Artizen by MW

Pacific Rim restaurant · Ala Moana

Artizen by MW

Pacific Rim restaurant · Ala Moana

1

888 Kapiolani Blvd, Commercial Unit, Suite 102, Honolulu, HI 96813

Photos

Artizen by MW by null
Artizen by MW by null
Artizen by MW by null
Artizen by MW by null
Artizen by MW by null
Artizen by MW by null
Artizen by MW by null
Artizen by MW by null
Artizen by MW by null
Artizen by MW by null
Artizen by MW by null
Artizen by MW by null
Artizen by MW by null
Artizen by MW by null
Artizen by MW by null
Artizen by MW by null
Artizen by MW by null
Artizen by MW by null
Artizen by MW by null
Artizen by MW by null
Artizen by MW by null
Artizen by MW by null
Artizen by MW by null
Artizen by MW by null
Artizen by MW by null
Artizen by MW by null
Artizen by MW by null
Artizen by MW by null
Artizen by MW by null
Artizen by MW by null
Artizen by MW by null
Artizen by MW by null
Artizen by MW by null
Artizen by MW by null
Artizen by MW by null
Artizen by MW by null
Artizen by MW by null
Artizen by MW by null
Artizen by MW by null
Artizen by MW by null
Artizen by MW by null
Artizen by MW by null
Artizen by MW by null

Highlights

Gourmet cafe with Hawaiian lunch specials & desserts  

Featured in Eater
Placeholder

888 Kapiolani Blvd, Commercial Unit, Suite 102, Honolulu, HI 96813 Get directions

artizenbymw.com
@artizenbymw

$$ · Menu

Information

Static Map

888 Kapiolani Blvd, Commercial Unit, Suite 102, Honolulu, HI 96813 Get directions

+1 808 524 0499
artizenbymw.com
@artizenbymw

$$ · Menu

Features

payment credit card
Tap to pay
reservations
wifi

Last updated

Aug 14, 2025

Powered By

You might also like

Terms of Use • Privacy Policy • Cookie Policy
 © 2025 Postcard Technologies, Inc.
@eater

The 16 Best Bakeries in O‘ahu | Eater

"Artizen, a bakery and cafe from the wife-and-husband team Michelle Karr Ueoka and Wade Ueoka of MW Restaurant, recently moved to new digs in a luxury car showroom. Whether you’re in the market for a new flashy car or not, definitely make a stop at Artizen’s pastry case, where a frequently changing array of cakes includes Michelle’s riffs on local favorite sweets, such as a strawberry Jell-O chiffon cake and nostalgic tricolor rainbow cake. Don’t miss the chocolate buttermilk cake." - Martha Cheng

https://www.eater.com/maps/best-bakeries-oahu-hawaii
View Postcard for Artizen by MW

Not Squidword

Google
Not exactly a professional coffee shop or cafe, they serve quality coffee drinks from an espresso machine behind the bar inside the car dealership. Nice server makes me a drink close to a cortado and it is good, though a bit high priced with only to-go cup options. Lots of seating w/ covered seating outside if you don’t mind the traffic. It’s all there for a great coffee shop but it’s not the restaurant’s priority. To-go food options look really good as well. High-quality spot for people with too much money… but if you’re walking by it’s good 🤙🏼 4.5/5

Bennett Fung

Google
I ordered take out from here, the food is very good. Price is quite reasonable. The portion is not huge, just the right size.

Ellen Warner

Google
Great place for lunch after a visit to I'olani Palace. The garden courtyard was under repair when we recently visited, but we have seen it in its glory and it is a beautiful place right next to the cafe. We ordered food that was much too heavy (eggplant sandwich, pork bowl, and pumpkin cheesecake), but it was all tasty.

Stefano Viscuso

Google
This is my personal #1 spot for lunch on the island. The quality is phenomenal, they keep the menu simple and fulfill each order with delicacy and amazing locally sourced food when available. I love the fries here, and the furikake fries are a little fusion bomb of Oishi goodness! The burger is one of the best I've had, and the opah is to die for! No matter what you get, it will be served with the upmost quality.

Spring Nash

Google
I love their food from MW restaurant. Very delicious and very details, but lil too small portion lunch box. After I eat their lunch box, I'm still hungry.

Ally Abe

Google
Delicious food. Ate the spicy fried chicken sandwich. The chicken was delicious with just the right amount of kick. I will definitely be back to try the other lunch items.

Jadine Olvera

Google
Food is great, small place to eat on first floor. Great if you like a car scenery since it's in the auto display area.

Hawaii Ski

Google
Pretty disappointed with the food. I guess the price is this good is justified by being to a close proximity of beautiful cars. The food looks like and tastes lime an item from a school cafeteria.
google avatar

Lei P.

Yelp
Delightful dishes for lunch, a few baked items and some grab and go. This is a popular spot to pick up your preordered take out and specialty items, but it is also a great place to coffice for a few hours. Love the mochi crusted fish and the bubu crusted garlic chicken sandwich. The fries were thin and crispy, they might be my most favorite fries on the island. The service is counter service only and takeaway.
google avatar

Chris Y.

