Rai Rai Ramen

On New Year’s Eve, we decided to head out for an early dinner—just the four of us—to celebrate the end of the year together. We wanted something close to home, easy, and comforting. Rai Rai Ramen ended up being the perfect choice. After all, it’s said that eating noodles around New Year’s Eve brings good luck, and we weren’t about to argue with that tradition.

Rai Rai Ramen has been around since my college days, back when they were located in town. Over the years, they eventually moved to their current spot in Kailua, which works out perfectly for us now that we live on the Windward side. It’s one of those places that feels familiar in the best way—reliable, comforting, and unchanged where it matters most.

Their shoyu ramen is a little different from what some might expect. Instead of a clear broth, it’s paitan-style, giving it a cloudy appearance. 

Don’t let that fool you—it’s packed with flavor and rich in collagen, which is supposedly good for you, so I like to think of it as healthy eating.

We also always enjoy their fried rice and gyoza, especially when they’re part of one of Rai Rai’s combo meals. 

The portions are generous and perfect for sharing, making it a great option for a family meal.

Ending the year with a bowl of warm ramen at our favorite ramen-ya felt so right. Rai Rai Ramen continues to be one of those dependable spots we’re always happy to return to!

RAI RAI RAMEN

124 ONEAWA STREET

808-230-8208

www.rairairamenhawaii.com

 

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Kizuna Japanese Steakhouse & Sushi

 We recently checked out the new Kizuna Steakhouse & Sushi, the second location of one of our favorite Japanese spots in Kaneohe. This new addition features a teppanyaki room, which was the main reason we wanted to give it a try.

We came on a Saturday evening just before 5 p.m. and were seated right away at a teppanyaki table—great timing! The boys shared a combo entrée with shrimp, filet mignon, and lobster. I ordered the steak, chicken, and shrimp combo, while my husband went with the shrimp entrée. 

All meals came with miso soup, salad, rice, noodles, 2 pieces of shrimp, and mixed vegetables. 

We opted to upgrade to the fried rice (just a few bucks more), and it’s totally worth it—definitely recommend.

Our chef arrived shortly after the appetizers were served. The teppanyaki show was reminiscent of Tanaka of Tokyo, though not quite as polished—understandable, as the chefs still seem to be finding their rhythm. 

The food was solid, though not quite on par with Tanaka. Still, for the Windward side, where teppanyaki options are scarce, it’s a welcome (but pricey) addition.

While the teppanyaki experience didn’t wow us, we’re still big fans of Kizuna’s other offerings. Their sushi, appetizers, and teishoku meals continue to be the main draw for us.

 All in all, it’s great to see Kizuna expanding and bringing more variety to the area.

Open daily for lunch and dinner.

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KIZUNA STEAKHOUSE & SUSHI

25 KANEOHE BAY DRIVE

808-234-1687

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Vietnam Deli

This meal was complimentary, thanks to our sponsor. All opinions expressed are my own.

Vietnam Deli in Kailua Town — brought to you by the same owners as the Ripple of Smiles (formerly located in Kaimuki) — is bringing bold, plant-based Vietnamese flavors to the Windward side, and it's a welcome addition to the neighborhood. The menu is fully flexible, offering both traditional and vegan-friendly options — which makes it a great choice for mixed-diet groups.

Each dish on the menu can be made with regular proteins like chicken, beef, or pork, or with vegan alternatives such as tofu, vegan meat, or vegan fish. We opted for all vegan versions — partly because my husband doesn't eat meat, and partly because I was curious if the plant-based versions could really hold up. Spoiler: they absolutely can!

We started with the vegan spring rolls, which were fresh, crunchy, and paired perfectly with a savory dipping sauce. 

The banh mi with vegan fish was surprisingly good — a fun and unique take that still delivered the signature textures and tastes you'd expect from a traditional banh mi.

The pho noodles came with a rich, aromatic broth that was deeply satisfying, even without meat. It had layers of flavor and felt like a cozy, nourishing bowl.

We also tried the Favorite Sautéed Noodles with tofu. The dish was savory, well-seasoned, and packed with flavor — hearty and satisfying in all the right ways.

We washed it all down with a refreshing ginger lemonade and Thai iced tea, both of which were great complements to the meal.

Whether you're fully plant-based or just looking to try something new, Vietnam Deli proves you don’t need meat to enjoy delicious Vietnamese food. It's the perfect spot for a casual lunch or dinner in Kailua — and a great fit for the neighborhood’s laid-back, health-conscious vibe.

Open Tuesday - Sunday: 10:00 AM - 8:00 PM

Free Parking available behind the building.

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VIETNAM DELI

573 Kailua Road

808-754-1056

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GOEN Dining + Bar Weekend Lunch

Halo Halo

I finally made it to Goen after all these years! I don't make it out to Kailua very often, but we were in the neighborhood just in time for Goen's weekend lunch offered from 12pm to 3pm Fridays through Sundays. Goen is an open air neighborhood restaurant in Kauila by Roy Yamaguchi so you will be sure to find Roy's classics like the misoyaki butterfish on the menu. 

