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| Salmon and Bagel |
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| Braised Beef Loco Moco |
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| Salt Roasted Baby Beet |
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| Fritto Misto |
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| Herb Pappardelle |
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| Pork Chop |
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| King Crab Pasta |
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| Cino Pinwheel |
I was lucky to attend a media dinner with @melissa808 and @maryandreidhicks to try the Onkee Special Set, which is available for dinner (minimum 2 people).
The set includes:
Grilling meats (ribeye, hanging tenderloin, marinated short rib, thin skirt steak), Onkee special ssam, banchan, kimchi salad, green onion salad, egg souffle, kimchi stew, soybean paste stew, rice, and vanilla ice cream. |
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| Organic Taro Hummus |
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| Fish Tacos |
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| Kalua Pig Quesadilla |
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| Spicy Szechuan Green Beans |
If I'm at Ward Village, it's hard for me to resist getting some Holey Grail Donuts.
Pictured from top L-R
•Black Sabbath
•Original Sin
•Chocolate Crunch
•Strawberry Fields
•Reincarnated
•Hot Single
•Saffron Snickerdoodle
•Hail Mary
•Liliko‘i
These donuts are so good, with a Hawaiian taro base and the incorporation of locally-sourced ingredients to create an amazing, imaginative assortment of flavors.
My fave, however, is the Hot Single, which @deniset73 told me about. It's simply local honey and sea salt flakes. Simple, but so delicious.
Some of you die hard brunch fans may remember when Westman Cafe was open in Waikiki in the former Bills Sydney location. I remember enjoying their souffle pancakes so I was excited to have them again at their new location in Kōʻula in Ward Village.
The cafe is bright and modern and also offers patio seating. On the menu for breakfast and brunch are signature toasts, souffle pancakes, a variety of french toasts as well as island plate options of omelet, shakshuka, loco moco, and more.
I ordered the avocado toast for myself and the souffle pancake for the table which usually has a cook time of 20-25 minutes. We were all surprised when the star of brunch showed up first. The server explained that sometimes there will be an extra order of souffle pancakes being made and we were the lucky table. They were airy and delicious. I really could have eaten them by myself.
When Hawaii Mom Blog founder/owner Gem picked ONKEEfor her birthday lunch, it felt fitting that we’d be celebrating Gem at one of Honolulu’s hidden gems!
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Before heading there, I had already done some research because I’d heard the restaurant could be tricky to find if you’re unfamiliar with the area. They’re located on the second floor of a residential building (Ko'ula), and the signage is pretty minimal, so it’s easy to second-guess yourself while looking for it. I parked in the parking garage below Consolidated Theatres Ward, walked out of the Ewa side of the garage - the building is across the street from that entrance/exit. Walk to the roundabout and look for the Onkee sign and the elevator.
Once I arrived, the service was very attentive throughout the meal, and the staff checked in often to make sure everything was going well.
For lunch, Gem ordered the stir-fried pork meal, Nadia chose the bibimbap, and I ordered the marinated fried chicken entrée.
Gem really enjoyed her meal:
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Nadia's bibimbap was the most Instagram-able dish of the day:
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As for me… once the chicken arrived at the table, I realized I probably should have paid a little closer attention to the menu. I kept offering Gem a taste, but she politely declined each time. Toward the end of the meal, she pointed out that there had also been a plain fried chicken option on the menu — which, honestly, both of us probably would have preferred over the yangnyeom-style version I ordered. The chicken itself was crispy and well prepared, but the sauce ended up being a little too spicy and heavy for my personal taste.
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I also somehow missed the fact that the entrée didn’t come with sides, which left me staring sadly at my plate while everyone else had complete meals.
Thankfully, the birthday girl took pity on me and shared some of her rice and vegetables. Nothing says “happy birthday” quite like the guest of honor donating food to her friend.
But in the end, all was forgiven once dessert arrived. The mango bingsu absolutely stole the show.
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It was refreshing, light, and the perfect way to end the meal. Looking back, we probably should have ordered one just for Gem instead of sharing one amongst the three of us.
Overall, the delicious bingsu and chicken mishap made the visit memorable. And thankfully, the birthday girl still seemed to enjoy her special lunch too.
Still… I may owe Gem a little birthday lunch do-over in the future.
Istanbul Hawaii does not disappoint!
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| Mosaic of Meze Platter |
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| Jidori Chicken Tenderloin Shish |
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| Bedouin's Lamb Shank Tagine |
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| Hatay Kunefe |
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We finally made it to Nori Bar on a Friday night—and wow, what a great first experience! We didn’t have a reservation (risky, I know), but we decided to try our luck anyway. Timing was on our side: they could seat us right away as long as we were out by 8:15 PM. That gave us just about an hour, and honestly, it turned out to be the perfect pace for a relaxed, delicious dinner.
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A unique feature of Nori Bar is that it’s all counter seating, which makes the experience feel more personal and interactive. You get a front-row seat to watch the chefs prepare each dish with precision and care—it really adds to the atmosphere and appreciation of the food.
One of the first things I loved? The ordering system. Everything is done online—just scan the QR code in front of you and start building your order.
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There's no pressure to order everything at once, which is great if you like to add on as you go. Your tab stays open, and the process is seamless.
Now, onto the food. Here's what we tried:
Nigiri Flight – A beautifully presented selection to kick things off.
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Blue Crab - Truffle Kanimiso – This was the star of the night. I loved it so much, I ordered it twice.
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Maguro Avocado Roll – Simple and fresh.
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We had a $100 gift card, and yes—we spent it all. Every bite was worth it. Watching the sushi being prepared right in front of us added to the whole experience. You could see the care and attention that went into each piece.
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Would I recommend Nori Bar? Absolutely. But next time, we’ll be sure to make a reservation!