Yelp
Hawaiian all you can load - I'm there! I'd been wanting to get to Artizen's location on ground floor of Velocity, entrance on Ward Avenue. Had not been here since it moved from its downtown HISAM location. When it offered a two-day Local Style Mixed Plate all you can load buffet (one pass only), just knew we had to hele on down and check it out. Found street parking on Ward Avenue so it was kismet! Tasting the laulau while feeding the meter! Being a small eater (though it doesn't show lol), I chose the small plate. My dining mate, with larger appetite, chose large plate (no surprise really). Having my priorities, I headed straight for the laulau, which was prepared pan style, so no hassling with ti leaf wrapper. Had to try Hawaiian plate fried rice, kalua cabbage, lomi tomato, smoked ahi dip, spinach mushroom dip, and poi stew. Loved everything!!! Would definitely make it to another event!
google avatar

Heidi Y.

Yelp
Tried this place just down the street from Breusters Ice cream which I have been too. I asked for a sample of the Key Lime Pie. Over the top delicious! I added coconut to a medium sized bowl. Worth every cent of the 8.00 I spent. The wait staff was friendly and courteous and I was served promptly despite the family of five waiting on their gelatos!
google avatar

Michael C.

Yelp
Let me start by saying that i live right next door, and that with the weather being so bad i decided to try Artizen again even though my last experience was not good. Before going down I decided to check their menu on their website. So when I get there and put my order in the worker manning the register had to call the chef on the phone to ask (he was not there because he had to go upstairs to get something) mind you I had looked at their menu online before arriving. After she rings me up i ask about the drink that comes with my order to which she tells me that it doesn't come with one. So I have to stand there for a while as i try and pull up the menu on their own website (reception was bad so it took a while). Later as I was waiting for my order I couldn't remember if I told her I wanted tots so when i told her that i wanted tots she was starting to tell me something but stopped mid sentence (I think she was going to tell me it came with fries but realized i had just shown her their menu).
google avatar

Jen C.

Yelp
Went here before seeing the Ali Wong show at the Blaisdell. They have great happy hour pupus and a drink menu. I opted for a Teri cheeseburger and fries which was on their regular menu and a peach iced tea. When you enter you need to order and pay at the register then find a seat inside or outside. The restaurant is inside a car dealership so it got way too noisy for Conversation many times and they drive the cars and rev the engines loud indoors not far from where you're trying to enjoy your meal. My Teri cheeseburger was good, but it tasted like they refried or over fried the french fries, the insides were hollow and tasted burnt. For the price of $17 I feel I could have gotten a better meal at Teddys burgers, Honolulu burger, or any other place. This is a decent place to go before a blaisdell show since you don't need a reservation and it is close by,
google avatar

Patty C.

Yelp
Delish! Very nice twist from the norm with serving Tonkatsu sauce mixed with won bok cabbage stirfry, plated under the very fresh and tender Tonkatsu cutlet with choice of Brown or white rice. Yummy
google avatar

Chris T.

Yelp
1 star!!! Disappointing thanksgiving experience. To start, I called a week before to order dinner for thanksgiving. I was told to order online. I asked if I would be able to order off the regular Ala carte menu, and was told yes I could. So I placed my order for a turkey bento and a pork tonkatsu plate with curry. Paid online and got a confirmation. No problem. Now, here is the issue... when I went to pick up the meals on Thanksgiving (4:30pm) I was asked my name, and was told that my ala carte menu item was refunded and they were only selling turkey bentos!!! It would've been nice if someone would have emailed and/or texted an update that they will only be doing the turkey bentos. Our only option at this point was to purchase another turkey bento (@37.00+tax) in place of my $18 tonkatsu plate!!! I feel they should've compensated me for their lack of communication and honored the original tonkatsu purchase price for the turkey meal. The manager on hand overheard our conversation, and "chose" not to even acknowledge us. We had planned pick up the plates and enjoy a nice Thanksgiving dinner, but if we were informed earlier, we could've made other plans rather than feeling "forced" to purchase another turkey bento, which I didn't really want in the first place. Plus, one of the plates turkey breast slices were undercooked. From this experience, we will not be dining, or doing takeout with this establishment. I do understand that sometimes things happen that are out of the staffs and/or businesses control, BUT I also feel that we should've been informed, and also, the staff may have offered a better resolution for this issue (I'm pretty sure I am not the only customer that was affected by this).
google avatar

Jenel O.

Yelp
This review is for their Valentines Dinner (surf and turf) to-go menu only. I'm partway between a 3 and a 4 but since I have had other things from Artizen before, which were good, I'm leaning towards 4. We ordered this to-go menu planning to have a quick bite before the Josh Tatofi concert at the Blaisdell. We hoped to be able to order drinks and extra pupus and sit inside for a quick bite but unfortunately they were offering this menu only and take-out only. Since it was drizzling we ended up eating in the trunk of our SUV (hence the asphalt in my pics). Anything to-go is never as good as eating in person. I think because this particular day was all to-go set menus, they were prepared more in advance than getting true take-out when you order at a restaurant and the meal is cooked right then. These were likely prepared in batches at least a little in advance. There was a car line to be able to do a drive thru pick-up, which was really convenient. The meal came with arancini, green salad, smoked tuna tip, braised short ribs and shrimp and chocolate cake. It was 2 servings for $90. Overall, the food was quality food but due to it being prepared in advance, it lacked the luster you'd want at ordering/eating a nicer meal. Since we were lacking time, next time I'd prefer to get something more casual (i.e. cheaper) than to spend money on something to eat luke warm (at best).
google avatar

Julie U.