For lunch, we opted for the Avocado Toast that is served on focaccia with arugula, sunnyside egg and bacon; and the Goen Burger with onion ring, lettuce, and secret sauce. Kudos to Executive Chef Yoichi Saito because my son said they were the best french fries he had in his entire life. We completed our delicious meal with the much talked about halo halo. The strawberry, mango, and coconut flavors were refreshing and I especially loved the flan! Really enjoyed our dining experience at Goen! 

Avocado Toast

Goen Burger

GOEN Dining + Bar

573 KAILUA RD., KAILUA, HAWAII 96734

(808) 263-4636

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Rai Rai Ramen - Kailua

Rai Rai Ramen has been in business on Oahu for years. I would consider it to be one of the OGs for ramen on Oahu. I remember going to their original location in Kaimuki many years ago (over 10 years ago) with my friends after tennis practice.  Since then, they relocated to Kailua, and more recently opened a second location on Dillingham Blvd. in Kalihi.

Recently after a late afternoon hike with my son in Lanikai, he was hungry and craving ramen, so I took him to Rai Rai Ramen. We had dined here before when he was younger, and he vaguely recalled the restaurant, but couldn't remember what the food was like.  He ended up liking it so much that he now considers it one of his most favorite places for ramen and gyoza.

We each ordered the mini combo fried rice set which comes with a mini shoyu ramen and fried rice. When you think of shoyu ramen, you normally picture a dark clear broth, however, at Rai Rai, their shoyu broth is cloudy, similar to a paitan broth.  This particular son likes tonkotsu broths, so he really liked this broth, and the ramen noodles too (prepared al dente).  

The fried rice was very tasty! We took the leftovers home for the next day's lunch.

No ramen meal is complete without gyoza. We ordered a 6-piece side order and saved some of it for the next day's lunch as well.

They seem to do a lot of take-out orders here, and we saw a few people come in to pick up their orders while we were here.  Online ordering is available!

Rai Rai Kailua is open daily, 11:00 am - 8:30 pm.

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RAI RAI RAMEN

124 ONEAWA STREET

808-230-8208

 

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Uahi Island Grill

 We continue our quest to eat at places we've never tried before with a visit to Uahi Island Grill in Kailua. We were surprised to find a lot of open tables when we arrived at around 5:30 pm on a Saturday night. We were given the choice to sit inside or outside, and we opted for a table inside, and was seated right near the open kitchen.

Furikake Calamari

Surf & Turf (boneless kale and garlic butter shrimp)

Red Curry Grilled Fish

Keiki Butter Noodles

The surf & turf was amazing! The son and I shared it and thank goodness we did, because it included a big piece of steak! The husband really liked the grill fish, and the other son enjoyed his keiki meal (which was a big portion!). Service was friendly, and we liked the island vibe, menu, and decor. 

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UAHI ISLAND GRILL
33 AULIKE STREET
808-266-4646

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Pieology Hawaii's Father's Day Promo

Thank you to our sponsor for the complimentary Father's Day Feast!

Celebrate dad with a special FATHER'S DAY FEAST from Pieology Hawaii!

Now through June 17 (the day AFTER Father's Day), you and your family can enjoy the following all for just $45.99:

(2) craft your own pizza, salad, or calzone (mix n match OK!)

(2) Cheese breads

(4) Fountain drinks

We decided to get one pizza with a gluten-free crust, 1/2 pesto sauce 1/2 tomato sauce, and variety of veggies, calzone with bacon and pepperoni, and two garlic cheese breads (because we love garlic!).  Everything tasted amazing and there was more than enough food for our family of four.  

You can take advantage of this deal online or at the restaurant, for dine-in our take-out!

Pieology Hawaii has 5 locations on Oahu:

- Honolulu (University Ave and King St.)

- Aina Haina (820 West Hind Drive)

- Kaneohe (Windward Mall)

- Kailua (151 Hekili)

- Aiea (Pearlridge Uptown)

 

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Le Crêpe Café - Kailua

We were intending to eat lunch at another eatery in Kailua, but after seeing there was nowhere to sit, we decided to look for another spot to eat, and found Le Crêpe Café.  

Their menu is pretty extensive, offering all sorts of crepes, as well as sandwiches, waffles, and even omelets!

Chicken & Pesto Omelette

The Chicken & Pesto Omelette was not your typical omelette, but it was actually very delicious!  It was akin to a baked mixture of egg and chicken, I loved that they didn't skimp on the pesto.  Served with a nice side salad, it was a lovely lunch!

Sweet Karma

The Sweet Karma crepe was filled with bananas, caramel sauce, and cinnamon, and served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream!

Moulin Rouge

The Moulin Rouge was filled with turkey, cheese, basil, and tomatoes.

The Veggie

The Veggie was loaded with cheese, tomatoes, mushrooms, spinach, and basil.

Leila Et Malik

The Leila Et Malik waffle was covered in strawberries, bananas, and Nutella!

I hardly ever get into Kailua, so I didn't even realize that there was a changeover from Crepes No Kai Oi, but it turned out to be a great, impromptu meal.

Le Crêpe Café

143 Hekili St Suite 130

Kailua, HI 96734

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