Kahai Street Kitchen — Restaurant in Honolulu

Update: This is a rare example wrong turned right. Keoni reached to me sincerely wanting to make it right. He remade fish tacos that came out well and added one portion of his special fish dish which was spectacular. Very happy with my second experience and hope the quality will stay the same next time I’m back. Thank you.

Title: Disappointed and Hungry

I recently visited Kahai Street Kitchen on September 20th, just before closing, and had an experience that left me less than satisfied. I purchased two plates, eager to indulge in what I hoped would be a delightful meal. While the Garlic Chicken Plate was good, the Soft Shell Fish Taco was a complete disappointment.

The fish in the taco was noticeably not fresh and had an overpowering “fishy” taste. The inside of the tacos was excessively “wet”, making the overall texture and flavor highly unappetizing. Both my companion and I attempted to eat it, but we ended up spitting it out after just one bite.

I tried to address the issue by calling the restaurant, only to be informed that the manager was “busy”. I left a message, hoping for a prompt response, but no one returned my call that day or the next. This lack of customer service added to my dissatisfaction.

In the end, I had no choice but to discard the inedible fish taco plate. My companion and I shared the mini Garlic Chicken Plate, but it wasn’t enough. We were left feeling somewhat hungry, which is not the experience I’m looking for when I choose to order out instead of cooking myself.

In conclusion, my experience at Kahai Street Kitchen was far from ideal. The quality of the food was inconsistent, and the lack of responsiveness from the management was frustrating. I hope others have a better experience, but I, for one, will be thinking twice...

KSK! I've been here at least once a month for the past two years. When my kitchen faucet broke, I ate here five times in one week.

They have great food at very reasonable rates. Pork chop katsu plate for $10.95? Abso-friggin'-lutely, yes! Everything is fresh and there are a lot of different options. Vegan/vegetarian dishes are limited; please check the menu beforehand, maybe even call them to see about substitutions.

Ahi belly! Love their "Local Boy Salt & Pepper Ahi Belly" plate. It's a special but they have it often. The website special menu is updated daily. They're very good about keeping it accurate. Everything I've ever ordered has been cooked well and tasted exquisite. Burgers, fish fillets, loco mocos with over-easy eggs, tacos, salads, and more; all delicious.

Lots of people order over the phone. I like to order in person, but it can take a while. Expect to wait for ten to fifteen, on average. Good food takes time to properly prepare. Fries are made to order, so that can also extend the food prep time. If you order something with bread or tortilla, I advise eating at KSK. There are some bench seats outside and a few tables inside.

Parking is horrible. You might get lucky and find curbside up the street, but if you see an open metered stall, I'd take it. Don't let that dissuade you, though. KSK's food is definitely more than worth the five minutes of extra effort.

If you haven't been here before, try it out! If you haven't been back recently, now is a perfect...

We just tried eating here for the first, but definitely not the last, time. We had the brisket plate and boneless pork chop katsu. My husband thought the jalapeño coleslaw had a little too much mayo, but was impressed that he could definitely taste the jalapeño. He doesn't like mayo, so take his criticism with a grain of salt. Other than that criticism, everything was delicious. I enjoyed the chewy, perfectly cooked brown rice which they covered in gravy per my request. I could make a meal out of just the rice and gravy. The green salad was fresh and the dressing, a slightly sweet, slightly soy-sesame house recipe, was tasty. I liked the perfectly cooked, not mushy, potatoes in the potato-mac salad. The brisket is broke da mouf and the pork chop is crunchy, tender, and moist. I only ordered off the regular menu. There is a page of daily specials which sound upscale and delicious. We'll be back - often - to explore more...