Yelp
I have eaten at Artizen several times as well as ordered their special take out bentos for the holidays and like their food. I came again when I went to Hamilton a couple weeks ago. It's so convenient to meet my girlfriend here and have a relaxing lunch before walking over to the Saturday matinee performance. This past visit I had their bento which had a miso glazed kama and pork luau with cabbage. I was a little disappointed since the fish was almost all bone and hardly had a bit of flesh. The pork was tasty though. Before my friend arrived I had some coffee and peanut butter cookies. Previously, I usually have the Mochi Crusted fish which is always tasty. The chocolate cake is to die for and is usually included in their holiday bentos. I know I will be back, but only go here when I go to the Blaisdell or when I order their special holiday bentos (which are pricey but the food is excellent.)

Neil K.

Yelp
Ordered the Mother's Day bento. The pick up was very organized and our family's assessment was resounding "thumbs-up". Every item in the bento was top quality and flavorful. To top it off, the chocolate cake was beyond amazing.
google avatar

Nadine C.

Yelp
New location: across from Neal S. Blaisdell Center (NBC)! If you're looking for a dinner spot or lunch place before a concert or event at the NBC Arena, Concert Hall, or Exhibition Hall, you might want to try Artizen. Artizen used to be on the ground level of the Hawaii State Art Museum in Downtown Honolulu. This restaurant moved to Ward Avenue (although the address is Kapiolani Boulevard). It's right across the street from "The Blaisdell Center"! My friend and I parked on King Street in a metered stall for free after 6:30pm. Knowing that Artizen closed at 7pm, we ordered quickly, took a seat and viewed the cars in the showroom. Yes - Artizen shares a space with Bentleys, Alfa Romeos, and other luxury vehicles... On the street level of Symphony (condominium building). We both ordered the Mochi Crusted Fish. The fish was fresh and moist! The crunchy outer layer was fun! The sauce was a bit strong - I should have dipped the fish into it, rather than pouring it on. The fish sat on a bed of rolled up somen (noodle) balls. I liked the pickled veggies that came with it. Next time, I might get the Twice Cooked Pork Tonkatsu or the Thai Curry. Everything is packed to go, so, if there are no seats inside or outside, you can take your meal and enjoy it at a bench at the NBC! NOTE: restroom is upstairs at MW Restaurant
google avatar

Ashley P.

Yelp
My friend and I randomly stumbled upon this establishment after running errands and although it took awhile, food was awesome! I love how it's fresh, different, and yummy. I'd definitely come back to try new items! Parking is limited so luckily we came at a good time.

Anny L.

Yelp
Ambiance: Chill modern vibe. Very casual as it's mostly like a takeout window but if you choose to sit at their tables to eat, they'll bring it out to you (but in containers you can take out. Easy to collect your leftovers and leave without asking for a box). It was my first time dining here so not sure if I was supposed to leave the used dishes / empty containers or bring it inside. Service: Staff was nice. I asked if they were pet friendly for outside seating and the guy (I think manager?) said he wouldn't mind if we sat inside with the dog (I have a big dog too). We sat outside anyway :) Upon asking for water, he gave us some iced water and also refilled it for us in the middle of our dining. Food: Spinach & mushroom dip with wonton chips was on happy hour. Dip was tasty. Chips a lil too salty. Braised short rib was tasty and flavorful. Chicken picatta was different from what I was expecting. It came with tomatoes and cucumbers which was a nice touch. The noodles were over cooked for my personal taste. It was creamy though. Will probably come back here again for convenience as I live upstairs. Love that they have a happy hour.
google avatar

Drew W.

Yelp
Tried the Buffet Style happy hour menu. It's a work in progress. It needs offerings and service that can handle being left uncovered for hours. Everything was overcooked and dried out. No steam covers. My friend remarked "... most expensive leftovers I had to pay for. Could have gone to Panda and got fresh food for much less."
google avatar

Fran C.

