veryone has to order the pancakes with macnut sauce here
( I ) wish this place would open another location
( M ) ake sure you come here early or else..
( I ) think they should rename this place BOOT-SU and KIMO-NO'S
( N ) ever had to wait two hours to eat breakfast
( L ) oud as hell in here
( I ) t was like being in a circus
( T ) ry go to Cinnamon's if the wait is long
( T ) he Seafood Omelet is delicious
( L ) eave your credit cards at home...CASH ONLY
( E ) at the Pulehu Ribs as well
( T ) our buses from Waikiki come to Kailua everyday
( O ) ne and a half hour wait for takeout...FAIL!!
( K ) eep your cool while waiting a long,long, time ok?
( Y ) es, i really do like the pancakes here
( O ) n the other hand, i have to think of other places now
( W ) ill it always be like this now?
( H ) ave they got too big for their britches?
( E ) ven the locals try not to come here anymore
( N ) ow, its a real tourist trap
( W ) ish it were like old times
( E ) ating here used to be great
( C ) orrect me if i'm wrong
( O ) ut of sight, out of mind
( M ) ay there be a better solution for the long waits here
( E ) verytime i come here, i know what to expect now
( T ) rying to be calm writing this review
( O ) k, breathe in, breathe out
( E ) veryone has to eat here at least once
( A ) nd you will know what i am talking about
( T ) ake it with a grain of salt
( H) aving your own opinion is cool
( E ) at at your own risk
( R ) eally, the food is good here
( E ) xpecting to get sat right away is like winning the lottery
( N ) o need us locals anymore
( O ) nly because the tourists will keep this place open
( W ) hy? because they are the one and only Boot's and Kimo
( S ) orry, but that's how this localboy feels
( O ) nly a fool would wait this long to eat
( S ) o i guess i am a fool then
( A ) lmost finished venting
( D ) id this review help? I hope so....Have patience ok????Listed in: I really need to…, If you had one day in Hawaii…
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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5/8/2010
I just want to say now that Boot's and Kimo moved to their new place, the restaurant is getting too… Read more »
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Review from Michou N.
San Francisco, CA
2/4/2012 1 Check-in Here
Boots & Kimo's is by far my favorite breakfast spot. The two musts are the macadamia sauce pancakes and the Pulehu ribs. Absolutely mouthwatering. There is usually a 1+ hr wait, but it's totally worth waiting for the best breakfast you'll ever have. ;) Love, love, love!
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Review from Joey M.
Kent, WA
2/5/2012 1 Check-in Here
Long wait. Poor service and my meal was not edible. (Teriyaki chicken sandwich)
Edit: After reading many of the reviews, it appears I just had the wrong meal. I should have had pancakes. Although I still would never have the patience to ever go again. -
Review from Chris P.
San Diego, CA
1/12/2012
"Eek! Methinks not." seriously... until they are actually open for my business.
I've gone to eat at Boots & Kimo's at least twice now and they have been closed for various reasons. Each time has been during regular operating days and hours. This most recent time that they were closed they had a sign on the front door saying that they were going to be closed for awhile for kitchen maintenance (I think it said it would be closed for at least a week.)!
I live in California so Boots & Kimo's isn't exactly down the street from my house. IF they ever decide to be serving people the next time I'm visiting Oahu, I might stop in. I will update my Yelp star rating accordingly at that time. After reading many of the other reviews here on Yelp, I'm beginning to think it might just be a big waste of time, though.
If Boots & Kimo's is closed, AGAIN, I will have no problem driving/walking the very short distance to CINNAMON'S or CREPES NO KA 'OI. Those places are grubbin'... and have been open every time I've been by. -
Review from Chad S.
Lake Havasu City, AZ
1/9/2012 1 Check-in Here
Delicious! My first time there, and I had the highly recommended pancakes with Macadamia Nut Sauce! It's so good, it should require a special permit to eat it.
And here's a tip for you: After you eat it, head straight for the gym. -
Review from Keith H.
Kailua, HI
Updated - 1/10/2012
I had visited Boots and Kimo's a while back on my own, but this time my mom woke me up early this past Saturday morning (yawn) and wanted to see what it was all about. Of course, whenever you talk about Boots and Kimo's you HAVE to get there early - like, shortly after 7:00 a.m. when we were there. We were seated immediately, and there were actually (gasp!) some empty tables there.
