Kau Kau

Amazing brunch place with a Hawaiian flare! The food was delicious and beautifully plated (the pics don’t do the food justice). The service was great and every person who helped our table was incredibly friendly. Inside the restaurant is beautiful and makes you feel relaxed. Great place for a Sunday brunch! HIGHLY recommend.

2 stars for the food and 1 extra star for the service and the industrial looking decor. I believe most of the good reviews are from before the new management took over because the food was definitely not Hawaiian or very good overall. When the best part of your meal is juice from a can, it says a lot about the quality of the food. We ordered the musubi, the macadamia nut waffle with chicken katsu, and the Portuguese sausage with eggs. The musubi was disappointing because it was just rice with some house made spam (sham) rolled up in seaweed that refused to break apart when we took a bite. This meant that the whole thing separated out after a bite. The piece I had was doused in soy sauce. My husband's was not. The inconsistency of the whole dish was disappointing. We still held our hope for the entrees which did not live up to it. The macadamia nut waffle was dry and did not break easy. The nutty element was a good touch but it was super sweet. One would think that the chicken katsu would add a nice savory element, but chicken breast was probably not the best choice for a katsu. The breading was very thick and neither the chicken, not the breading had any of its own flavor. The flavor was all supposed to come from the mango siracha sauce, which was more sweet than spicy. All in all, this dish was basically a chicken and waffle dish but did not live up to the twist that it was supposed to be. The only saving grace was the portion size. But, since we didn't enjoy it as much, I don't know that we wanted that big a portion. The Portuguese sausage with eggs was 2 eggs done your way (scrambled in my case, which became an omelet) with a spicy Portuguese sausage on a bed of rice. I ordered sushi rice but you get an option of sushi vs brown. The sausage itself was good - spicy and flavorful. The rest of the dish was bland. The omelet had no salt and the rice was dry. There was also far too much rice on the plate than the protein. I ended up pouring soy sauce on the rice to give it some body and more flavor. For $19, this was a disappointing portion. I would have preferred just the sausage for half the price. This restaurant is marketed as making Hawaiian food. We didn't think the food was authentic Hawaiian and flavor wise, it did not hit the mark. There is a lot of parking and the servers are really nice. They have some unique interior design elements (look at their fans), so kudos to that, but your food has to be better than what we had.

I walked in and was immediately greeted by one of the owners asking me how I’m doing, but then genuinely asked once again how I was. I’ve never felt that kind of kindness from anyone working in a restaurant. I was checked in with constantly, the food is fantastic, and I had some of the best pineapple mango ice cream I’ve ever had. I would buy a bottle of their vegan wasabi mango if they let me. Check this place out and be sure to look up at the fans!!

I came here for dinner, definitely want to try the brunch menu sometime. I like the decor and staff was friendly. They didn't have any cooked fish except for octopus. They had a selection of poke bowls and a few different tofu options which I wish I tried! There are also pork and chicken options. I got the beef teriyaki with the vegan coleslaw. The teriyaki was very gingery and yummy. The vegan dessert was so pretty and not too sweet.

This place goes Kau-rayyyzyyy! Warm and comforting ambience, fantastic service, exceptional dishes and an awesome host running the floor…emitting an overall welcoming, fun and chill vibe. Possibly the best version of Eggs Benedict I have EVER had and don’t even get me started on the Chicken Long Rice-this dish for me felt made with love and soul! 20/10 thank you all for the amazing brunch and overall experience! ✨🌺🤍

The food was not good at all. I can’t speak for the all day menu. Only brunch was available. As someone who is Hawaiian and from the islands i was so so excited for this to be good. I ordered the Portuguese sausage and eggs and the rice and eggs were alright but the Portuguese sausage was absolutely disgusting. My wife ordered the loco moco and it was unseasoned and just .. grossed. The staff member made sure to check on us which was nice and kept out waters filled. Cool dude. Didnt like how he mispronounced some of the hawaiian dishes. I wouldnt recommend in my opinion. It was also pricey, more expensive than back home on the islands aha.

Excellent food and service. Hands down the best Moco Loco I've ever had, including that which I've had in Hawaii. My husband also really enjoyed his tuna poki bowl. I tried a bite and it was excellent. My son ordered the chicken curry katsu which was cooked to perfection -- crispy breaded and flavorful. Nice ambiance too. Can't believe we didn't know about this place till now. Everything was delicious and we'll DEFINITELY be back soon and we're telling all our friends about it.

