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Hoku's
- Price Range:
-
$$$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Valet
- Attire:
- Dressy
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Classy, Upscale, Intimate
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
111 reviews for Hoku's
Review Highlights
"My favorite seafood Sunday brunch on Oahu."
(in 18 reviews)
"The rack of lamb was very tasty and tender."
(in 16 reviews)
"...excellent food choices were king crab legs, lamb chops, rib..."
(in 5 reviews)
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111 reviews in English
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Review from Rachel M.
Honolulu, HI
1/9/2012
I've only been here for the brunch buffet so I can't say much for the dinner portion but it is my absolute favorite place on the island to come to during the day for a meal. The scenery in the background is beautiful, especially on sunny days! The place tends to get a little crowded and I'm not too sure if walk-in is available but I've never seen walk-in's actually get seated so make sure to make reservations.
You cannot come here without ordering some poke ahi fried musubis! It's not out for buffet so you have to submit an order to your waiter or waitress.
Also, make sure to try the butter fish! It is always the first dish to go. Once when my boyfriend and I ate there, every time we went up to the buffet the butterfish was gone. :( One of the workers (I'm pretty sure he must have been some sort of manager) had noticed our disappointment and persistence in getting some of that butterfish so as we had sat back down, when the new batch was finally put out, he had hand delivered a good portion on a special plate for us and had apologized that we didn't get to try it earlier. The next time we dined there (almost a year later) he remembered us and brought us more butterfish! Talk about excellent customer service! I love you Hokus! -
Review from Mike Z.
Honolulu, HI
1/26/2012
Dined here after being unable to get a reservation at Alan Wong's for the past few weeks.
First off, our table was located in a corner which we thought would offer a little more privacy. My partners half of the table was well lit while I felt like I was sitting in the dark.
We decided to split the chowder appetizer. The server came out with one bowl placed in front of my partner. I guess mine is coming up? Wrong... The server that took our order notified the other server that the soup was supposed to be split. I told my partner to just start on hers soup while waiting for mine. I expected a restaurant of this quality to just bring out a second portion (the soup is quite small), but no, out came the server with a second plate. He then scooped half the soup from my partners bowl into mine. Wow... Really? I really don't think a restaurant should touch food someone has already started eating, but maybe that's just me.
For our entrees we had the lamb, prawns, and a side of risotto.
The lamb was awesome. Cooked med-rare as requested although a little lower temp than I'd expect. I really wanted to chow down on the bones with my hands it was that good :)
The prawns had a light coating of corn starch and were very tasty. The fried rice that came with it was so-so... Maybe a touch on the dry side, but tasted good.
The mushroom risotto was awesome and piping hot too.
Overall, not a bad experience but the soup fiasco eats a few Yelp points. Service was ok I guess... But I miss a place where your chair gets pushed in, your napkin is placed for you etc... Maybe I set my expectations way too high. Probably a nice place to dine at sunset if you have a window seat. Also, the wood flooring makes for a more noisy dining experience and poor lighting at our perimeter seats meant that our photos sucked.
Giving 4 stars but 3.5 would be more realistic. -
Review from Claudia Z.
Orange, CA
I came here with sky high expectations, I mean a 6 star experience worthy of $$$$ and a breathtaking ocean view, but what I received was mediocre service paired with just OK food.
Tried their special fried whole fish, it was good, but not $125 good. Maybe it's our bad luck, but the snapper was very much overdone and under seasoned, had to dunk it in a lot of sauce to make it tasty. I prefer my fish to be light on the sauce so I can taste the freshness of the seafood, wasn't the case here. It's so disappointing when you're anticipating a mouthgasm but end up just finishing...
The service was standard, read the specials, changed out the plates, etc. etc., but would it kill ya to smile? The whole time both waitresses had the expression like they have something stink under their nose. Not that they did anything bad, but created an uncomfortable environment.. what happened to the aloha spirit? -
Review from Chris M.
I've never dined at Hoku's, and Restaurant Week provided the perfect opportunity to check it out.
BF and I had a 6:30 pm reservation. As soon as we walked toward the restaurant, someone greeted us and opened the door. Nice touch. I immediately liked the decor and layout, especially the open kitchen. We always enjoy being able to see the chefs at work.
Our server came to our table right away to explain the specials. We made our selections off of the restaurant week menu (3 courses, $50 per person), with the addition of an appetizer from their regular menu. Here's what we had:
Amuse-Bouche
Monchong breaded and deep fried, served on a bed of cucumber relish with red and yellow bell peppers. It was good! Simple and enjoyable in one bite!
Sushi & Sashimi platter ($18)
3 pieces of maguro, 3 pieces of hamachi, Shiromi nigiri, Salmon nigiri, Unagi roll, and Tako poke. My favorites were the maguro sashimi and the salmon nigiri; both so FRESH and melts in your mouth! I did not like the Tako poke at all. It made my mouth tingly/itchy.
Grilled Scallop (BF's appetizer)
The miso eggplant was the star of this dish. It had the perfect texture and the right hint of miso. The scallops were just alright.
Short Rib Tempura (my appetizer)
For some reason I liked the avocado tempura more than the short rib, which didn't have enough flavor and was too dry.
Double New Zealand Lamb chop (BF's entree)
Portion size was a little small...he said it was good but did mention that it wasn't the best he's had. I had a small taste and have to say that nothing really stood out about it. We did like the edamame purée.
Chilean Sea Bass (my entree)
Served with bok choy in a black bean sauce, it reminded me of something you could get at a Chinese restaurant. It was a pretty decent sized filet of sea bass and was tasty enough. A-OK.
Kahala Sundae
3 scoops of vanilla ice cream covered in hot fudge & whipped cream; topped off with a maraschino cherry and toffee crumbs. This was a HUGE disappointment - I expected a much better dessert from a $50 course menu. Sorry, but it looked like a little kid made it...
http://www.yelp.com/us...
Petits Fours
Thankfully, they give complimentary mini desserts that are made in-house. The selection that night: fudge brownie, marzipan, marshmallow, chocolate chip cookie, and a lilikoi gummy candy. It was enough to pacify my sweet tooth.
http://www.yelp.com/us...