As promised in my previous review, I ordered the eggs Benedict (as you know, it's my gold standard on comparing breakfast places), and realized why B&K is about as popular as Cinnamon's on a weekend morning. The eggs: perfectly cooked; maybe shaped a little too perfectly. The muffin: crisp and chewy. The hollandaise: smooth with a nice lemon bite. All in all, a great experience. My mom was quite satisfied as well with her French toast.
You can bet we'll find our way back there one day!1 Previous Review: Show all »
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7/3/2010
One thing I always notice driving through Kailua town on a weekend morning is the B-I-G crowd in… Read more »
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Review from Jeff C.
San Francisco, CA
2/1/2012
This place definitely lived up to the hype that they've received, me and my girlfriend decided to give this place a try when we first arrived to the islands, we heard that the banana pancakes with the macadamia sauce was a must try when we go there. So we ordered it and i was definitely blown away by how delicious that pancake was.. i'm not normally a pancake person.. but this pancake here definitely got me to change my mind about pancakes. The restaurants got a sports theme going on, with different football teams labeled on each table..the staff was wonderful.. nothing really bad to say about this place.. while you're in hawaii, boots and kimo's is definitely a place for you to have brunch at !!
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Review from Stephen B.
New York, NY
1/22/2012
Been here three times in the last two months and it's good but inconsistent. Each time the table ordered the mac nut pancakes (don't order the banana mac nut pancakes - too dense) and the Portuguese sausage omelette. The first time and third time the pancakes were very good. The first time the sauce was amazing. 2nd time not good on either count.
Hard to get up early or wait in line when you can't be sure how the dice will roll but when it's good it's worth it. -
Review from Christopher-desiree G.
Mililani, HI
1/8/2012 1 Check-in Here
Macadamia Nut Sauce!!! Need I say more? These guys are famous for their sauce. You can't just come here and not at least taste it, unless you're allergic.
Once you get here, be sure to put your name on the list since there's usually at least an hour wait. But, seriously... It's worth the wait. Also, make sure when they call you that everyone in your party is present.
Anywho... From a baby's point of view, my son is 15 months old and he eats like his dada and he likes to try everything here!!! The Maui sausage is a winner too. The fried rice is awesome.
So if you're ever in town for breakfast, this is a MUST. I'm sure your tummy will be satisfied. -
Review from Yoshihiro K.
Honolulu, HI
1/26/2012
Read "A LOT" of reviews before even going to this place...Everyone is soooo hooked on their pancakes and its sauce..But before I start this review, its not my intention to offend ppl who love this place..I'm just super critical on food & what its all about..
First off it is crowded with mostly Japanese tourist waiting, nothing wrong with that..some ppl think its bad and don't like going there for this reason alone..They are bringing money into this business, so don't get all mad about that...
The wait wasn't that long for me, because I got there about 11am, staff is friendly for sure, the decor is just bizarre, theme doesn't fit what they are selling.(Maybe I'm Missing something?)
So....I ordered the Pulehu RIbs..and my friend got the Macnut pancakes...
We didn't wait that long, got our food within a reasonable time..
The ribs...eeeeeeh, its ok nothing that special didn't really do anything for me, it was just meh...tried my friends pancakes..lets face it, pancakes is just pancakes, and the sauce is what makes it what it suppose to be.. But these pancakes were dense, not fluffy at all, pretty much the sauce is needed to make it what it is...For the sauce itself, basically its minced pieces of macadamia nuts with a sweet syrup..I think it would be better without the nuts, or they should do something with it, instead of just sprinkling it on there. All in all the experience was ok, would I go back??? I don't know if I would drive there just for what I got, might try something else next time...Maybe...Think I'll just stick with Cinnamons, wait isn't that long, & besides who doesn't love Red Velvet anything?
On a side note for ppl that think these pancakes are Heavenly & Ama-Zing as some put it...Hey! anything will taste "Heavenly or Ama-Zing for the amount of time you have to wait...I'm just saying.
Finally..The only thing I will have a gripe about is "No Credit Cards Accepted!" It's 2012, how about investing in a POS system, instead of making money off ppl with the ATM inside of your business...Not Cool. -
Review from Kristen T.
San Jose, CA
1/26/2012
Wow, Hawai'i has got me lovin' all this food that i've never loved before. Or maybe I only love the dishes in Hawai'i...