I was excited to try this spot because the reviews were so good. But I was disappointed to say the least. The Kalua pork and pineapple slaw were really good at least. But the loco moco patties were thin and dry. And I ordered a side of ahi poke for $14 and this tiny bowl is what I got. $14 for a serving this small is just ridiculous. Everything is way overpriced and we probably won’t come back

4-ish stars rounded up. First step into this resto and I already clicked with the vibe. Cozy & boho. Houseplant-y (and not cloyingly floral). --------------- - Mac nut waffle with chicken katsu: to me the katsu was like a "clean" version of L&L katsu lol; not greasy at all and actually a bit under-seasoned (but that's not something the accompanying sriracha mango syrup can't fix). I might be in the minority here, but I didn't really like the large macadamia nut pieces embedded in the waffle. Too distracting texture-wise from the fantastic-fluffiness of the waffle batter. - Loco moco: flavorful gravy but a bit salty. Slightly overcooked hamburger patties but not a dealbreaker. - Butter mochi: scrumptiously tender and chewy!! Very uniform in texture; zero lumpiness. It comes with guava ice cream, which was alright; I'm guessing it was gritty due to real guava fruit being pulverized into the cream, but I was hoping for more of a guava taste punch. - POG mimosa: standard-tasting but it's there if you want some tropical-esque booze in your system. I noticed that most of the groups dining at the time ordered it as well. --------------- Friendly server but could've been more attentive. I visited on a Saturday at around 11 am; no wait for a table and there was ample lot parking. Overall I'd say this spot is worth trying if you have even the slightest curiosity about the menu.

I went on a rainy cold Saturday for a bumble bff friend meet up for the first time at 10am when it opened. There was a lot of people that got there when they opened. They don't seat you until your whole party is there. The place is cute but small. They have hanging plants above the tables. The wall paper is pink with plant leaves. They have a small bar area in the corner. I ordered the kau kau Benedict. I don't like poached eggs so I asked for the eggs over hard. The food was okay. The crispy taro cakes reminded of hash browns. Crispy on the outside but very soft on the inside. I was unhappy though that the food basically took an hour! Even though we were one of the first groups that got there when the restaurant opened. I was having a good time chatting with the girl I was meeting up with but still!!! Overall, I don't think the brunch is amazing but if you are looking for something different from your average American brunch then this is the place. I saw their lunch and dinner menu which looks more interesting and workflow like to try their lunch or dinner dishes next time.

Service: I would give 10 out of 10 just for service alone; but since I can only do a rating of 5, then 5 out of 5 it is. My sister and I had 3 small children with us, and though they did not have a children's menu, the owner was extremely welcoming. He brought paper and crayons for our kids to color. He even made sure to give our littles plastic spoons without us even having to ask. He constantly checked on us throughout the night, made jokes with the kids, and even made an effort to come out to say goodbye to us as we were leaving. He definitely went above and beyond! Ambiance: Nice decor. Everything was clean. Bathroom was clean. Lots of parking. Loved the option of chairs and/or bench seating. Food: Hawaiian food is typically on the heavier side, but I'd have to say, if it can be a bit lighter, then that's what they did here. The garlic shrimp plate was delicious! It would have to be my #1 recommendation here. I loved that the shrimp were not only a good size, but already peeled. The sauce was perfectly flavored. I liked that you can do half and half on the rice, so we were able to try both the sushi rice and the brown rice. The Mac Salad was tasty as well. I could have done without the Moco Loco, but my 2 year old really enjoyed it. The sauce wasn't the best in my opinion; but the eggs was perfectly cooked. I especially liked that they let you get a half order instead of a whole order because I knew my 2 year old was not going to be able to finish a whole plate on her own. The chicken katsu was perfectly fried. The chicken was tender. We could have done without the spam musubi, but it wasn't bad. Just not worth the price. Dessert: I'd definitely recommend the butter mochi with guava ice cream! It was a hit at our table. The mini hula pie was not a favorite of ours. The rum whip would be good for people who enjoy rum, but it was definitely not very kid-friendly. Overall, the owner made the place so welcoming that even though this was our first time here, it won't be our last.

Not your typical American brunch. This spot specializes in a fusion of Hawaiian tastes. You want chicken & waffles??? No problem. They'll give you chicken katsu and waffles! Same go to everything on their breakfast menu. I would love to be back to eat their dinner. The owner... you'd just have to go & meet him. He's hilarious, sarcastic, and friendly. He engages with his customers on a personal level that makes your overall experience amazing. He definitely makes a mark for his customers to return. My fave item on the menu has got to be the taro benedict. Instead of English muffins, you get a nice piece of mashed taro fried in panko crust. Spam is also the protein, topped with an egg. The sweet items on the menu are awfully sweet for me but they are all also so yummy!!! The macadamia nut waffle is the best. The mango syrup makes it bomb asf. We also love mimosas with the POG juice. Interior is such a vibe. Come after 11am/12pm to avoid the rush & long wait time. They get quite busy.