Our server and busboy provided decently good service, though I did notice that it wasn't as attentive after more people came in.
What I liked most about Hoku's was the decor and ambiance. It's a nice date-night place, but I can't say I'd come back because the food just didn't make enough of an impression. -
Review from Cin T.
Hoku's a great pick if you're wanting to impress. This restaurant has excellent ambience with the design of its multi-tiered dining area & breathtaking panoramic views of the ocean. There isn't a bad seat in this place, you can take in the beautiful views from just about any seat in the restaurant.
Hoku's fusion-type menu is pretty interesting. I liked the innovative twists that were applied to local favorites like poke & lomi lomi salmon.
Overall, the food was just alright for me. Our bill for a table of 9 came out to almost $880 (tax & tip included). If you're wanting to spend that much on a good meal, Marvo's or Alan Wong's would be better choices.
Complimentary House Focaccia & Wheat Breads) w/an Ahi Aioli Dip:
In addition to the usual butter, Hoku's serves their breads alongside their much-raved about ahi dip. Looks & sounds great, doesn't it?
http://www.yelp.com/bi...
Imagine my disappointment when I stirred up my dip & found not a single piece of ahi.
Luckily, we had 3 other dips on our table. Those dishes had about 1-2 pieces of raw ahi in it.
Basically a thin mixture of sweet mayo & cream (hated the raw scallions btw).
http://www.yelp.com/bi...
Lisa also brought out NAAN ($7.95). The naan was doughy and slightly undercooked.
http://www.yelp.com/bi...
Once you've had something as wonderful as Himalayan Kitchen's garlic-jalapeno naan, it's hard not to be picky:
http://www.yelp.com/bi...
SALMON CROQUETTE AMUSE BOUCHE (compliments of the chef):
The chef's genius play on a local favorite, lomi lomi salmon.
http://www.yelp.com/bi...
The panko crust is fried perfectly on the outside, leaving the salmon still moist & flakey on the inside. The garlicky "asian remoulade" added a nice balance to the fresh-tasting lomi tomato salsa.
http://www.yelp.com/bi...
HOKU'S AHI MUSUBI ($18):
Ahi poke & sweet sushi rice is crusted in sesame seeds and flash-fried to a crunchy ball of goodness. The tasty poke was still cold & tasty in the center.
I didn't see any "crab namasu" as stated in the menu. Just got plain namasu (japanese pickled veggies).
It arrived already quartered & was served to each person immediately, so this was the best pic I could get.
http://www.yelp.com/bi...
SHORT RIB TEMPURA ($16):
This appetizer consists of boneless cubes of braised short ribs that are battered and tempura-fried, topped off with a slice of tempura avocado.
There were 4-5 one-inch pieces of beef per plate. Served with kalbi jus & something that tastes like scallion oil.
http://www.yelp.com/bi...
The crust was overcooked & tough. Most of the meat was overcooked & dry. This was the best one I got out of the bunch, still tough to chew despite looking tender.
http://www.yelp.com/bi...
GRILLED SCALLOPS ($19):
Pricey for 2 pieces of overcooked scallops. The fish-cake like texture seemed off to me, like it wasn't fresh?
Also on the plate was a miso-glazed eggplant (halved), pitted umeboshi (pickled sour plum) & 4 pcs of tempura asparagus (2 spears halved).
The asparagus was SALTY! You can see the salt in this pic:
http://www.yelp.com/bi...
FREE RANGE CHICKEN ($35):
Subbed for more green beans instead of the goat cheese mashed potatoes:
http://www.yelp.com/bi...
Chicken was served 2-ways:
1) Breast was 'sous-vide' (vaccum-sealed & cooked in a water bath at low temperatures). It was then pan-roasted to achieve the crispy skin. The thyme & rosemary overpowered the meat & left a weird aftertaste.
http://www.yelp.com/bi...
2) Crispy fried thigh roulade. Like chinese-crispy fried chicken, love this!
http://www.yelp.com/bi...
SALT-CRUSTED RACK LAMB w/vegetable tart & lamb jus ($55):
2 people from our group ordered this Colorado rack of lamb, one med-well & one med-rare.
Rodney brings both out to crack open the beautiful salt crust:
http://www.yelp.com/bi...
Revealing the requested doneness:
http://www.yelp.com/bi...
Then it's taken back to kitchen for plating.
http://www.yelp.com/bi...
Free Sweets: http://www.yelp.com/bi... -
Review from Henry L.
Los Angeles, CA
1/8/2012 1 Check-in Here
We are 15 year veterans of the Kahala Resort/Hotel, and every year, Hoku's is a staple. Service is always impeccable, the food fantastic and fresh, and their menu items are like a tradition, ahi musubi, whole fried fish, colossal shrimp, dessert sampler. Its always good, fresh and we love Hoku's, just as much as we love the Kahala.
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Review from Jon Y.
Pearl City, HI
10/10/2011
We just had our anniversary dinner last night @ hoku's. I just got an iPad so decided to write a review :)
My wife had lobster and I had a steak dinner. We shared to make a lobster/steak dinner. We also had a salad and a ahi/musubi appetizer to start. It all ended with some molten chocolate cake and liquor drinks (not sure on spelling)
Pro's
Great service friendly and courteous.
Portions are good size not too big not too small.
Flavorful food
Cons
Starch separate order for entrees
Noise due to wood flooring
Suggestions to restaurant:
Change ahi/musubi appetizer to nigiri style. Would make it nicer and easier to eat.
Include starch with dinner this is Hawaii not many people eat dinner without starch.
Install carpet or noise reducing material to quite down the restaurant. -
Review from Kevin B.
8/30/2011
This experience happened a few years ago, but I'm compelled to share.
We were in Honolulu visiting friends / family and on a few different evenings, we were taken out to dinner. One such evening we pulled into the Kahala hotel and I thought "What, a hotel for dinner??" This is before I realized I was a wannabe foodie and I had not even considered the possibility of such a thing.
It really helps when you have connections! The friend that brought us here is the director of the Culinary Institute of the Pacific @ Kapi'olani Community College and a personal friend of the executive chef (at the time) of Hoku's. After arriving the Chef came out, chatted with us for a few minutes and then went back to the kitchen.
