Nico's Pier 38 — Restaurant in Honolulu

We decided on aloha o'e drinks to end our mini vacay. I was stoked to try this place as I've never been here before and have heard good things.

ATMOSPHERE: They're located harbor front, so there is a gorgeous view of the water and boats. No seagulls, no smell of wood & oil, no chill in the air, no boat horns like San Francisco, but still very charming. I was surprised at how new and clean the building looked. I was expecting a worn out weathered shack, but they're far from it! The inside is very industrial and looks like an upscale Bubba Gump's. There's a big central bar, high tops, tables, and umbrella-covered outdoor seating with killer views. The It's climate controlled but the big windows are open, making for a more relaxed ambiance with the outside air mixing in. There is a small fish market next to the restaurant that sells pokē, fresh fish, snacks, and drinks.

MENU: Apps, salads, soups, meats, poultry, burgers, seafood, pizza.

FOOD: Fried Ahi Belly Bites Damn this is good! The fish is breaded and fried, topped with diced tomatoes and drizzled with a medium spicy sriracha sauce, possibly sesame oil, sesame seeds, and green onion. Highly recommended.

Fried Calamari Very good version with a smooth batter and a mix of tentacles and rings with a cocktail sauce for dipping.

Caesar Salad Regardless of the chunky-cut romaine (I prefer smaller cuts) and visually low amount of creamy-tangy dressing, it was really good. This was a side portion that's cheaper and smaller than the regular size.

Steak Frites My spouse's dish. The steak was a good size, cooked perfectly medium rare, tasty, juicy and came with a generous amount of garlic butter on top. Fries were crispy and plentiful.

Grilled Peppercorn Swordfish I'm 99% sure this was my first time eating swordfish, and I liked it! The filet's texture and flavor were similar to ahi but a little softer. It was seasoned and cooked nicely though I found a few large bones in it, no big deal but beware. It came topped with some lomi salmon and over a bed of mashed potatoes, carrots and green beans. Highly recommended.

RESERVATIONS: They don't make any. We walked in and oddly waited about 5 minutes to be seated even though the front half of the restaurant was wide open. They seem to have a lot of house rules posted on their website, so I'm sure we were in violation of something lol. Whatever.

SERVICE: The hosts were welcoming and friendly. Our male server was very attentive and professional.

OVERALL: Delish apps, nice ambiance, plenty of parking, and away from the maddening crowds...

The world food tour continued at Nico’s Upstairs on Pier 38. They’re back! This is a nice space with large windows facing the harbor. It has been home to a number of restaurants but each has failed to sustain enough business to become a fixture in island dining. Our reservation was at 5:30pm and the place was quite empty; it was nice to see it filled and to note turnover of tables during the two hours we were there.

The bound menu book is a nice touch with pages for an extensive selection of cocktails, beers, wines by the glass and a short list of wines by the bottle. The food selection is not vast but there is enough to please most diners.

We started with a bottle of 2017 Trefethen Merlot from the Oak Knoll district of Napa. A smooth, soft wine with notes of dark fruit and chocolate … a nice wine at a price at the edge of reasonableness ($120).

We ordered the Escargot ($16) and the Bone Marrow ($18) as appetizers. Both were scrumptious and we would have been happy just to have two orders of each dish and a baguette. There were three pieces of bone marrow and some sliced, toasted bread. There was a chimichurri sauce over the bones which gave it a fragrant aroma and some bite to the unctuous marrow. I scraped up every bit of the marrow with the toast. The escargot had the one thing we love; garlic butter. So good! This dish also came with slices of toasted baguette but it would have been better with a warm baguette that could have been torn apart to soak up the butter sauce. Two very delectable appetizers.

Our entrees were the Beer Braised Short Ribs ($40) and a 14oz. Prime Ribeye ($44). We had the Spicy Kimchi Brussels (a $14 appertizer) and the Garlic Confit Roasted Asparagus ($8). I added the Foie Gras ($18) to my steak. The short ribs came atop gratin Dauphinois (sliced potatoes in cream sauce), caramelized onion sauce and creamed horseradish on top. The ribeye was thinner than I like and was more medium than the medium rare ordered but it was a decent cut of meat. It was topped with butter and accompanied by two petite tomato Provençale. Both, and the foie gras, made the dish satisfying to me. The brussels sprouts dish was another winner!

We ended up with three containers of leftovers so there wasn’t room for dessert (and two of them would have been on the bill had we not been stuffed). A nice cup of coffee finished off the meal for me. All in all, a very good meal at reasonable prices in a nice, airy space filled with happy diners. Recommended...

Nico’s Pier 38 in Honolulu offers a fresh seafood menu with local flavors and a welcoming atmosphere, making it a great spot for a relaxed meal by the water. I ordered the Crispy Orange Chicken as an appetizer and shared the Crab Cake Burger and Red Wine Short Ribs with a friend.

If you’re in Honolulu, Nico’s Pier 38 is a great spot for fresh seafood and local comfort food. I’ll definitely be back to try more dishes in the future. Highly recommended!

Video Review will be posted on Tik Tok and Instagram soon @Foxyappetite

Here’s a breakdown of my experience.

Atmosphere & Service:

The restaurant has a relaxed, nautical vibe, with both indoor and outdoor seating that overlooks the harbor. The service was friendly and attentive, with the staff making thoughtful recommendations. The pacing of the meal was perfect, and we never felt rushed.

Appetizer: Crispy Orange Chicken

The Crispy Orange Chicken was a solid choice—crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, and coated in a sweet, tangy orange glaze. The sesame seeds and scallions added nice texture, but I felt the glaze could’ve had a bit more depth. It was sweet and refreshing but lacked some savory or spicy balance.

Main Courses: Crab Cake Burger & Red Wine Braised Short Ribs Crab Cake Burger: The Crab Cake Burger was the highlight. Generous, tender crab meat made for a flavorful patty, lightly breaded to preserve the freshness of the crab. The remoulade sauce added a nice tang, and the fresh mixed greens salad on the side was enhanced by a delicious dressing. This dish is a must-try for crab cake lovers.

Red Wine Braised Short Ribs: The Red Wine Short Ribs were fall-off-the-bone tender, served with a rich, savory red wine sauce. The garlic mashed potatoes on the side were creamy and complemented the ribs perfectly. This dish was comforting and indulgent, making it a great choice for anyone craving a hearty, flavorful meal.

Overall Experience:

Nico’s Pier 38 provided a great meal with excellent service and a relaxing atmosphere. The Crab Cake Burger and Red Wine Short Ribs were the clear standouts, both rich in flavor and perfectly executed. The Crispy Orange Chicken was tasty but could use a bit more complexity...