So, my friend recommended us to come here to try their famous banana pancakes with macadamia nut sauce. I was a bit hesitant at first because I'm not a pancake or breakfast fan, but I was in Hawai'i so i had to give it a try. We ordered to go after reading many reviews on Yelp saying that the wait is super long. When we called in the employee was pretty friendly and told me that our order would be ready in about 20 minutes. When we got there, the place was PACKED! I would say there were at least 15 people waiting for a seat. Good thing I read those Yelp reviews first! When I got my order they misunderstood that I wanted my sauce on the side and charged me an additional side of sauce. I explained to them what had happened and they were super nice. They took it off without any arguments AND offered to make me another dish! How cool is that! We sat outside and ate our pancakes and boy were they delicious! The pancakes had real banana slices in it..which made the pancake AWESOME! The sauce also added to it, which made the pancakes taste even better. Seriously, they add crack to that sauce.Listed in: ALOHA!
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Review from Lindsey J.
Venice, CA
1/7/2012
This restaurant is about as good as its decor suggests: flashy and loud without much substance, tacky. Unless you like piles of pancakes smothered in melted cool whip disguised as secret macadamia nut sauce, I suggest saving your time and money. I definitely wouldn't wait for this breakfast again.
Flavor = bland
Hash browns = frozen
Macadamia nut sauce = melted cool whip with some chopped up Mac nuts
Ambiance = corny, bright, loud music, collectible Wheaties boxes for decorum -
Review from Natalie P.
Honolulu, HI
12/26/2011
Every time I hear about this place people always mention their amazing Mac Nut Pancakes, so I decided finally to head out and try them out for myself. We got there at around 11:30am on a Sunday morning and as expected there were multiple amounts of people waiting in line. They told us the waiting time would be 30 minutes but was actually closer to an hr. When we finally got seated our waiter had a very modern/updated gadget that aided the rapid delivery of our drinks.
I ordered the BANANA MAC NUT PANCAKES: It's the best of both worlds. The mac nut sauce is really sweet and the portion is huge so I was only able to eat half of it and took the other half home. The pancakes were so fluffy and amazing. My gf ordered the FRIED RICE: the portion was really small on a big plate, not typical of other breakfast places, it was something we could have cooked at home and not worth the money. I would suggest taking it off the menu since it doesn't compare to their amazing pancakes or improving the fried rice.
We were only there for 20 minutes, when we were ready to pay, a sign that read "CASH ONLY" hung to the left of the register. We didn't have any cash but fortunately they had an in-house ATM machine. To avoid paying the ATM fee I would suggest bringing Cash. -
Review from Roy S.
Oakland, CA
1/21/2012
Could someone please explain why this place is so hyped? The waits are long, the service is so-so, the decor looks like a cheesy sports bar, and the food is...meh. We ordered the special pancake of the day (blueberry) with mac nut sauce. There was nothing special about the pancake - dense and not very fluffy - and the mac nut sauce tastes like white chocolate. Not bad, but certainly nothing to wait in line for. Halfway through, I scraped it off and switched to the imitation maple syrup they had on the table. I could keep going but I wouldn't want to waste any more time on this place. Stick to Cinnamons.
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Review from Brandy C.
Woodland Hills, CA
12/28/2011 1 Check-in Here
Ama-ZING!!! During my trip to Honolulu, a group of us hopped in the car and headed across the island for an early breakfast at Boots & Kimo's. Not knowing what was awaiting my taste buds, I anxiously sat in the car listening to my friends describe the popular Mac Nut pancakes. Let me just say that these pancakes or rather the sauce did not disappoint at all. I'm still thinking about that food and how I wish I bought a couple of jars of the Mac Nut sauce.
You have to make a trip here or else you're losing out. -
Review from Nelson Q.
Mom and Pops have never been, so we took them for breakfast . Luckily for us, no ridiculous wait, because we arrived right when the doors opened.
Just about everyone on our table ordered their Mac Nut Pancakes, I got the Pulehu Ribs IN ADDITION to my Banana Macadamia pancakes....Why is it called MACADAMIA NUT pancakes when the only thing macadamia nut is the little sprinkling you get on top? Jus' Sayin.....
Everyone enjoyed their pancakes and it was good but not great. It's not melted vanilla ice cream either, very far from it, and there's nothing secretive about the sauce like they make it out to be...
