When a friend told me about a new spot in Nuuanu serving soft shell crab pasta, I knew I had to check it out. Chao, which just had its grand opening last Monday, has already been making waves—even though they've been in soft opening since July 2025.
Booking a table was super easy through OpenTable, which I always appreciate. When we pulled into the parking lot, it was packed—a good sign. I braced myself for a wait, but to my surprise, we were seated right away. Our server greeted us shortly after, and we dove right into ordering.
Here’s what we got:
Vietnamese Chicken Wings
Gai Lan Stir Fry
Soft Shell Crab Pasta
- Salt and Pepper Calamari
- Duck Salad (sorry, no photo!)
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The food came out surprisingly fast, and first impressions were solid. The chicken wings had great flavor, though I was hoping for a bit more crisp. The Gai Lan was delicious—fresh, garlicky, and paired beautifully with the pasta. The duck salad added a refreshing balance to everything. The duck salad, while nicely presented, was probably our least favorite of the evening. It wasn’t bad by any means, just a bit underwhelming compared to the rest of the dishes.
The Soft Shell Crab Pasta absolutely stole the show. I couldn’t believe it came with two whole soft shell crabs and a generous portion of pasta—all for just $22.
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Rich, satisfying, and totally unexpected. I’d come back just for this dish alone.
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For a brand-new restaurant, Chao is already operating like a well-oiled machine. Great service, fast turnaround. I’m already planning my next visit—this time to try their lunch menu.
Reservations are highly recommended.
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CHAO
1613 NUUANU AVENUE
808-888-0166
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