Lunch at J. Dolan's

Giacomo Pizza

I've been a longtime fan of the pizza at J. Dolan's. So long, that I remember when it used to be JJ Dolan's, but I had not visited the Kahala location until last month. I am happy to report the thin crust pizzas are still delicious as ever.

We walked in on a Sunday afternoon and were seated right away. J. Dolan's is all you want in a pub - cozy atmosphere, friendly service, and good food and drinks. It's great for a casual lunch while you watch your favorite sports game.

You can order pizza by the slice or by the whole pie. If you are not in the mood for pizza, other menu options offered are fish and chips, fries, onion rings, calamari, chicken wings, and salads. I didn't see a dessert menu, but we walked over to Kahala MKT next door to satisfy my sweet tooth. 

J. Dolan's is open daily from 11am and is available for group reservations and private parties.

Fish and Chips

J. Dolan's 

4210 Waialae Ave

Honolulu, HI 96816

 

 

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Yohei Sushi Kahala

After celebrating our anniversary at Yohei Sushi Kahala, we quickly decided this would be our go-to spot for special occasions. So when it came time to celebrate a birthday, there was no question about where we wanted to go.

As expected, everything we ordered was excellent. Our table was filled with a salmon roll, salmon nigiri, chicken karaage, tempura, ten don, mini udon, and chirashi—each dish beautifully prepared and absolutely delicious. The standout, as always, was the salmon. Yohei’s salmon sashimi is hands-down the best I’ve had. It’s soaked in beets, which gives it that vibrant color and a subtle hint of beet flavor. I honestly don’t think there’s anywhere else that prepares salmon quite like this.

Because we were celebrating a birthday, the staff surprised my husband with a scoop of peach sorbet topped with a candle. They even took our photo, printed it on the spot, and presented it to us in a lovely card with a handwritten note. Such a thoughtful and personal touch—and exactly the kind of service that makes a celebration feel extra special.

Yes, Yohei Sushi Kahala is on the pricier side, but experiences like this make it completely worth it. Now you can see why we keep coming back here for special occasions!

YOHEI SUSHI KAHALA

4210 WAIALAE AVENUE (KUONO MARKETPLACE)

808-425-4143

 

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et. al.

I’ve enjoyed et al. a couple of times with friends in the past, but this was the first visit with my husband and sons—and it did not disappoint! We headed there for an early dinner and were just in time to take advantage of their Pau Hana menu, which made the evening feel like an even better treat.

From the Pau Hana menu, we ordered the arancini, fried chicken, and sliders.Everything was hot, flavorful, and just the right size for snacking while we looked over the main menu.

For our main dishes, we had a mix that truly showed how et al. offers something for everyone. We ordered the tagliatelle pasta, the lobster roll, the garlic chicken and mochi waffles, and a cheese pizza from the keiki menu.

Unanimously, the garlic chicken and waffles stole the show—it was crispy, savory, a little sweet from the waffles, and just all-around satisfying. But honestly, everything we tried was delicious and well-executed. It's always a win when the whole family leaves full and happy.

What makes et al. even better is its location inside Kahala Market—so after dinner, we took a quick stroll through the market and knocked out some food shopping!

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et. al. 

located in KAHALA MKT. by Foodland

4210 Waialae Avenue

808-732-2144

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Arancino at The Kahala

I had the pleasure of dining at Arancino at The Kahala with a few of my coworkers—a much-needed evening out filled with laughter, conversation, and, of course, amazing Italian food.

Before we even got to the appetizers, we enjoyed the house bread ...  warm, crusty on the outside, soft on the inside, and served with olive oil that made it impossible to stop at just one bite. Thank goodness they only serve one piece per person!

We kicked things off by sharing a few appetizers that really set the tone for the rest of the meal. The Affettato Misto was a beautiful spread of Italian cured meats and cheeses—perfect for grazing and pairing with sips of wine. 

The Calamari Fritti was light and crispy, not greasy at all, and came with a tasty dipping sauce that disappeared quickly. 

The Insalata Caprese was simple, fresh, and a good low-carb dish to offset what was to come next.