Yelp
Like to look at high end cars, & eat yummy food? Well let Bruddah Fran turn you onto a place in town called - Artizen! Located just across the street from the Neil S. Blaisdell Arena, you can find Artizen on the bottom floor level of the Symphony Honolulu building, as the restaurant is attached to a high end automobile dealership called "Velocity" which sells high end vehicles like (Ferrari, Maserati, Bentley, Lamborghini, Lotus, Jaguar, etc.......... if you know what I mean). The restaurant is casual, as it's just buy & pay for your food at the counter, upon finding open seating within the restaurant, someone will bring the food out to your table. It is apparent that Artizen plates their food mostly for "take-out", as the food is served7-Eleven in take-out containers. The electronic menu is posted on the wall (by the ordering counter area), and for a casual dining place, the menu choices are pretty good. The day I came here for bunch, the saw the following main menu items of - 1. * Mochi Crusted Fish * ($19.00) - Served with Somen Noodles, Soy Yuzu Kosho Vinaigrette. * Note = this is a signature dish * 2. Fish + Chips ($14.00) - Kona Kanpachi Fish Sticks, Caper Mayonnaise, French Fries 3. Jidori Chicken Stew ($14.00) - Black Pepper Gravy, Mixed Vegetables, White or Brown Rice 4. Twice Cooked Pork Tonkatsu ($14.00) - Mixed Vegetables, White or Brown Rice 5. Chipotle Ludovico Farm Chicken Burrito ($16.00) - Lomi Tomato, Guacamole, Sour Cream Of course if you're looking for a lighter fare, they did have an array of salads like - 1. Farmer's Salad ($9.00) - Mari's Garden Greens, Mrs. Cheng's Tofu, Yuzu Miso Vinaigrette 2. Asian Slaw ($10.00) - Crispy Wonton, Roasted Peanuts, Soy Wasabi Vinaigrette 3. Caesar Salad ($12.00) - Pipikaula Poke, Croutons, Garlic Anchovy Dressing 4. Grilled Vegetable Salad ($12.00) - Ho Farm Eggplant, Tomato, Hearts of Palm, Zucchini, Parmesan Cheese, Roasted Garlic Balsamic Vinaigrette If the items above didn't perk your interest, they did sell some burgers, desserts & baked items, as well as........... you ain't gonna believe this..........doggie food!!!! Did you read correctly??? Yes indeedy gang.........doggie food! And Makana says thanks to my friend - Jennifer C. for buying it for him! So upon looking over the menu, I ended up ordering the following items - 1. Asian Slaw to share. 2. Mochi Crusted Fish because it's one of their signature dishes. 3. Chipotle Ludovico Farm Chicken Burrito, because if you haven't noticed..........Bruddah Fran has been on a Burrito quest as of late! What can I say about the grub??? I was totally impress with the grub, as the portion sizes were very generous & of good value. My Chipotle Chicken Burrito was very meaty & the flavoring in the burrito was simply deeeeeeeeeeeeeelicious!!! The Asian Slaw was a perfect salad to start our meal, as it was light & very tasty. Last of all...........I must say I was totally impressed that this restaurant thinks about our important 4-legged family member, as they took the time to make doggie food using natural ingredients like - Chicken or Pork, Egg, Carrots, Sweet Potato, Kale, & Broccoli. Makana thanks you for making this deeeeeeeeeeeeeelicious concoction!

Sarah D.

Yelp
The chips were very good, but super salty. The special monchong dish was kinda bland and the fish was slightly dry. The chicken burrito was good Friendly staff.
google avatar

Wilfred L.

Yelp
This is our second time coming to their current location on Ward Avenue. This location seems out of place since it's on the ground floor and right next to a luxury car dealership, but the cars do offer a spectacular backdrop to some pretty ono food. My gf always gets the mochi crusted chicken and I believe a lot of people have reviewed it and how good it is. I got the tonkatsu the other week but that went to fast, there are no pics to show proof of its existence. Nevertheless, it was also delicious with the multitude of layers of pork and panko goodness. I have never had such soft and delicious tonkatsu in my life. Don't believe me....just get it and write your review on it. Today I tired something different. I got the pipikaula burger w/fries. I had to drop this review one star because it's a messy dish and you will need a bunch of napkins. But is the mess warranted? Let's just saw that it was juicy. Majorly juicy. Soft and delicious. It was also a bit salty. Burger and fries. Would I go again? Yes. I want to try their other offerings since these past two visits were very positive
google avatar

Maile N.

Yelp
Over the weekend while at @blaisdellcenter for a wellness expo, I had Artizen's (casual cafe underneath MW restaurant) tasty soy pork belly over rice with pickled cucumber and miso banchan! This filled my belly and gave me energy for the expo all afternoon. My friend had the mochi crusted fish, and that looked ono as well!
google avatar

Amy B.

Yelp
I needed a cruciferous salad & soothing tea for my bad throat, and was blessed to find both at Artizen for my lunch today~!! Had the Caesar salad & lemon chamomile tea, both of which tasted top quality & I'm curious to try other menu items next time!
google avatar

Troy E.

Yelp
I have to say Artizen is probably one of the best take out places on the island. I'd highly recommend the bubu chicken sandwich (for lunch) and the mochi crusted fish. Everything on the menu is great so you can't really go wrong! It's super convenient to have the option to have a quick casual meal or order take out without having to dress up to eat upstairs at MW. If you have little doggie friends you can also order from Echigo's four-legged menu. Our dogs go crazy and I'm sure they would give it 5 stars if they were also writing a review.
google avatar

Cherisse L.

Yelp
I love eating at this gourmet cafe while my car gets serviced at Velocity. Even better- they offer boozy coffee & luxury seating. Pro tip: If you're planning to work from here while you wait or are simply hanging around until your car's done- bring a jacket... it's freezing!
google avatar

Landon K.

Yelp
Located in the symphony condominium on kapiolani and ward ave. They are the affiliated with the main restaurant MW which is located upstairs. For a small cafe and menu, they offer pretty good quality entrees. Unfortunately during our last visit they were all out of a couple of the specials that we wanted to try. I ordered the salmon ikura bowl and my other half got the Mochi crusted fish - both of which were very tasty and tender. At first it was a little odd sitting in between a car dealership and cafe but it didn't bother us. The wait time for our food did take a while as there appeared to be only two workers up front. We were gifted a coconut dessert and a take out meal for our dogs which we are super grateful! The coconut dessert was amazing!!! Would come again!
google avatar

Rod U.