We sat at our table and without ever seeing or touching a menu, various dishes, seafood, veggies, chicken, duck, etc start arriving, 1 or 2 about every 10-15 minutes! About half of the items presented to us were on the menu and about half were not (how special is that!). The presentation, quality and flavor of each dish were nothing short of awesomeness!
Needless to say, the service was very, very good. Our server checked back often and we were never wanting for anything.
After eating and eating and eating because the food kept coming and coming and coming, we sent word to the kitchen... "It's all truly wonderful, but please stop, we're getting full!" The Chef then inquires if we have room for dessert... and we do, just barely.
We are chatting away when TWO servers approach to our table to present our special dessert (another item, not on the menu). It was 3 scoops of house made vanilla bean ice cream sitting on these handmade, edible "bowls" of taro I believe, with a variety of fresh berries scattered around. But the real "WOW" factor, the Pièce de résistance, was when each of the servers picked up a round tube (also made of taro, about the same size and shape of a small cigar) from a separate plate. In unison they held them over the ice cream and snapped them in half, as if breaking a pencil. Once they did that, melted chocolate poured from these tubes and on to the ice cream! OH EMM GEE!!!!! This presentation wowed me so and left such an impression, that it just gave me goose-bumps as I recount it here for you! It's something I will remember the rest of my life.
Obviously we had a very special experience at Hoku's that not many will have. But because of this, I no longer discount and ignore restaurants in nice hotels. When I go back to Hawaii, I will visit Hoku's again. -
Review from Troy M.
Honolulu, HI
10/18/2011 Seated via OpenTable 2 Check-ins Here
Sunday brunch buffet here rocks. Great service by all. The view at atmosphere is very relaxing.
The food perfect. Brunch on a sunday is always busy but its not a like a mad house that you get at most buffet places. Go early when they open and take your time to relax and enjoy the buffet. When your done enjoy the property and visit the dolphins.
Stand out dishes:
Miso butter fish
Hot King Crab legs
Dessert station. -
Review from David F.
Pasadena, CA
12/20/2011
We had dinner at Hokus and enjoyed a variety of entrees including meat/fish/vegetables. Foie gras was perfectly cooked and everything was well prepared and tasty!
They made a smaller steak for my daughter since a regular portion would have been too much food and also prepared the snapper by steaming which they did special for us as well. Service is excellent. Attentive but not hovering and also knowledgeable about fish and preparation of each dish.
DEFINITELY check sunset time online before going for dinner so you can walk around the beautiful grounds and see the dolpiins/rays. Request a window seat when making your reservation. Beautiful views of ocean as long as you are there before sunset! -
Review from Jonathan P.
Honolulu, HI
After reminiscing about John Dominis' brunch I figured it was about time to find a new brunch favorite. With the help of my two younger brothers, we decided to treat my father to Sunday brunch for his birthday.
This was my first time eating at Hoku's for their brunch buffet and it was outstanding! Upon entering you can see the delicious sushi creations, the beautiful array of seafood on ice, mouth-watering roast beef and lamb, and the humongous chocolate fountain! I made reservations through the Kahala website and got an amazing window table which overlooked a spectacular view of Kahala beach.
Service was incredible! We had three main servers (Taryn, Charlotte, and Rodel) who were very VERY attentive. Whenever we took a sip of water our waters were refilled almost instantly! And whenever we got up to get more food our plates was promptly removed and our napkin was neatly folded and placed on the armrest of our chair.
So after reading other Hoku's reviews, I was disappointed to learn that they no longer include champagne or mimosas for the complementary brunch drink =( But they did have interesting juices. We had the carrot, cantaloupe, ginger drink and the strawberry, watermelon, mango, bell pepper, tomato drink http://www.yelp.com/us... I honestly prefer the carrot one. While both were refreshing, the red one had too much of a tomato taste. Whereas the carrot one was lighter and smoother.
Along with the drinks they brought croissants http://www.yelp.com/us... and a poke musubi http://www.yelp.com/us.... The croissants were made hot and fresh and had a delicious apricot and almond butter spread. And the Poke musubi was just as good! The musubi was seeded on the outside and probably flash fried so the inside poke was still cold and soft with the outside crispy and chewy like mochi.
The seafood/sushi section was amazing. Their seafood consisted of sashimi, lobster, oysters, shrimp, and snow crab claws. As for the sushi they had the various rolls (spicy ahi, unagi, and california) and nigiri (salmon, ahi, ebi, and hamachi) http://www.yelp.com/us.... My favorites from the seafood section were the snow crab claws and the hamachi nigiri. The snow crab claws had those cumbersome shells already removed =) as for the hamachi...well who doesn't like hamachi?!
A little further down they had a carving station and had roast beef and oven roasted rack of lamb. Both were absolutely to die for!
They also had salad, soup, and the typical brunch things you normally see (breakfast meats, hot crab legs, hashbrowns, etc) but I decided to spend most of my time eating the seafood and meat! But I have to admit the salmon eggs benedict was probably one of the best eggs benedicts I've eaten!
After devouring 4 massive plates of food I decided it was time to hit the dessert station http://www.yelp.com/us.... They had 12 different desserts and a chocolate fountain with various fruits. I tried to eat a little of each but failed..But my favorite was probably the macaroons.
After pigging out for about 2 hours I was so full it took an additional 10 minutes just for me to reach for my wallet! For the 4 of us the bill came to about $300 with tip (on the receipt it says a 17% gratuity will be added for parties over 7) so about $62 per person before tip. Hoku's was by far one of the most expensive places I've ever eaten at, but it was worth every penny!
**Don't forget there's a dress code! Slacks, covered shoes, and collar shirt for guys** Sorry I don't know the exact dress code for women. -
Review from Kelly K.
Los Angeles, CA
This is not so much a review of Hoku's. It's really an updated comment on the Kahala hotel and how poorly they treat their guests. It pains me to have to write this because my family, friends, and I have long held the Kahala hotel in high regard. Over the 30+ years I have stayed, dined and attended many memorable functions (prom, weddings, parties) at the Kahala.
When I was at the Hoku's Sunday Brunch in Feb 2011, I slipped on food (the floors that day were filthy) and fell face first in front of the dessert buffet set-up. A kind stranger picked me up. I was then urged by waitstaff to move to a corner so their other guests wouldn't be disturbed. Shocking.