For my entrée, I went with my tried-and-true Italian restaurant pick: Pappardelle alla Bolognese. I can never resist it when it's on the menu, and Arancino’s version didn’t disappoint. 

One of my coworkers ordered the Spaghetti ai Ricci di Mare (uni pasta), which is one of Arancino’s signature dishes. If you're a fan of uni (not me!!), this one’s definitely worth a try. 

Another pasta dish made it to the table as well, though I’ll admit, the name escapes me—but based on the clean plate at the end, it was amazing.

We wrapped up the meal with tiramisu, which came out deconstructed—a modern twist on the classic. It was beautifully presented, and while I appreciated the creativity, I’m more of a traditionalist when it comes to tiramisu. There’s just something about those layers of espresso-soaked ladyfingers and mascarpone cream that I missed in this version. 

Service throughout the night was fantastic—attentive, friendly, and never rushed. Even though Arancino is located right next to the hotel’s porte cochere, the atmosphere was still surprisingly pleasant, and if you’re lucky, you might even catch a celebrity sighting—one time (not on this visit), I actually spotted a star from Hawaii Five-0 arriving at the hotel! Just one more reason Arancino is always a memorable dining experience.

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ARANCINO at The KAHALA

5000 Kahala Avenue

808-380-4400

 

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Dinner at et al.

Lobster Roll

Restaurant et al. has remained a favorite of mine so I was happy to have dinner there last month. Located inside KAHALA MKT. by Foodland, et al. features a seasonal menu with brunch, dinner, and pau hana offerings. The name means “and others” in Latin which the restaurant translates to mean a gathering place of community, friends, family and others. 

Our group was seated comfortably at a large table and the service was wonderful from start to finish. I opted for a glass of prosecco, but the signature and classic cocktails on the drink menu looked like a lot of fun. The dinner offerings range in variety from classics like a burger and ribeye to the creative like bulgogi pizza; which I ordered and loved! 

Braised short rib loco moco

Bulgogi Pizza

Grilled Kona kanpachi

Banana Bread Pudding

et al.

4210 Waialae Ave, Ste 401

(808) 732-2144

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Brunch at Kapa Hale

After hiking the Koko Crater Stairs one beautiful morning, we stopped for breakfast at Kapa Hale in Kahala.  We liked the vibe here - spacious, innovative menu, and friendly service. 

We shared three dishes and all were tasty and very satisfying! 

Naan Ya Business

Okonomiyaki Omelette

Avocado Toast

The naan was my favorite dish of the three. The bread was soft and the naan was very garlicky and the watercress was a nice addition!

Kapa Hale is open Wednesday through Sunday (closed on Mondays and Tuesdays). 

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KAPA HALE
4614 KILAUEA AVENUE
808-888-2060

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Sunday Brunch at Hoku's At The Kahala

I don't go out to Sunday Brunch very often, but after my friend went to Hoku's At The Kahala's Sunday Brunch Buffet one Sunday morning and mentioned that it has unlimited Ahi Poke Musubis and Lobster Tails, I told her we should go with our mutual friend to celebrate all of our birthdays together. 

The buffet opened at 9 am and we were one of the first to get seated. I always like to go to buffets when they first open. The buffet has several stations: salad, appetizers, carving, hot, dessert, and Ala carte items made to order. Check out this spread!

Cold: 

Hot:

My plates: 

Ala Carte Made to Order: 

Grilled (hot)

Chilled Lobster Tail (cold)

Ahi Poke Musubi

Assorted Pastries and Dessert:

And because we were celebrating our birthdays, they gave us a complimentary slice of cake!

There is seating both in the restaurant and outside of the restaurant - I would recommend sitting inside, so that you get the view of the ocean, and so that you don't have to walk through the closed doors every time you want to visit the food stations.

Hoku's Brunch Buffet is every Sunday from 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM, and is currently priced at $110 for adults, $55 for keiki (6-12 years old).  Ideal for special occasions!

Make a reservation on Open Table.

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Hoku's At The Kahala
5000 KAHALA AVENUE
808-739-8760

 

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