Food was really good! Service was excellent, from being greeted by the host all the way to the end of the meal. Benedict was on crispy taro cakes, spam was good, not too salty, different type of Benedict dish, but good different! Loco Moco was BOMB AF! (Pardon my French), every bite was a joy ride on a Hawaiian rollercoaster of flavors. French toast wasn't our favorite. Came with some ginger pineapples and what tasted like mango syrup. Overall good, but not sure if we would get it again. Also ordered the Kona coffee & POG juice which was a delightful reminder of a Hawaiian vacation. We didn't have a chance to try the 'Island Kine Grindz' menu since it was only brunch, but guarantee our return! Ambiance of the restaurant was super cute, plants adorned the perimeter of the room, small intimate setting, would definitely come again, with friends & family. come on.

I've been to Kau Kau a few times now and I recommend dining in because it really gives you the full experience. They have a good sized parking lot and every time I've walked into the business I've been greeted and welcomed in. On my latest visit, I was dining with a friend and they sat us right away and brought waters before taking our food and drink orders. They have a good selection of wine, beer, cider and sake. I opted for a Nitty's cider ($8) during this dinner. We each ordered the Huli-Huli chicken with Mac salad and white rice ($18). They brought our drinks quickly and continued to make sure our waters were filled while we chatted. The food came out and was fresh, hot and so flavorful. The portion sizes are also pretty generous, we probably could have shared but were happy to take leftovers home. The owner came by to check on us as well which was really nice. The restaurant itself is super cute and really is a fun spot to catch up with friends or plan a date night. They also do brunch, which I need to try sometime.

First of all, we ate here once in 2022 to go see a concert and had been looking forward to coming back here since then! Last night I brought my son here along with my wife. Had to go with the masubi (I hate SPAM because it's too salty, but was convinced to try it because they make their own). Had the sliders and pork belly appetizer as well as the Loko Moko. Their Loko Moko outshines most any I have had! My wife has the Huli huli chicken. Fortunately for my son and I, she couldn't finish it, so we did! Absolutely love this place! Service is fantastic as well as the humble location.

First time here and their loco moco was delicious! I also recommend their sliders too! Interior is small and nice. Mimosas were good. The waiter/waitress were all so nice and friendly (unfortunately I didn't catch their names). Their menu is quite small and limited. Definitely recommend this place and I would definitely come back for more.

This is definitely a nice restaurant to come by. We were greeted by a very nice and friendly staff member, who told us not to worry about our one-year-old baby getting messy in their place. We're so grateful. We had loco moco and the chicken long rice brunch. They're flavorful and not overly salty or sweet, which really caters to our preferences. Our boy also quite enjoyed his meal. We also had their dessert, which was pretty good. The restaurant has very nice retro decor. The plaza has its own parking lot, so there is no need to worry about parking here.

What an amazing experience! One of our servers (Chris) was amazing, and so funny. Came here for my sisters birthday, and we had an amazing time. Ambiance and food was great. Shout out to Chris, he made the experience super enjoyable. Can't wait to come back!

Kicking off the year with a goal to try new restos, I'm glad I stumbled upon this spot. Funny enough, I had actually been to this spot way back when it was Evan's Kitchen. I came on a Sunday during prime brunch hours. A guy in an apron greeted us with good energy--could've been the owner? Either way, his presence was know which added to the positive experience. I grabbed a seat at the bar right away--quick and easy. The restaurant was packed, except for this big round table meant for larger groups. Honestly, they might want to consider splitting it up for smaller parties to keep the flow moving--think Asia where they seat you with strangers haha Between two people, we ordered the sliders, loco moco, and chicken katsu with waffles. The sliders? Eh, not quite there. They were tiny but buttery. Unfortunately, we couldn't really taste the spam, and the cheese was a bit overwhelming. The loco moco? star of the meal. No complaints. Now, the chicken katsu and waffle... it wasn't their best. The katsu was super thin, overcooked, and tough to cut. The saving grace was the sauce--it was really unique and different I actually liked. The waffle, though? Room temp and not crispy. I don't think I'd order it again. I'd definitely give them another shot--especially to try more dishes and have a mimosa or five.

The service is very welcoming and homey, the owner genuinely cares about his customers as a community! His friendly remarks made us comfortable during our meal and even gave my boyfriend a confidence boost in his appearance because of the workers compliments. Every time I come here I always get the macadamia nut waffles because they are perfection! The chicken katsu is thin and pairs well with their mango sriracha sauce that they also created beautifully. The sausage and eggs may look small but it was fulfilling and hit the spot. My picture had horrible lighting but I'll be back again soon to get another photo of these waffles!