My server and her assistant did come by to check on me. They were the only ones from the Kahala that showed any real concern or compassion. The restaurant manager did come by but she clearly could give a crap and was the least bit interested in whether I was ok.
Yes, I didn't break any bones, nor did I have a major medical emergency. Which is why I did not ask for an ambulance. But geez, I did hit the floor face first and my knees did get banged up. The only reason why I even filed a report is because my server recommended I do so just in case. I never imagined the Kahala would end up pointing fingers at me. It's not like they comp'd the meal... in fact we really got NOTHING except for an ice pack and a glass of ice water.
Long story short (and why I am updating my review months later), the Kahala's insurance company (Detric) completed their "investigation" and I was sent a formal letter of their findings. The Kahala determined that they were not at fault and that I no grounds to seek any medical compensation for my injuries. In their report, the floors did not have debris (false), the staff interviewed did not see anything (really?), and the accident was all my fault. Wow. Never have I been treated so poorly by a restaurant or hotel. I am flabbergasted by the Kahala's response and horrified that this is how they treat their guests. Talk about pouring salt in a wound.
For the record, I did not expect anything but to be treated like a valued guest at the property. I did not want nor need a comp on my meal. I did not need their assistance in paying for my doctor bills (I have health insurance thank you). Genuine concern, assurance that the floors will be kept clean, and a little Aloha goes a long way with me.
As a result of this experience, I will NEVER go to the Kahala ever again. And I will definitely let everyone that I know that this place has gone downhill. AUWE Kahala! Shame on you!1 Previous Review: Show all »
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2/14/2011
Normally when I find something I like, I stick to it. For me, Halekulani's Orchid brunch is my… Read more »
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Review from Rae D.
Kaneohe, HI
9/13/2011 3 photos
Hoku's is a foodie's and lazy butt's dream come true.
The restaurant is a mere 10-15 steps from the valet area of the Kahala Hotel and Resort. The restroom is on the right just before the restaurant's entrance, not down some crazy maze in a backroom somewhere.
As my fellow foodie friend and I entered, we were greeted warmly by the staff, in spite of the fact that we were 30 minutes late. (We did call to let them know.) Two of the walls of this restaurant are glass, so an incredible ocean view unfolds to the east and south. (Yes, I could say Diamond Head and makai, but the I refuse because the actual Diamond Head is Ewa of this restaurant.) We were seated against the eastern "wall," and because it was such a clear almost-dusk, we could see Moloka'i!
Almost immediately after being seated, we were brought a pretty dish of what seemed to be a fancy version of lomi salmon and a basket of bread. My friend ordered an appetizer--sashimi slices amongst pieces of citrus and other pretty edible items--for us to share. Everything was fresh and flavorful.
When our main dish came, we were impressed. We ordered opakapaka, which had been fried whole in a wok. It came to the table with the fish still "together," yet the wait staff easily served us two filets each. There was A LOT of fish to take home, too. The opakapaka also came with the most perfectly cooked vegetables--crispy but not hard to chew--and some wonderful fried rice.
Even though we were already pretty full, we couldn't leave without ordering dessert. I had the warm chocolate cake, which was heavenly, and I'm not sure what my friend had though he seemed to be moaning with delight in the most quiet and polite way. As if all this wasn't enough, we ordered the Peaberry Kona Coffee for two. All I can say is, if you've never had it and you love coffee, put it on your bucket list.
Throughout our meal, the staff was attentive: continually filling up our water glasses, offering to take our picture, and engaging in polite conversation about an event we were on our way to attending.
If you love great food and hate walking miles in your high heels, Hoku's is the place for you! -
Review from Nina J.
Honolulu, HI
11/5/2011
Food was fantastic! We had the musubi and short ribs for appetizers. I had the Opaka special and my friend had the prawns. The mushroom risotto with truffles was delicious.
I would have given 5 stars if it wasn't for one of our servers. The older gentleman was a bit salty for my taste. -
Review from Nick W.
San Jose, CA
8/30/2011 1 Check-in Here
This is part of the Kahala resort. Beautiful area and facility. Hoku's is supposidly fancy in that you have to be dressed up, slacks style, for their main room. However you can be dressed down and eat Hoku's at their viranda right outside. The downside is the service slow, even when it wasn't very busy. Our waitress seemed almost forgetful of simple things, like water and lemon. Tall blonde woman. She was still nice though.
The other waitress that was not ours was more attentive,
We ordered a few things, nothing mind blowing, but still delicious. The tempura braised pork was great, and a fancy spin on something that's just deep fried haha.. the spinach side dish was tasty, and the sashimi plate was good, but again nothing to brag about. The best part of the entrees were the scallops, but they did have a bit too much of a slight pepper spice to it.
We finished off with a Lavender ice cream & meringue concoction, the ice cream was a "meh" + but the meringue was pretty good by itself.
The best part of the dinner, and honestly one of the best parts of my week trip, was the dining entertainment. The singer/guitarist (soloist) was Cory Oliveros. Our lady friend was swooning (straight squince/sandlot style) over him and his voice, and to be honest, I had a bit of a man crush on him too. If John Mayer, Jack Johnson, Marvin Gaye, Smokey Robinson, and Israel "IZ" Kamakawiwo'ole had a kid, it would be this guy. He went through about 40+ songs it seemed like, and each was better and better. He seemed so seasoned, and it wasn't until he followed up later on his twitter, that we realized it was his first gig there. I'm going to twitter/facebook stalk him, you should too.
facebook/twitter @ coryoliveros, and http://www.coryolivero...
Free valet with validation btw. Save you SOME money on these $40+ dollar meals.
you're welcome -
Review from Wesside D.
Kapolei, HI
8/5/2011
On my most "classy" first date as of yet, and since he was paying, I didn't want to be a jerk and order something ridiculously expensive, so got their cheapest and healthiest 'dinner'...a tiny plate with a cracker, a square of goat cheese, some sprouts and some beet juice dots around said tiny plate.
I suddenly missed my frozen Lean Cuisine at home in my freezer.