My Pulehu Ribs were good, but I ordered over easy eggs, not over hard. now I couldn't mix it into my rice...so sad. The ratio of tourists from Japan to local customers jumped from about 3 to 1...did some kinda Japanese travel company strike a deal with Boots and Kimo's? So hilarious seeing them flash peace signs with the plates of pancakes! They were also dropped off by the bus loads outside!?!?!
Overall, just A-OK for me, and I really don't understand the big deal of their pancake sauce thats made from CREAM and CONDENSED MILK!?!??!?! OOOOOOPSY!!!! Did I just reveal
the secret sauce??? Yes I did, and you're very welcome......ALOHA!!!!
YELP 365 CHALLENGE-(113/365) "So-Called secret"Listed in: YELP 365 CHALLENGE
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Review from Ryan K.
Honolulu, HI
Service is bringing this place DOWN.
I heard so much great things about this place, so I decided to take my mom out for breakfast. We had the Banana Pancakes w/ Mac Nut sauce and the seafood omelette. The food was ok and the crab is imitation and mixed with canned crab meat in the omelette. Not fluffy like I've read-maybe a bad day for the cook? We were done, but our waiter vanished. Never said anything or apologized. Oh well, Cinnamon's is right down the street! -
Review from amy k.
Los Angeles, CA
1/6/2012
I give this place 3 stars because it's just ok. The facebook photos of the vanilla cream/condensed milk batter poured over the macnut pancakes captivates tourists and compels them to wait two hours to be seated. Not nice!
My husband and I drove by around 10 am to find a herd of people lined up in front. We skipped out and decided to return at 7:30 a.m, the opening time. Once we were seated, our drinks came out immediately. Literally, the waiter punched in our drink order into his electronic device and our drinks appeared within seconds. Nice!
I ordered the Ribs and my hubby the macnut pancakes. My rib plate was really small. I was still hungry after I ate the small amount of rib meat and fried rice side. The seasoning wasn't extraordinary -- maybe even just salt and pepper. The fried rice was simply mediocre. My hubby's pancakes were good, but not smashingly fantastic like everyone describes. I think macnut pancakes should have more macnuts IN it rather than sprinkled on top. To walk out with a light stomach and pay $30+ for good but not fantastic food made me feel like I should have drove to the north shore to get garlic shrimp for breakfast.
On our way out, we saw the never-ending line of tourists and dared each other to tell everyone to go elsewhere and not waste their time. But we aren't mean like that. heehee. -
Review from Teak L.
Los Angeles, CA
12/12/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Final Decision: Best Pancakes E.V.E.R.
Prologue - I'm in Oahu, I've been told of a really delicious pancake house/diner, so when I finally made the trip out there, this was on my list of must eats. When I made my first trip, I arrived with a friend around 1030 on a Wednesday and was sat down within 10 minutes. My 2nd trip however (the next day Thursday) was an hour wait. Yes you heard me, this place was so good I went there two days in a row. If I could I would have gone there everyday.
Pros - the following kicked so much ass you would have thought you put your foot to the burro.
Banana Mac-nut pancakes - probably the best pancakes I've ever eaten in my lifetime (2+ decades). The usual order comes as a stack of 3 cakes, light, fluffy, moist, and filled with fully ripened, giant pieces of sweet bananas. Already I may have won you over with the description, but there is more. The cakes are then topped with a light, creamy, and mildly sweet macadamia nut sauce! Can you say WINNER WINNER CHICKEN DINNER?
Hawaiian smoked sausages - as name implies, the is a bit of smokiness, some sweetness and to tie up any loose ends, some spiciness. The sausage was juicy, comforting, and flavorful and can truly go well with just about anything, in a scramble, omelet or in a blanket of pancakes. Yes its that good and versatile.
Corned beef omelette - cooked perfectly, as it was cloud-like and encapsulated
Cons - unfortunately, its the wait. If only the location was a tad bit bigger, the wait wouldn't have been so bad.
Epilogue - so if you are ever in Oahu, and really like pancakes and would like a piece of heaven in your mouth, come here. If you like a uniquely smoked, sweet and spicy sausage in a deliciously fluffy omelet, come here. If you are here around February to watch the whales, and see the Pro Bowl and would like to possibly see a NFL pro, come here! Don't take my word for it, look at all the 5 star reviews and just try this spot. -
Review from Taryn M.