My family loves Kau Kau! We have been coming since I was pregnant, specifically for the garlic shrimp! My husband loves their chicken dishes! They are very baby friendly, and we can't wait for baby girl to be able to try their food! They definitely have the aloha spirit and we love the vibe. We are all about Hawaiian culture, we travel to Hawaii often....and I'd say their garlic shrimp is hard to beat! Also a huge plus is their vegan options! We don't eat pork, and that's so difficult when you are craving spam! They have a spam alternative which is amazing!

Love this unique take on several traditional Hawaiian foods--the make their own type of Spam--they call it Sham and it is tasty. My mom would always say "kau kau time..." and I love that they use it here. They also have a nearly impossible to find homemade dish on the mainland--da kine that my mom would make all da time--chicken long grain. Had a large bowl of that and it was great--close to what my mom used to make (but she made it spicy with huge chunks of ginger and it was a tad saltier than what they make here) but still super good. My fave dish was their Kau Kau Benedict--a really creative take on taro cakes instead of bread for the eggs benedict. The taro cake is like a soft croquette typical all over Hawaii and Japan, but this is one is made with softened taro root. It had Sham topped with a perfect soft boiled egg and a nicely done hollandaise sauce w miso (very mild). My keikis had the loco mocos which were packed with 2 large mounds of rice and nice beef patties. Great job to the entire team at Kau Kau! Keep it up (and please let me know when you start serving lau lau again!!!!)

Decided to give this spot a try after seeing the other reviews. It is located in a small antique strip mall with lots of parking and the Porchlight Brewing Company across the street. Extremely friendly staff with some neat interior features like the cool belt driven fan. We had the Kalua Chicken and Katsu Chicken. Serving sizes are very generous and you will not leave hungry. Both were very good with the Kalua chicken impressing me the most with a good smoke flavor, not fatty or greasy and also not all dried out. Pineapple slaw is recommended as well. The food is a solid 4 star plus but the service pushed it to 5 star for me because they were so nice

Saturday, 11/23/2024 - went to dinner at Kau Kau. Address is 855 57th St, Ste C, Sacramento, CA 95819. This is a cute little restaurant located in an antique shopping plaza. There's lots of parking here. They have their own parking lot, which makes it so much easier. Upon arrival.... Pros 1) love that is located in this little shopping plaza so there's a parking lot. 2) restaurant is so cute! I saw a little bar area. But no one sitting there. Everyone was seated at their tables. 3) Chris was such a cool guy. He is so chatty and sweet. He joked with us and helped us several times. 4) servers fill our water cups several times without us having to ask. Water tasted good. No funky taste. 5) we ordered 2 Somen Noodle dish and the Ahi Poke bowl. All the dishes were great! I love the seasoning or sauce they used on my somen Noodle dish. It was perfectly flavored. 6) they provided a scoop of guava ice cream and mochi for my friend's birthday. It was so good!!! 7) they let us try a little of the pineapple shaved icee-ish they made. It was really good. 8) restaurant was very clean. Table, chairs, plates, utensils, cups all clean. 9) there's two bathroom (1 stall in each) in it's own room. Clean. Cute. Cons 1) none Conclusion I thought Kau Kau was such a cute restaurant and foods were all good. I will definitely have to go back here and try a different dish. I really liked the Somen cold noodle dish. I will have to try the warm noodle next time. Love that parking was so easy. If you arrive early, you can shop in all the cool little antique shops there. The servers were nice and Chris was super cool. Go try this place if you haven't yet.

Came in on a Friday morning and got seated right away! Their AC wasn't working at the time but they still had fans on, so we managed. Our servers were all really nice and chatted with us for quite a while. Food was pretty good, my favorites were the Loco Moco and the Huli Huli chicken. No real cons, except the mac salad was just a bit too undercooked that day - but the flavor was good! A pretty solid spot for Hawaiian brunch, I'd love to come back to try their other plates.