This wasn't very enjoyable for me, and the dude also seemed overcompensating and not worthy of a second date LOL -
Review from Gemma R.
7/19/2011
$12 unlimited mimosa, (i'm not sure how much the buffet cost) seafood buffet and a great selection of desserts + a chocolate fountain. Worth the $ you are spending. Ask for a window seat and look out at the amazing views. The waitress was super friendly and kept the drinks coming.
Food selection:
seafood:
assortment of sushi, and sashimi. crab claws, oysters, lobster tails.
tempura - shrimp, asparagus, squash or yam I can't remember
rack of lamb and it was either roast beef or some other meat
Hot table:
salads, breads
breakfast meats: Portuguese sausage, sausage, bacon
miso butterfish, roasted crab claw, roasted mixed veggies, chicken, hash browns, salmon eggs benedict, and I'm sure I'm missing a few other things
Dessert table:
chocolate fountain with strawberries & banana for dipping, french macaroons, lilikoi bars, three types of sliced cakes, cheese cake, chocolate mousse, chocolate tart, truffle pops, green tea cake, the list goes on.
Great place to have brunch, free parking with validation, take a tour of the hotel after to walk off some of those calories... Also a great place to see Dolphins & sea turtles. -
Review from Thi L.
Honolulu, HI
4/12/2011
Nice atmosphere, great service. Came here for dinner on a Saturday night.
I started with the Big Island Hearts of Palm which came with some ahi & hamachi sashimi. It was very delicious.
For my entree I ordered the Pacific Catch of the Day which was grilled opakapaka perfectly cooked sitting in a corn mascarpone sauce. It was pretty much a corn chowder. Very delicious. I ate it all.
I had to keep dessert light since I gorged on everything else so opted for their sorbetto trio (lychee, guava and I forget). It was alright.
And then they bring you some more sweets after you pay. It was a little dish of chocolates that we couldn't finish unfortunately.
Had a drink at the veranda afterwards with live music from the piano player. The Kahala is nice because it's away from the hustle of Waikiki and you still get that resort-y-ness. I felt like I was a tourist in a good way. :) -
Review from Sara H.
9/13/2011 1 Check-in Here
one of my favorite places to go on special occasions! killer views and delicious food. i loveee the bread and dipping sauce (some sort of aioli?) that they serve. i always fill up on that before my meal! tragic mistake. they also have a killer ahi musubi with crispy rice on the outside and yummy crab namasu. SO GOOD. i pretty much go just for that.
this place is a splurge but definitely a place to go when you're trying to impress! valet park, ask for a table near the window and just enjoy the experience! -
Review from stephy s.
San Francisco, CA
Holy crab!
Brunch is a wonderful thing, isn't it? It gives you a reason to sleep in and then you get to stuff your face with savory deliciousness and then it is totally okay to take a nap after you conquered your plate and ate more than any one human should. Yay, Brunch!!
This brunch is a stellar example of what a brunch should be. For starters let's talk about the crab, oh that sweet crab. Crab claws the size of baby kittens. Crab legs that can only be described as ginormous! And then there's the hot butter to drench said crab in. Swoon. Just magnificent! And you can eat as much as you want and they won't even look or point at the drooling seafood obsessed beast that you are!
Then there's the lamb. Oh mama, soooo good. And the prime rib, yep, you guessed it, divine. And the sweets, wow. I don't even like sweets, but what this spread offers is totally worth indulging in.
By far one of the best meals I had on my trip to Hawaii and the views, just lovely. You'll spend some grip, but this is a spread worth splurging on!Listed in: Hawaii Restaurants
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Review from Raider J.
San Francisco, CA
1/25/2011
Just came back from dinner....it was fabulous.....
The ambience was wonderful....trendy, up-dated furnishings with beautifull views of the ocean. For dinner, we ordered the seafood chowder, rack of lamb, roast duck and coconut cake.
The chowder was super creamy with flavors of lobster and fish.
The rack of lamb was very tasty and tender. The roast duck (half) was prepared Chinese Peking Duck style with crispy tender skin, hoisin sauce and buns.....soooo good.
Finally, the coconut cake for desert was outstanding....the cake was filled with a coconut cream filling topped with coconut flakes......sooooo yummy.
A great meal in a beautiful setting! -
Review from Dawn L.
We were going to Prince Court but it would have been too late in the evening. I debated on House Without A Key, but I was afraid he wouldn't get enough food...we've never been there. So we went back to one of our regular places for special occassions--Hoku's--for my fiance's birthday.
Again, not exactly the finest experience in the world here. Our server was just okay. Several times throughout the night of my fiance's birthday dinner, his wine glass was left dry, as were our water glasses. He wasn't drinking terribly fast either. They were simply neglecting us.
When I called in the reservation, the reservationist specifically asked me (I did not volunteer this) if we were celebrating anything and I said a birthday. She said she would try to get us a window seat. We were seated near a window...not at a window, but I guessed that meant they "got the memo" about the birthday.
After dinner we watched them bring birthday dessert after birthday dessert to table after table around us, even setting one down at a table directly adjacent to us, just a few feet away while they prepped it...only to deliver it to a table behind us. It was like adding insult to injury. I was sad for him. He didn't care about the birthday dessert, but I think the fact that everyone else was recognized BUT him was a little rude...especially when they asked and knew.
Aside from that, we've decided that should we return to Hoku's we will probably not have entrees anymore. They are EXCELLENT at smaller portions. The appetizers are fantastic. We love the fried ahi musubi and order it every time we come here. It's consistently a winner. We knew it was gonna do us in, but we both wanted it anyway, so we also order the sushi and sashimi platter and absolutely didn't regret it. It's $16 or $18 and an absolute value at that. This time we got 3 THICK pieces of ahi sashimi, 2 pieces of melt in your mouth hamachi, 2 pieces of nigiri, a tobiko-dolloped California roll, mini tobiko and wasabi tobiko rolls, and spicy tako poke. mmmm-mmmm good. The amuse bouche was a tobiko topped asian style ceviche--also to die for.
