bEASTside Kitchen — Restaurant in Honolulu

I wanted to like it more. And honestly some of it was really good. I arrived and ordered to go. The lady taking my order was very sweet when I said it was my first time here. She offered suggestions and water while I waited as well.

Bai Buns: 4/5 she said the buns came with mac salad or kimchi and I thought she meant on the side. It turns out it's inside of the bao bun. The Mac made it a little too creamy of a bao bun but the flavor especially on the meat (also very tender) is really good I think I'd try it with kimchi next time.

Fried chicken: 1/5 I couldn't really eat most of it. The pieces I could eat were fine but it was just too burnt on alot of it. I even looked online to see how this should come, it does not look the same so I definitely took a photo of it and attached it.

Garlic shrimp: 5/5 very good but is milder than some (I enjoyed it that way but those who like a heavier hand of garlic or kick might find it a little light).

Mac salad side: 3/5 it's fine. It's not the best not not the worst. With some of the food being on the heavier side I kind of wished the mac salad was lighter to balance the meal out.

Service was great. But that chicken was kind of a crime, I was bummed. The buns and shrimp will probably have me come back and try and update my review in the future, but for now this is...

The best thing about Beastside Kitchen is the food. We were a party of four and the 'ohana style orders were perfect portions for us, and we even had leftovers to take home. All the dishes were flavorful and tasty, particularly the Truck Style Garlic Umami Shrimp, Kailua Fish Tempura Bites, and Pork Bellly Umami Fried Rice although the latter was a little oily. Also, the kalbi style short ribs on the Korean Platter was a little tough and difficult to eat as the utensils provided were chopsticks. We declined the forks offered but were not given knives so we just used our hands to grab the bones. Real family style! Also, the Plantation Iced Tea was a disappointment. It is just plain iced tea, not the usual flavored Pineapple juice iced tea and we had to ask for lemon and sugar. The service was a little sketchy as well, we waited at least 15 minutes before anyone approached our table and the dining room was not even 1/4 full. Also, our table had not been wiped down before we were seated at our table and when the band started playing, there was a lot of feedback from the sound system that was hard on the ears. Despite these negative conditions, we've decided to give it another try since we enjoyed the food and there were items on the menu we'd...

My wife & I finally made it to Beastside Kitchen, which we've been hearing so much about. What a good decision that was! From the moment we entered, we felt a warm and welcoming aura. Kiko served us, and guided us through our decisions, always responsive to our questions and needs. You could feel his passion and pride in his offerings. Each dish we ordered was absolutely delicious, and comprised of quality ingredients. My Paniolo Burger was delectable, and I savored every bite (accompanied with their excellent house salad). My wife's combo dish with the BBQ Pork Belly & Umami Shrimp, with sides of Mac Salad & Kim Chee was also so memorable, with the best umami shrimp we've ever had, and tender and juicy bbq pork belly. We washed it all down with freshly brewed coffee, which was on par with the freshly ground quality coffee I brew every morning (a rarity in most eateries). We topped our meal off with the Yuzu Sorbet, which was so refreshing, ample enough for both of us to share, and not too sweet. Kiko invited us to various events at the Kitchen, and reminded us of discounts, which make the experience even more appealing. We can't wait to return for the live music. This will definitely become one of our favorite spots....