Yelp
True story, I ordered Echigo's Four Legged menu for myself. Ludovico chicken, OK Farms egg, Mao Farms carrot, sweet potato, Ho farm kale and broccoli. Sounds good right? Thought it was finger food to share between two people (four legs), NOT DOG FOOD. Favorites of the original DTHNL location are still on offer as well as many new creations. As with their sister restaurant, MW (slated to reopen April 6, 2021), takeaway dishes are very well thought out and don't degrade during transport with exception to the pastas. Tip: Order online with contactless curbside pickup (six hatch marked stalls in the covered Velocity parking closest to Ward St. entrance. The mochi crusted opah, well cooked just shy of mid well. Moist with a crisp and very interesting textured crust. It sits atop a bed of somen noodles and dressed with a soy, yuzu kosho vinaigrette for the warming, acidic punch. Assorted kim chee adds fermented umami. A pan roasted pork chop with a decadent mushroom gravy, simple and homey. Mid well, moist. Use the rice to sop up all the gravy and life is good. Do try the ahi dip. Do try the spinach and mushroom dip. Do try the pickled Ma'o Farms beet salad with goat cheese. Desserts impress. As before, huge flavors packed into beautiful creations. A strawberry match shortcake with intense matcha aromas and beautiful bitterness or a blueberry yuzu tart so intensely flavored with mouth puckering citrus and explosion of flavor are just two examples of what you can expect. Efficient, no hassle curbside pickup, ready when promised. See website for all meal services, daily and advanced order specials. Worthy. Just remember, Echigo is their dog.
google avatar

Melody K.

Yelp
The perfect lunch date spot! I'm so glad they opened up in this spot! Where else are you going to eat in a car dealership Haha Yelp BFF and I stopped by for lunch the other day. I had the salmon ikura bowl and BFF had the special of the day, tonkatsu. The salmon ikura bowl comes with a couple of veggie sides. I don't like eggplant, but the eggplant side was seasoned perfectly! I engulfed the whole meal. The tonkatsu was juicy and crispy. It came with a tonkatsu sauce and yellow mustard sauce. Both were delicious! Yelp BFF also got a chocolate pudding, which was SOOO good! I will be back soon! Thanks for reading my reviews! Let me know what I should try next!

John K.

Yelp
Counter girl was friendly, food was over-salty, dry. Beet salad came with no goat cheese. On asking where was the goat cheese, I was given some grated parmesan. Fries and fish both too thin, [Go to Nico's for fish and chips.]. Hawaiian fried rice was super greasy. As other have said, a shameful reflection on MW. Or maybe MW is no better? I would not return and won't take a chance at MW based on the food quality at Artizen.
google avatar

Nadia K.

Yelp
We were so happy to hear that Artizen by MW would be reopening at Velocity Honolulu! They are now getting settled in their new home located on the ground floor of the Symphony building on the corner of Ward Avenue and Kapiolani Boulevard. More changes are to come to Artizen and fans of MW Restaurant will be happy to know that the full-service, dine-in restaurant on the second floor is expected to open in April. Let's keep our fingers crossed! Currently, Artizen by MW is serving up daily weekday breakfast, lunch, and dinner with brunch on the weekends for dine-in and take out.  They have both indoor and outdoor seating. My daughter and I stopped by for a casual dinner and we couldn't help but order our MW favorites: mochi crusted fish and salmon ikura bowl. The meals were delicious - just like we remembered. Don't skip dessert! The showcase is filled with their beautiful creations!
google avatar

Jing Ya W.

Yelp
We were here for breakfast as soon as they opened at 8AM today. We were expecting a crowd since it was Fourth of July weekend but I guess we were there early, it was nice to enjoy the food at a quiet ambiance. Overall the food we had was delicious. Service was consistently good. I had the meatballs in black bean sauce and it was excellent. My sis got the tofu menchi katsu and she enjoyed it. We also got the banana bread with nuts. That one was moist and had a nice sweetness. We ordered strawberry cheesecake as well and we both loved it, although we were too full to finish the whole slice/round. For beverage, I got the Artizen Harvest smoothie again since it's become my favorite now. Haha. We will see what's for brunch next week and we definitely look forward to having brunch again there!
google avatar

Art C.

Yelp
We didn't have high hopes for Artizen. I mean it's in a car dealership for goodness sake... Boy were we wrong. So wrong! Everything we had was totally gourmet and totally delicious. We even ate it in their outside area which worked out fine. Their menu changes constantly so it's pointless to go over the food. But I'd say you can't go wrong with anything you have. And please don't forget the dessert. It might be the highlight of your meal. Very underrated...
google avatar

Kira S.

Yelp
so I'm already a big fan of Artizen's desserts, but Miki'ao told me about their new lunch bentos so I popped over after my nail appointment to see what they had. It. was. so. good. Perfect portion, not overwhelmingly big, & I felt like I was eating a home cooked meal. not oily or too salty. I had the chicken karaage over furikake rice with steamed veggies & I can't wait to get another bento after my next appointment. I hope Artizen continues serving these!!
google avatar

Glenn N.