Our entrees were less than phenomenal. They weren't awful, but we just weren't doing backflips. He had the avocado-crusted seabass. The avocado was a thick as the seabass and he had to scrape half of it off. I had the Pacific Catch which was mahi prepared in a red wine miso sauce. This was REALLY interesting. It looked like the chef and his 6 year old went through the kitchen and pulled out everything they had in their fridge and threw it together in a meal. I'm not saying it doesn't work and I get the concepts behind it (textures, color and flavor balance)--it was just interesting. Mahi fillet, on top of enoki mushrooms, corn kernels, chopped and split asparagus pieces in a red wine and miso soup (not a reduction, a soup). It wasn't bad for sure, but the jury's still out on whether I can say I actually LIKE IT or not.
We saw them bring by a scruptuous looking dessert to another table and hungrier half said he had to have it. So we ordered a Kahala Sundae and I wanted to try the Mango Canneloni. A sundae is a sundae. The canneloni were good. The lychee sorbet and cilantro drizzle tied it all together nicely.
Our entire dinner (2 appetizers, 2 entrees, a bottle of wine, 2 desserts--they give a complementary amuse bouche and complementary dessert bites) was just over $200 including tip.
We definitely LOVE the appetizers and in the future, if we decide to take another shot at Hoku's (Kahala is after all where we got engaged), we may just go for lots of appetizers and skip the entrees completely.Listed in: Ball and chain: The Wedding…
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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2/10/2010
We used to go to Hoku's a few times a year for special occassions, you know, bdays, annis, etc. No… Read more »
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Review from Diana C.
Honolulu, HI
6/3/2011
Never would have even though to betray my beloved Orchid's for brunch until I called on Monday for brunch for that upcoming Sunday, to be denied & put on a "waitlist" - buzz kill. Having gone to the brunch at Plumeria's and not being all that impressed, I decided to try get a reservation at Hoku's for 11:30 - but they only had an opening at 12:45? Fine.
My parents, visiting boyfriend, and I arrived to the Kahala around 11:30, deciding to just come early & walk around the resort. Yet, I quickly peaked my head into the restaurant, and the hostess was more than willing to seat our party immediately. Upon entering, the brunch buffet was noticeably smaller than the one at the Halekulani, yet, my mouth began to water as I saw the cold bar of oyster, shrimp, crab legs, and lobster tails. YUM.
I didn't waste anytime with the normal breakfast affair, I can make bacon and eggs benedict on my own. Instead, I focused on the delicious seafood selection, the carving station of roast beef and lamb, and finally the delectable desserts.
Service was excellent. Freshly made juices, coffee, and tea are of course complementary (or included in the bill rather), and the view is to die for. The restaurant is pretty small, which allows everyone to see the ocean during their meal.
Though a bit pricey (about 300 with tip for 4 people), it's well worth it & I'll be back again!
If you're not fazed by not having hundreds of options for brunch, instead insisting on quality and not quantity, Hoku's is the way to go :) -
Review from Jade T.
Honolulu, HI
6/1/2011
I love it here. This is my second visit and it was just as good as the first. The food is delicious and the service is great. I can't wait to return. I think it's the best fine dinning in Oahu
Pros:
-Service - timely in all request. When my date and I were ready to order. We placed our menu down. I noticed that our server saw this across the room and he quickly came to take our order
-Food - I had the chicken..and it was so moist and flavorful. And a good portion, I had to take half of it home.
-Ambiance - we had a window view and I loved how it wasn't too loud to where i needed to shout to have a conversation with my date -
Review from Brian K.
Honolulu, HI
1/10/2011 1 Check-in Here
Preappetiser starter was a salmon cake on a pineapple salsa. Sweet and an enjoyable little bite.
I started with the sashimi. Hamachi in the ponzu with chilis was off the hook. The maguro and sake were fairly standard. I would have liked to have more chiso.
Ordered the 10oz rib eye medium rare on a myshroom risotto. The rice was epic. The steak was a bit tough and overdone. I was moderately disappointed. Flavor was excellent but definitely could be better.
Panna cotta with a berry soup for dessert was great, but they forgot my double espresso.
Service was perfect as always.
Went again, this time with the Sony people.
Preappetiser this time was almost the same thing time with shrimp instead.
We had the seafood tower appetiser. Impressive and very good. Except for the mussels. Not a fan of mussels. Otherwise oysters, clams, crap legs, claws, lots of different types of limu, hamachi and maguro sashimi.
I also had the scallops appetiser. baked figs, tempura style asparagus, was very good.
We ordered a couple servings of the deep fried whole fish. It was opakapaka they do it in a corn starch batter, so gluten free. Also ordered creamed spinache, this mashed potatos with goat cheese and brussel spouts cooked with bacon. Normally not a fan of brussel sprouts but these were good and well, everything with bacon is good. I also had the pork loin. It was very tasty, but a little tough. The pear sauce was excellent. The risotte with it had a texture like a paella and the slightly salty flavor went very well with the pear glaze on the pork loin.
Finished with the bread pudding. It was different. Not as dense as I am used to. I actually appreciated the lavendar ice cream more. -
Review from Masato I.
12/19/2010 1 Check-in Here
Beautiful brunch (more br than unch...) a couple of weeks ago at the Kahala. Something about eating near dolphins and a big open lanai makes anything taste better.
The coffee was really bold, good flavor, but too bitter for my palate. They give you a whole carafe though, so if you like bold coffee, you have a lot... As an econ major, I consider this the replacement of labor with capital which is a no-no in the service industry. We had to flag down the wait staff a few times, but I prefer that to overzealous servers who like to interrupt every 5 minutes.
The spread fermenting in the vat cans ranged from OK to bad, but the highlight is of course the omelets and the prime rib.
Bacon was cold and crispy to the point of brittleness (you know what I'm talking about), Portugese sausage was good but also a bit tough, making it OK. I sampled a few other things but the only thing of note was how bad the rolled Swedish pancakes (I'm not sure what they called them) were. It was covered in I think maple syrup and had absorbed it all morning making it a mush and way too sweet and gross.
Had I done this $30+ breakfast again, I would have gotten the prime rib and fresh-made omelets over and over until I was asked to leave, and then I would eat the fresh fruit until the police arrive. -
Review from Jannet L.