Somerville, MA
12/30/2011
My husband and I arrived at around 11:00 on a Friday and were seated by noon. I think this place must be in every guide book on the island because over half of the people waiting were tourists. It definitely helped that there was only the two of us because I overhead one party of 6 say that they waited for 2 hours to get a table.
Once we were seated it only took a few minutes for someone to come and take our order. Some reviews mention the bad service but everyone who waited on us was very nice and friendly. Servers came by frequently to refill our coffee which was nice since our food took so long to arrive (I had 3 refills by the time our food came out).
The food itself was solid. Nothing super fancy or gourmet, just good, homestyle food. The mac nut pancakes were moist and the sauce they pour over it was heavenly. I almost asked if they would sell me some so I could bring it home with me. The portuguese sausage omelette was tasty and had generous portions of sausage in it. It was good but definitely overshadowed by the pancakes. We also got a side order of pulehu ribs which came grilled and topped with onions and mushroom. We knew the pancakes would be good but the pulehu ribs were kind of a surprise gem and I would probably get them again.
Despite the hour long wait to be seated (and almost equally long wait to get our food), I am still open to going again in the future, which says a lot about my satisfaction with the food. -
Review from Kristen K.
Kapolei, HI
1/21/2012
Did the Macadamian Nut sauce they use on their pancakes change? I remember it being a lot better a few years back when I first tried this place - they were at their old location then. It tastes a lot lighter now. Seems like the place has slightly lost its touch (just sayin')
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Review from Dion L.
12/14/2011
Overrated? No, definitely not. But perfect and 5 stars, maybe not quite.
Like Linh P. my husband and I also took our rental car to Kailua for the day, to check out the beaches and eat at Boots and Kimo's for some of those banana mac nut pancakes. The pancakes were fluffy and sweet, and all that ooey gooey sauce on top really makes the dish decadent.
More on the food in a moment.
But what bothered me were the little things, the little service things that could be improved upon.
When I called while in Waikiki, the person on the phone told me there's wouldn't be a wait since it was a Monday, late morning. When we arrived, there was a 10-15 minute wait. Not bad, okay, I can deal with that.
The service was okay. Our server apologized for the wait, and immediately took our order. The food runner we had was in a rush and didn't say "you're welcome" after we thanked him for our food. Okay also not a big deal.
But when our food arrived, the over easy egg was medium and almost well done. One yolk was solid. The fruit bowl featured an assortment of fruit, but the cantaloupe and honeydew weren't quite ripe and kinda hard.
The SPAM, Portuguese sausage, skillet potatoes and pancakes were all great though.
Ultimately, the hostess and the cashier were super friendly and chatty with us, the food overall was good-- but I do think those few little service notes and better eggs and fruit would have made the visit magical.
Oh, and while you're there...there is plenty of sports memorabilia for sale (like 11 or 14 year old trading cards, or bobble heads I think) and all those pro bowl footballers who visit and leave their autographed pictures on the wall. -
Review from Nelson K.
Irvine, CA
2/1/2012 1 Check-in Here
Banana Pancakes and the Mac Nut Sauce...I have to say is pretty good and holds true to what most people say. The people who complain it's too sweet, to heavy, etc., it's true...if you're only eating the pancakes. Get something savory from the menu as well to help change your palette. I ordered an omlette and shared the pancakes and omlette's with my wife. Perfect combo. The wait is long depending on the day you go, smaller the party the easier it is to get in and out. Services was pretty decent given how crowded it gets. And to the foodie hipsters who think they are food critics...this place is just a diner, not a Michelin rated restaurant.
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Review from Agent schmully L.
Brooklyn, NY
12/5/2011
Boots & Kimo's, a love story.
Once upon a time, I didn't know what true love or happiness was.
I found out what true love and happiness was when I had the infamous macadamia nut pancakes. I also hate bananas, but these macadamia nut banana stuffed pancakes? It was truly the best love song.. that I will never forget and that I wanted to stuff all up in and under my face.
Not at ALL overrated, and well worth the wait. Alls I'm trying to say is that their pancakes are I will slap your mama and your grandmother good. And that you should definitely come here when you are in Kailua.Listed in: Hawaii 5-0
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Review from Julie B.
New York, NY
1/24/2012
When Boots & Kimo is on their game, it can be really great. The pancakes are light and fluffy and the sauce rich and creamy. The portuguese sausage omelette is so chock full of sausage, and the omelette itself is perfectly thin.