Yelp
Oh Artizen, I am so glad you are back In my life. Great news folks, Artizen open about a month ago On the first floor of Velocity. On the corner of Kapi'olani Boulevard and Ward Avenue. If you didn't know, Artizen is the Brain child of MW's Wade and Michelle Ueoka, Who are now both Hawaiian Airlines feature Chef de Cuisine! So proud of what local people can accomplish. You can get an amazing brunch on Saturdays and Sundays starting at 8 AM to 3 PM. You can order things like truffle corn beef hash with MW steak sauce and OK farm eggs. Or Garlic crab omelette. They're Mochi-crusted fish over somen noodles with soy Yuzu Kosho vinaigrette. So good! This afternoon I had their flaked salmon and Ikura, over brown rice. Yummy! If you find yourself in the area of Ward Avenue and Blaisdale Arena, do yourself a favor and pop into velocity. Grab yourself an amazing bite to eat while you feast your eyes on beautiful exotic automobiles.
google avatar

Lorene P.

Yelp
FYI. The Artizen restaurant is listed on Yelp as being in the Symphony bldg but it's actually in the Velocity bldg. Parking is accessed via Kapiolani into the Velocity bldg. People may mistakenly enter the Symphony parking. Valet is only available form 4 pm. No reservations available. Casual take-out or limited first-come first-served seating, no table service. Approximately 5 tables of 4, a few doubles, and 2 covered picnic tables for 4 outside. A must enjoy- Panko crusted monchong! Delicate crisp, flavorful, and guiltless fish over a bed of women noodles.
google avatar

Joy H.

Yelp
Food is always making here!! The mochi crusted fish is the best!!! The desserts are a must try!

Susan F.

Yelp
The only reason to give this place two stars is because they have excellent staff. The employees were lovely and helpful. That's the only thing that I can say for this coffeehouse inside of a dealership. I went in thinking I was going to be at the Italian spot there before them. Decided to order some food anyway. There is no gluten-free option for bread whatsoever so that put me out of reach of the majority of the food served. I ordered chili because it came with rice. I'm gonna give you a picture of what I just unpacked when I got home. As you can see, it's not full. There's no meat whatsoever in the chili except for nope I literally cannot find any meat in this chili. Ohhh, there's a piece of meat. it's a sausage. It's bland and why would you put daikon and furakaki on a plate lunch that's mex chili? For the thrill of this particular meal I got to pay $17 plus tax and tip. I'm sure I didn't order the right thing but I just wanted a bowl of something hot. Oh, and it was lukewarm. Having been served out of a metal warming tray. This was so disappointing because I could've walked across the street and gotten a bowl of chili for seven dollars that I would've enjoyed a lot more For MW to put out This quality of food is shameful.

Edna W.

Yelp
Food was good and service was quick but the portion size for the price was rather small. I know it's an upper tier plate lunch place but I'm not a big eater but the sides were morsels just to add color and appeal but not satisfying. I will think twice before coming back. I had the mochi crusted tofu which was the size of 1/6 the tofu block and three garnishes for the sides amounting to 1 tablespoon each.
google avatar

John H.

Yelp
We had lunch here to celebrate my brother's wedding. Food and service were wonderful. Everything tasted so good. The staff were great and made the newlyweds feel special. Mahalo!
google avatar

Paul C.

Yelp
Before attending a work meeting, the organizer mentioned having lunch after conducting our business and suggested 3 venues. I was delighted to see Artizen on the list as I've been getting a lot of positive vibes from this sister restaurant of MW Restaurant, where I dined at. When the venue was announced as Artizen, the kid in me had to contain myself with pure joy at the meeting table as I was going to try this joint out. Located on the first floor of the Hawaii State Art Museum, you instantly get a feel of this artsy vibe here at Artizen. The decor is minimum but of good taste. Loved the ambiance where you could chill with your dining mates while grabbing a bite. After assessing their menu, my eyes stopped on the Nanban Chicken Sandwich. A foodie friend of mine had previously posted this sandwich on social media where she just raved about. Because I see fries at my part time job too often, I opted to pair my sandwich with salad instead. There is no table service here at Artizen. You stand in line to order and pay for your food. The staff will then call you when your order is ready. Seating is open where it's first-come, first serve. There is a self-service water cooler and bar of condiments and utensils. Because we got there before the lunch crowd, it didn't take much time for our food. Your meal is served in environment friendly and microwavable containers. The food order is printed on tape that is placed outside so you didn't have to open the container to see what was inside. My first impression: quality and care. Visually the food stimulated my eyes with the presentation - color, quantity and quality. I liked the fact that my chicken sandwich was still temperature hot and the sauce above the chicken didn't melt. Volume wise, I was impressed. The accompanying salad was also very appealing. I appreciated the freshness of the vegetables - cucumbers, grape tomatoes and arugula greens. That dressing was like crack - I kept on eating my salad and was craving for more and more. I finished my salad before my sandwich as it was crisp, tasty and so refreshing. My dining mates all seemed to enjoy their meals. Thank goodness I didn't order the french fries. It appears to be more of shoestring fries that I'm not a fan of. Overall, a very pleasant dining experience at Artizen that made me crave for more. I was very fortunate to have bonded with my colleagues while having a tasty lunch. My food selection was a winner and visualize myself ordering the Nanban Chicken Sandwich again. My thoughts on Artizen? Hands down, highly recommended.
google avatar

K K.