7/2/2011
it's a waikiki fancy dinner and view without the hassle of the traffic and mobs of tourists. easy to make reservations through the website via open table. fresh fish, delicious food, nice wine, incredible views and little to no hassle. the service was great. the sky and water were beautiful as the sun was setting.
will bring out of town guests here from now on rather than face the traffic in waikiki. price was high but worth it - about 180 bucks for 3 with drinks, appetizers, main, coffee and tip. okay for an infrequent splurge. -
Review from Mariko O.
Honolulu, HI
5/8/2011 1 photo
We had a wonderful pre Mothers Day and Birthday dinner. We all had a great time. The ambience was superb as usual. We were fortunate to have seats at next to the window with beautiful ocean views. We all enjoyed our meal from the bread to the appetizers of Ahi Musubi (the best), sushi with sashimi to their New York Steak, Free range chicken, their fish special with an avocado crust, and to my Fried prawns. I had their Macadamia Nut Sacher Torte, Bailey's Irish Cream "Cappuccino" so decadent!
Our waiter really made our night even more special! He was so attentive and service was at a perfect pace. -
Review from Jamie W.
12/20/2010 1 photo
Last official stop on our culinary tour of Honolulu. Since we were staying at the Kahala, I thought it only make sense to eat there as well. After all, we had no car and Hoku's gets excellent reviews.
Absolutely no disappointment here. We made same day reservations and even though they were very busy, we were seated pretty quickly. Overall, excellent service but the obvious main attraction here is the food.
What we had... we started with an assortment of sashimi done several different ways (see picture). Fantastic! For entrees, we shared a crusted fish as well as the Imperial prawns with fried rice. Everything was spot on, especially the prawns. I liked the mixture of French, Asian and Hawaiian elements in the food here. It's ingenuity definitely stands out and I'm not sure if I've eaten at another restaurant that combines such tastes and flavors and pulls them off so well. Kudos!
We opted out of dessert but I did have a cup of Kona coffee. I love coffee and this was my first cup of Kona on the last day of our trip. Go figure. But it was probably the BEST cup of coffee I've ever had in my life.
The view is probably gorgeous but it was a very dark night. Prices were better than I expected. Lovely dining room. Open kitchen concept. An excellent end to a trip of good eats! -
Review from Jennifer D.
Honolulu, HI
8/12/2011
Our favorite place for a special date-night dinner or when good friends are visiting from out of town. During our most recent meal, the Kulana Tenderloin simply brought tears to my eyes.
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Review from Kyle H.
7/24/2011
Tried Hoku's for dinner twice. I love The Kahala Hotel and love the ambience and service at Hoku's. However, I could never bring myself to love the food there after two tries. While the food's preparation is always superb, with meats and seafood being cooked to the correct level of doneness, the flavor just doesn't speak to me. I'm not sure why. My advice is if you're going to spend that much money, you're most likely better off going to Chef Mavro or Alan Wong's King Street. If you do decide to go to Hoku's, make sure you apply for The Kahala's Epitome Card. This card will get you discounts at all dining establishments and the spa at The Kahala. You must be a Hawaii resident to qualify for this membership.
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Review from Leimalani F.
Honolulu, HI
8/25/2010
Dinner at Hoku's is a lavish seafood orgy. Down right polyamorous! But with prices like these, it's nice to get the low down on what's hot and what's not before you go.
Skip the amuse bouche of a kimchee mussel: Not hot.
Seafood tower: HUGE!!! Chilled lobster tails and claws, mussels, hamachi, ahi, snapper, shiso, limu, fresh oysters and clams as well as several dipping sauces including an ume-shiso mignonette. Only get this if you don't want to get any other appetizers.
Sashimi appetizer: Sashimi done 3 ways. One piece of ahi came with chive oil and feta foam. Mouth-gasm! I want a whole platter of this one! The more traditional hamachi, ahi, sake (salmon) and snapper paled in comparison.
Ahi musubi: Absolutely stunning - fried and raw, crunchy and slippery, savory and sweetly vinegared.
Fresh palm salad: This was so refreshing and unique. Sliced fresh big island palm, hamachi, ahi, grapefruit and orange. The presentation was beautiful and the taste was very delicate.
Whole fried Onaga: Phenomenal. WOW dish of the night. This is NOT for two people but would be better for four with appetizers and salads, unless you like leftovers! Fried rice was meh.
The main entrees had a tough act to follow. Lamb is served tableside in an unusually soft salt crust. Good, but not phenomenal. Can't really go wrong with Chinese style ginger steamed mahimahi (not listed on the menu). Our other companions ate the roast duck and chicken. Neither compained nor raved. Side order of goat cheese mashed potatoes were extremely flavorful and good.
DESSERTS!!!!! Mango canneloni why did you have to be so small and so DELICIOUS??? Semolina pudding was just meh. Actually, the lavender crisp that accompanied it was better than the actual dessert. Molten chocolate cake (also not on the menu) was so good this diner refused to share :)
Post dinner petite fours and truffles were such a nice touch!
NOTE: Service is slow as the waitstaff has too many tables to provide fine dining service. Dress code includes covered shoes for men (although it's not listed on the website). It can get cold and drafty in the restaurant, but they brought our guest a blanket! This place is great if you want to impress the ladies. Honestly, I'm only eating the ahi musubi if I'm paying :) -
Review from Kari O.
Los Angeles, CA
8/17/2011 4 photos
My favorite seafood Sunday brunch on Oahu. If you appreciate fresh seafood, this is the place to get it. All the seafood is fresh and delicious. From the lobster and crab claws to the oysters, poke and sushi... The poke musubi's were so yummy. :) They also serve hot buffet main dishes like butter poached king crab legs, miso butterfish, salmon benedict, banana french toast, rib roast, rack of lamb and made to order omelets. Oceanview. Excellent service. They made a special fresh fruit drink for us the last time we went. I think it was a blend of cucumber, pineapple and lemon. It was very refreshing and unique. A+
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Review from Darcie C.
Honolulu, HI
10/25/2010
Hoku's is spectacular! From the view, to the table setting, to the workers, and to the menu. The seafood tower is amazingly awesome! Probably the best tower I've ever had. The wine is fabulous and so are the entrees. The workers are extremely polite...you never have to lift a finger. The chef also gave us a free appetizer, probably because we got the seafood tower. My 4 year old son came, too, even he enjoyed it!