And then sometimes, it isn't. The sauce can be thin and watery, kind of separated. Their "special" is almost always blueberry mac pancakes, and the blueberries are clearly frozen and kind of icky. The waitress ALWAYS offers "fresh" juice, and even when asked if the juice is really "fresh squeezed," she says it is. It SO isn't, and there isn't anyone on the planet who would confuse the two. I've complained about this, and the manager clearly understood why I was irritated at the misleading error, but the waitress did it again this morning.
My best advice is to arrive as early as possible, because we've consistently found that the food is better the earlier you go. -
Review from Kali M.
12/9/2011 1 Check-in Here
We were here for breakfast on 12/5. Despite warnings of massive lines/wait times, our party of 5 was seated within 10 minutes.
The food was some of the most underwhelming we had on the islands. Not bad, just nothing special. Our table had a spam omelette, banana pancakes, mac nut pancakes, portugese sausage omelette and something else I don't remember. The best item was the portugese sausage omelette, the most disappointing? Shockingly, the banana pancakes! Of course, banana pancakes are a "thing" with us and we had them at least three times during the trip. The pancake itself was a bit chewy, but the bananas IN the batter which is more of an accomplishment than one might expect.
The mac nut sauce is sort of a sugary whipped butter. Meh.
Atmosphere along the lines of a modern diner, lots of TGI Friday's-ish flare on the walls.
The service, beyond our quick seating, was pretty horrible. The servers mostly ignored their tables, which isn't always a bad thing... no one wants to feel like their server is hovering. But we felt neglected. There is a middle ground, friends.
Oh, and yet another instance of feeling like an unwelcome haole.Listed in: Aloha, Hawaii!
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Review from Andy N.
This place is a must eat in Hawaii. A fun looking place with tons of sports memorabilia. The service was okay. They were really busy though so I understand. The place was packed with a ton of other people waiting outside as well. The food here simply delicious!
The macadamia nut pankcakes here are a must. The flavor in the mac sauce is awesome! I wish someone in CA would make this. I don't even like pancakes and these just wow'd me. I also ordered the portuguese sausage dish with fried rice. The meat was very good and the fried rice did it's job. This place isn't in the area of busy waikiki and that's a good thing. If it was in that area this place would be 10x as packed and I'd never get to enjoy the awesome food.
Recommendation: Macadamia nut pancakes. -
Review from Laurie V.
11/15/2011 3 photos
What the heck is wrong with me; I've never-ever written a review of Boots =( #stupid
Lets just say, I got off the plane and told my friends to take me to Boots and Kimo for breakfast. Suuuuure, the wait was long. Suuuure, it's a bigger than the small hole in the wall it used to be. Suuuuure, the wait staff aren't too hospitable.
Point blank: THE FOOOOOD IS TOOOO GOOD TO CARE ABOUT ANYTHING ELSE!
Mac nut pancakes. Fried rice. Puelo ribs. Corned beef hash. Eggs benedict.
Thank me later!Listed in: Hawaiian Kine.
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Review from Eve L.
San Francisco, CA
Macnut pancake is very good
we got some other thing, i forgot what it was but it was not good.
5 stars for the macnut pancakes -
Review from Linh P.
Milpitas, CA
12/11/2011
We rented a car and drove from Waikiki to Kailua for the day. We stopped here for brunch and were very happy with our choice. The famous macadamia nut pancakes did not disappoint. We also had their lunch plates, crispy fried chicken and Korean chicken. Both were also very good. The food was very hot, freshly cooked (not warmed up). Our tummy were satisfied and even more happy when we got our bill. The total was only $30.
Definitely come back again the next time we're in Oahu. -
Review from Jacky A.
12/2/2011
Wooooo. We had this place twice over 5 days in Honolulu.
The food is awesome at this place, we love their seafood omelette, and macadamia nut pancake.
That two is a must try at this place, don't get scared from the price, i know i know, it is breakfast, and the price sees to be a little high, but how about if I am telling you that it is worth what you are paying for?
You will see a long line everyday due to their limited hours of operation, please call in and check before you head there.
There is always the beach park just around the corner, what we did is to put our name down and go walk on the beach, even we got passed, they will give u the next table available.
O my... I am craving for some seafood omelette again...