Yelp
Heard about this place on TV, we were eager to try. Parking is a little tricky but is available in the building. For the meal portion and quality, totally overpriced. More of a snack than a meal. $9 for a smoothie, $18 for a tiny sample of butterfish, and $12 for a salmon tofu salad with 5 small pieces of cubed tofu (and what seemed to be canned salmon). Better off getting the salmon tofu salad @ Hawaii's Favorite Kitchens... it's like $8 for a huge portion of greens and non-canned salmon over a bed of tofu. Staff were friendly. Overall dining experience was disappointing.

Feliks F.

Yelp
5 stars+ for their desserts creativity and price!!! 3 stars for not consistent dessert availability and options I did previously rate 5 stars but too many times found out that dessert I like are not made on regular basis plus if you consistently run out of them maybe it's a sign that demand is higher than supply
google avatar

Yolanda B.

Yelp
Pretty cool place. We liked the outside patio. There's not much communication when you walk in. You sort of have to figure it out yourself. We ordered the chicken sandwich and the meat lovers fried rice. My rice was had a layer of oil sitting at the bottom of bowl. There was lots of meat in the rice so no issue there. The rice was over cooked so unfortunately, mushy. My husband's chicken sandwich was like a tempura style deep fried chicken patty on a bun.
google avatar

Susan B.

Yelp
Their menu fusion of Japanese and Chinese cuisine unique it is. I often went there when the Italian Cafe first opened which was outstanding! We were at the dealer next to Velocity at the same time we was hungry hoping to eat there. Unfortunately we didn't eat out even though I thought I'd no vaccination card to eat outdoors or take-out! I told the sever that she says the government changed their status that without vaccination card to eat outdoors no allowed. After we put in our order which was Artizen Bento of the day for $15.00 2x's, two mango ice tea medium small cups $5.00..waited 20 minutes only to have my order sitting there! We were not far sitting at the sofa, a gentleman in chef's attire standing behind their counter was quite busy. The cashier should know we was waiting for our order yet too busy taking orders? Not very coordinated with orders and distributing in a orderly way. I'm sorry to say after the Italian restaurant and new management after that doesn't change much as far as customer service is concern. The staff was friendly but to wait 20 minutes (receipt shows time of my order- 1.38pm I was out at 2pm). I was a bit surprised when I opened the bento box it was not what I had hope for...it is shown. It is not appealing display at all for their name. The slices of cabbages was roughly cut sprinkled topped a tiny piece of crab cake with a droplet of wasabi mayonnaise (?) I think. The leg of chicken as soon as I opened it aroma of vinegar was okay (but) vinegar yes healthy makes the chicken soft and tender great for hot summer days for it does bring some energy- was is Adobo? If I had a food or bento display expertise I'll happily advise! I lived in Tokyo 22 years to experience their bento displays from large depachika shopping food arcades to fast food at combini or 7-11 convenience quick stop places. I made my sons bento for years that they bring to school no cafeteria in Junior and High school he went to. I will try again to order other meals that might interest me again when I'm in that area.
google avatar

Jaymi U.

Yelp
As soon as I heard about the reopening of Artizen and MW, I couldn't wait to visit. I ordered take-out from Artizen through their website the day before. Their pick-up area is near the valet on the bottom floor (do not go up the ramp to the guest parking). I got a little lost with that but the staff was super friendly and helpful over the phone. The food was so good! I ordered the mochi crusted tofu and I loved it. It's just like I remember from MW. The crunch of the mochi is so nice against the texture of the somen noodles and the vinaigrette is so yummy. They also have small sides that they provide in the container (I think it varies, based on the pictures on other reviews). I also ordered the chocolate butter cake. It was to die for. Great texture, tasty, but not overly sweet. It definitely looks a lot richer than it actually is, so it makes for a great dessert that doesn't make you feel overly full after. Can't wait to come back again!
google avatar

John F.

Yelp
Couldn't even try the food as the service was -10 stars. Paper on doors indicating entrance and exit - is that really necessary? Walk in and not greeted by anyone, fine. Look on counter for menus, none. Crazy lady asked me why I'm looking at the laptop, uhh, cuz it's open on the counter and looked inviting....she slams it shut. I walked out. She shouldn't worry. I'll never be back.
google avatar

Alice A.

Yelp
Love this place. The food is always good. They have oxtail, katsu, short ribs, chicken sandwiches you name it they probably have it. The flavors are always so good and on point. They also have bakery items which are delicious. This place does not disappoint
google avatar

Baron O.

Yelp
Decided to order here for our pre-anniversary dinner. We didn't know what to order and wanted to order everything since it all sounded good. I ordered the Miso Beef Loco Moco and my wife got the Artizen Bento with Chicken Tenders and Miso Beef. We also got the Spinach & Mushroom dip. The parking spaces for pickup were small and tight for compact vehicles. The plus was that it was close to Artizen entrance. I took my first bite of the Miso Beef and wow what a shock it was super salty. My wife took a bite and her first reaction was that it was super soft then she said it was too salty for her. She then tried the chicken tender and there was absolutely no taste. She was looking for a sauce and none was provided. The miso beef sauce was used but that still was too salty. I wanted to call and say something but I didn't. We just will not go back. The best thing was the spinach and mushroom dip. Won ton chips were provided that made the dip epic. Wish there was more chips since we has a lot of dip left. I could not taste any mushroom so it was more like a spinach dip. We love to support local and we will keep supporting local. Unfortunately it will not be at Artizen.