The bread and dipping sauces are amazing. -
Review from Jennifer L.
Honolulu, HI
2/1/2011 1 photo
I always remembered this restaurant because the last time I came here for dinner (which was my 1st time), we were surprised with a small tasty appetizer and a unique dessert after our meal.
The 6 of us shared the large seafood tower appetizer, a cold arrangement of lobster tail, king crab legs, tako (octopus), shrimp, clams, mussels, maguro (ahi), hamachi, seabass, and fresh seaweed on a bed of crushed ice. The variety of sauces added to the excitement of this appetizer: onion garlic cream sauce, ponzu sauce, chilli pepper water, english mustard sauce, wasabi, and cocktail sauce.
SURPRISE APPETIZER: Shrimp with caper and fish egg.
I ordered the pacific catch which was the mahi mahi with an avacado panko crust on top, served with green tomatoes onions over a pomegranate sauce.
SURPRISE DESSERT: Chocolate, tart and macaroon.
We celebrated a birthday and he received a chocolate cupcake with fresh blueberries and blackberries. I would definitely return to Hoku's regardless if it is a special occasion or not. Drink choices were diverse as well! -
Review from Tasha T.
Honolulu, HI
8/15/2010
The service was amazing! Each and every person working here greeted me with a smile and even complimented my shoes (which alone deserves 1000000 brownie points!). Everyone was really nice and it made my birthday experience extra special.
The food was delicious. The Salt-crusted rack of lamb portion was smaller than expected (only reason for the minus one star), but tasted great and was satisfying. We brought in Hello Kitty Brut Rose wine (which they of course charged a corkage fee) and some curious workers wanted to come by to take a look at the cute bottle. They were polite about it though and it added character to the otherwise pretty quiet restaurant (it was a late Thursday evening). Needless to say, our glasses were always filled. The meal was completed with a dessert with sparkler candles (it was my birthday) which made the experience very special. -
Review from Elizabeth N.
Honolulu, HI
5/18/2010
Reader just know I'm giving the 5 stars for the Sunday Buffet. I loved it! One of the best buffets I've had in the islands and the mainland. Orchids at the Halekulani is very good too but for the same price they don't offer the seafood that Hoku's does.
Hoku's is not the biggest buffet out there but the quality of food and attention to detail in their cooking is top notch. Everything you'd expect to pay $60/pp for AND you get choke seafood. Lobster tails, shrimp, hot crab legs, sashimi, miso butterfish....I could go on.
When you first get there they offer you these awesome fresh fruit fusion juices, I had the carrot/ginger/pineapple. YUM. They're so good, you only get the first one free, additional ones are $6 a pop.
But again the everything on the menu was great. Our waitress was very nice too, she knew it was busy so she would grab extra stuff for us just so we wouldn't have to ask for it later.
Here's my recap:
Pros:
- the FOOD, my standouts were the french toast, Ahi Masubi, miso butterfish, of course the seafood and juices (and all the desserts!).
-Location, away from the hustle and bustle of waikiki/honolulu
-intimate setting, doesn't feel like a zoo at feeding time.
-service, our server was very attentive and nice
Cons:
-Price, it is a bit pricey but I guess they have to make up for someone eating a dozen lobster tails and pile of fresh sashimi
-variety of food, there isn't a whole lot but what they do have is just enough and VERY good -
Review from Anela L.
Honolulu, HI
10/27/2011
Sometimes you just gotta feel fancy.... so my hubby and I took our 3 month old to the (fancy voice) Kahala Hotel for an all you can eat Sunday brunch. We were told they were sold out but chanced it anyway and were the first to be seated in a nice fat booth looking at the ocean. You will get treated like gold here which is sooooo nice. I now know what the 1% feel like. I am not usually a fan of all you can eat as I envision a trough and pushy people. This was super fancy and casual and the line was stocked with fresh food consistently. Sashimi, lobster and oysters for brunch is decadent and I wish I could have eaten more. The reason for the 4 stars is that they only give you one fresh juice with the $60 a person meal and not even a mimosa. C'mon now... if you offer one up, the buzz may lead to ordering another. I also took away a star because as pretty as the desserts looked. They didn't taste that great! The waiter was awesome and made me a decaf Americano when I told him the decaf was burnt.... and got me a to go cup for it. We spent 2 hours eating with breaks in between, we never felt rushed which was nice, even with a crying baby. We also changed into our suits and hit the beach after. It's free parking validation for the first 4 hours.
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Review from Min K.
2/10/2010 1 Check-in Here
After a wild stripper filled night at Waikiki, I was looking forward to trying Hoku's, thanks to the FABULOUS Janet I splurging on my birthday.
As soon as we pull into the Kahala resort, I feel like I'm at an island oasis just surrounded by exotic people and food.
Thank god for reservations, as it was a little packed; we got seated promptly in the back with a nice view overlooking the ocean. Of course it being brunch, mimosa's were in order.
Now to the food: don't get the cold seafood. Lobster, crab, shrimp, all overcooked. The oysters on the other hand, YUMMO! As it is a brunch buffet, there were many breakfast items such as bacon, sausage links, Portuguese sausage, hashbrowns ala au gratin style, salmon eggs Benedict, and fennel tomato soup.
Then the other entrees consisted of, miso butterfish, butter poached crab, sashimi, sushi, tempura, cheese variety, and mixed veggies.
I was told that we missed out on the prime rib and omelet station, which sucks, but the desert so made up for it! The haupia sweet potato squares, macaroons, chocolate fountain, and the fabulous bread pudding!
It is a bit pricey, but so worth it! -
Review from Liz T.
4/7/2008
I've been lucky enough to have dinner twice at Hoku's. It's a classy restaurant with a picturesque view. Good thing it wasn't on my own dime, though.
I had the $80 fish and $90 lamb (both for 2). The food looks like a 10 but tastes like a 6. For the same amount of money, you could have much better meals at Alan Wong's Restaurant and half a dozen hole-in-the-walls in the same week.
The best thing about this place is the free ahi poke dip that comes paired with a variety of bread. I'm absolutely serious--I would buy it by the gallon if it was sold at the supermarket. It's the only reason why I wanted to come back after the first time!
