Cucina Moon — Restaurant in Honolulu

Cucina Moon has exploded in popularity, and rightly so! I, like many others, got wind of this pop-up test kitchen via social media. Note that as of Jan 2024, they no longer have the set menus that come with free foccacia + Gelato with the main pasta selections. Instead everything is a la carte, and the pasta dishes are bigger portions (100g to 160g) which I kind of prefer. Regardless, I think the prices well reflect the quality of ingredients and care that goes into each dish. They don't take reservations and currently operate from a waitlist only. The waitlist is bound to close early based on their supply of pasta. For example, we came around 6:45pm on a Friday night and the waitlist was already closed. We came the next day on Saturday at 4:45pm (opened at 5pm) and we were 10th in line. It took us about an hour to be seated. We waited outside and even started with a delicious appetizer of their Gelato 😁. I have to say, that chai gelato is AMAZING. So smooth and bright chai flavors, and light as it's vegan. Apparently the chef's wife (who also scoops and serves the gelato) makes them herself! Once it's your turn, you first pay at the register then grab a seat with your numbered receipt. As of Jan 2024, they are BYOB (hello 7-11). There is a jug of ice water, and various soft drinks in the cooler.

On to the rest of the food. I was able to split the gorzongola gnocchi and the agnello spaghetti (lamb Ragu with red wine sauce). All the pasta dishes other than the gnocchi were served with spaghetti. The gnocchi dish was gorzongola forward and was okay, a little soupier sauce rather than thicker sauce which is what I expected. The gnocchi themselves were excellent and pillowy. My favorite though was definitely the agnello. The lamb flavor was succulent and the sauce was light yet super flavorful. I was tempted to almost order a second round of that! The pasta was perfectly al dente and had a good bite to it. After dinner, I got another chai gelato because it was that good. Did I mention that it was good? Still thinking about it... I look forward to coming back and trying their rotation of pasta dishes. I also really want to try their foccacia bread, as it was sold out on both nights.

All this being said, please afford some grace to Cucina Moon as they are still working out the kinks of heavy demand. You will likely see some empty tables, but that's because they share the space with the Poke shop in the booth over. The couple are working passionately to provide excellent service and food. Chef and owner Takeshi apologized to us multiple times about the wait, as well as the friendly front of house/server staff. The night we dined I believe the chef was training new hires on his menu, so hopefully that will be able to expedite and take some load off the kitchen. Excited to come back and try more food!! Also looking forward to trying out the owners'...

Cucina Moon brings a taste of Italy to the islands. The star of the show is the gnocchi fresh cream. You can tell it’s crafted using fresh ingredients and traditional techniques

Cucina Moon offers an elevated dining experience with its fresh, handmade pasta and authentic Italian flavors, but it's important to note that this quality comes at a premium. The prices here are on the higher side, reflecting the restaurant's commitment to using fresh, high-quality ingredients and traditional cooking methods.

While the cost might be a bit steep compared to more casual pasta spots, it’s justified by the meticulous preparation and the rich, authentic flavors you get in each dish. The portions are a little small, and those accustomed to more budget-friendly dining might find the prices a bit of a splurge. However, for those who appreciate the artistry that goes into making pasta from scratch and the use of fresh, local ingredients, Cucina Moon’s prices are seen as a worthwhile investment in a high-quality meal.

In summary, while Cucina Moon is a bit expensive, it offers a dining experience that’s worth the occasional splurge, especially for those who love authentic...

Very underwhelmed by our experience. We were seated in about 15 minutes. The hostess and waitress were very polite and welcoming. The menu was small, but sometimes that’s a good thing. I ordered the basil gnocchi and received a portion that would barely qualify as a child’s plate. It was $20.50 for about 15 small pieces of gnocchi and basil pesto that could easily have come from Costco. My husband ordered the bolognese gnoccchi which was double the amount that I received, but still such a paltry amount that he was still hungry. My 13 yo son ordered the spaghetti parmigiana and was also hungry. The only one who left full was my youngest son who ordered a 6” Margueritta pizza because he ate beforehand. The food tasted ok, but for $20 a plate, the portion sizes were criminal.

For context, my husband wanted me to add that we are not big eaters—I’m 120 lbs, he’s 165 lbs, and our kids are both very lean. So when we say the portions were meager, the plates were like tapas...