Lorraine Y.

Yelp
I've been to this place twice. The chocolate cake is definitely a must. If they have the pesto shrimp and pasta? Get it! Its is yummy! I got this seafood gumbo... didn't care for. Hamachi kama made it a bit messy to eat. Tasted ok.
google avatar

Connie G.

Yelp
New location at Velocity Dealership Building - Great place to stop by for lunch if you are in the area. They have a variety of lunch options and pastries/desserts. We stopped by for a quick lunch and ordered the Mochi Crusted Fish & Mochi Crusted Mrs. Cheng Tofu. The flavor combinations are amazing and what we always trust in MW creations. Both have a great crunch, texture and lightness that makes it delicious. It's not a heavy batter or oily like other bentos/plates we've had at other places. It's served with somen noodles and some pickled vegetables that also enhance the flavor. We opted to make our order a meal, so it came with a soft drink and two cookies (which are crunchy). We like the outdoor seating, although note it is first come, first serve. You must order at the counter and they will bring the food out for you. There are notecards at the tables that will indicate whether it was sanitized. Parking is tricky, we had to circle twice to get a good stall. Unfortunately, Velocity parking stalls are super tight and walled off (not pillars), so sometimes it's hard to get a good (or available stall). Best bet is to walk over if you are nearby (or if you are visiting a friend who lives at the Symphony condo building!)
google avatar

Shari T.

Yelp
Ordered takeout for brunch - it was okay but it was fairly overpriced for what you pay. Although this review is on brunch, I enjoyed the salmon ikura bowl I ordered a while back. Pancake breakfast sandwich - pretty much just pancakes, egg, and pork sausage with a side of syrup. The pork sausage was well made - quality ingredients and juicy but the sandwich wasn't worth $16. The syrup is definitely needed to add flavor. Mochiko chicken & waffles - the waffle was the best part, a little crispy but chewy on the inside. However, I wasn't a fan of the soy reduction sauce. Maybe I expected a savory and sweet dish? Chicken was a little burned but otherwise it was okay. I want to give this place a second chance because I do love MW and all the desserts at Artizen!
google avatar

Rob B.

Yelp
New location and really completely different except in name. I must admit that parking is the biggest obstacle but once you know how and where, it's no issue. Arrive by way of Kapilolani or Ward and there are parking stalls on the ground level and during brunch valet. Easy! Enough cant be said for the wonderful staff and the sweets! It may not be advertised but made to order bakery cakes and more are just a call or email away. The limited but wonderful menu is ALL quality. Everything is great but before you settle in on the menu on the wall, look for today's specials. All class.
google avatar

Emmie S.

Yelp
I have always been a huge fan of MW Restaurant so when a friend suggested dining at the Artizen by MW for brunch I was really looking forward to it. We came to their new location at 888 Kapiolani Blvd today and arrived a little after they opened at 10am since they do not take reservations. First of all, I was shocked how disorganized and clueless the staff members were. The person taking our order was nice but after we looked at the menu and mentioned what we were thinking about ordering, she said that they were out of that menu item (mochi crusted fish). Then we wanted to order the Tofu and chicken menchi katsu...to which she replied that they had no rice cooked due to a power trip and said that she could replace the rice with a salad. She also gave us the menu change option (misoyaki butterfish), then stated again that there was no rice. When I added the frozen MW chili to my order she walked alway saying that she had to check because of menu changes. I was like...it's frozen, right? It was such a hot mess ordering and she kept walking away to verify things. She also forgot to give me back my credit card. I didn't notice because I'm so used to tap and pay or inserting my own card into the chip reader. Their service system was poor...the server came to our table 3 times with others people's orders and drinks asking if they were ours. When we noticed the server delivering people's food that ordered after us and had to stop her to ask what happened to our order. The food...was just okay. Not worth the price ($14 for just a sandwich and $12 for the Menchi Katsu) and I'm not sure that we got the salad that was supposed to replace the rice with the Menchi katsu...unless it was the tiny bit of kimchi and curry potato salad. We didn't want to bother asking. Again, super disappointed. Definitely not worth the drive from Mililani. Still shocked at the food and service because MW Restaurant has always been on point with both.
google avatar

Frank A.

Yelp
Artizen by MW is located in the Hawaii State Art Museum in downtown Honolulu across the State Capitol and Alii Place. Entrances are on Richard Street or Hotel Street. A nice, relaxing, chill place that offers fresh, made to order breakfast (7:30-10:30) and lunch (10:30-2:30) specials. There's ample seating inside the Hawaii State Art Museum's ground floor, as well as take-out available either by walk-in, phone or online. A little more sophisticated without gourmet prices. My favorite here is the bento box, which includes a slice of Kalbi, Portuguese Sausage, Fish Katsu, Garlic Fried Jidori Chicken over rice. Other favorites include the Dynamite Salmon, Artizen Burger, Seared Ahi Salad, Sweet and Sour Eggplant and Sweet Potatoes Fries (if available). Basically, everything on the menu is a hit, there is no miss. There are also ready made poke and desserts from time to time in the glass case for a quick grab and go. The place is clean, spacious, and a nice getaway from the office. I'm not sure about on-site parking, however, there is some on-street metered parking nearby on Alakea Street near the courthouse as well as on Richard Street next to the Iolani Palace and YWCA.