Love the unique concept and aesthetic of Kau Kau. The menu items have all the classic Hawaiian breakfast options as well as a few meatless substitutions available (Omnipork). We have been to Kau Kau a few times now- the Loco Moco and the Benedict are by far the best items. Thoughts on menu items we have tried: - Benedict: I love the taro cakes that are used in the benedicts, they are lightly breaded and have the perfect crunch. Such a delicious idea to use these taro cakes as the base instead of English muffins. - Loco Moco: one of our faves, a classic Hawaiian bfast staple. The gravy drizzled over everything makes this the perfect savory breakfast. - Chicken katsu on macadamia waffle: the macadamia nut waffle was delicious, also loved the tangy sauce that was served with it. However, wish that there was the option of normal syrup as well. The chicken katsu itself was just ok/ didn't seem seasoned at all, was overall a bit bland. - Portuguese sausage and eggs: the sausage was very flavorful with a nice spicy kick to it. The plate as a whole was very dry though, would have liked to have a side of gravy. - Mimosas: love the different juice options, highly recommend the POG (passion orange guava) for a tropical twist.

My friends and I came here for brunch. We decided to share everything. I liked their Hawaiian spin of chicken and waffles- mac nut waffle with chicken katsu. The waffle could be crispier though. The hamburger patties for the loco moco were dry. The chicken long rice is a comforting dish, but bland. The Kau Kau benedict with crispy taro cakes was unique. I didn't care for the homemade spam though. I like spam just the way it is. We also shared two desserts: lilikoi chiffon tartlet and mini hula pie. I was especially looking forward to try the lilikoi dessert, but both desserts were ruined by the rum whipped cream. Everything was well presented, but overall the food was just ok.

A hidden gem! Came here for Saturday brunch around 11:45. Walked in and were greeted by the owner Chris. Most tables were taken. My friend and I were seated at the counter since couple of the tables available were reserved for bigger parties. Simple menu but decent selections. Everything on the menu sounds good. It was really hard to choose. We ordered Island French Toast and Kau Kau Benedict. French toast was made with taro. It was super big and fluffy! Pineapples were tangy and a bit spicy from the ginger. Whipped cream was interesting since there was rum. Syrup was interesting as well. Not your typical syrup with French toast :). The benedict was so good. I've actually never had benedict before lol. Loved the taro cakes and their house made spam! Definitely tasted better than those canned spam! The eggs were cooked to perfection. Everything on that dish was superb. Services were awesome. Chris was really nice, friendly and funny. While we were there, it wasn't too packed because of the State Fair that was going on. He made the time to conversate with us. We had good conversations. We talked a lot about different things and topics. We also met the lady boss, Amanda. Our server was really nice and attentive as well. My friend and I really enjoyed our experiences here. Great food and excellent services. Will definitely be back to try other dishes!

Yummmm! Been wanting to try Kau Kau for ages, and can't wait to come again. Brought me back to Hawaii street food- but elevated. Friendly fast service,light and airy atmosphere. Plenty of parking, located in a fun antique market plaza- perfect for post-gluttony strolling.

Enjoyed visiting this spot on a day trip to Sac! The decor inside was beautiful and tropical and elegantly done. The service was prompt, friendly, and relaxed; we never felt rushed or unattended. Food wise, it was good and a few minor tweaks could make it great. We ordered the Loco Moco and the burger patty was tasty and cooked a perfect medium. Very juicy! The rice, however, was hard and dry. Not sure what happened there, but that was a miss. The gravy had good flavor (very peppery--so children or adults who don't like heat, be warned), but the texture was a bit too starchy. A little more reduced broth and a little less cornstarch would fix that right up. We also ordered the SPAM musubi which my daughter enjoyed; me, not so much. The huli huli sauce made the rice too wet and separated (probably because the rice was dry and hard to start with) and the seaweed wrapper turned rubbery. I'd suggest maybe ordering the musubi with the sauce on the side for dipping to help keep it together and not overwhelm with too much sweetness. The butter mochi cake was DELICIOUS and the guava ice cream that came with it was very tasty and not overly sweet. Home run! I'll definitely return to try out their brunch. Looking forward to that katsu waffle and SPAM benedict!

Great service Great food I will recommend it to outta town guest easy to park and super fast service and even better drinks.....

If not for Yelp (and my fellow Yelpers), there's a really good chance we never would've discovered the wonder that is Kau Kau. Tucked away in the most unexpected of places (a small retail complex filled with antique shops), it's ridiculously easy to miss this place, as you can't even see it from the street regardless if you're walking or driving by. However, IYKYK. And at the risk of too many if you finding out, you really, really should! Even though their location isn't ideal, it's also positive in some regards. Not only is it relatively easy to get here (it's right off J and Elvis), there's plenty of parking both in the lot and on the street, and there's interesting things to see in the neighboring antique shops, which is great if you should encounter a wait for a table (though, we never have for brunch or dinner). Inside, the look of this place isn't overtly Hawaiian themed, but that's just fine - I think the cute, brunch/afternoon tea vibes suits them better. Both the brunch and dinner menus, on the other hand, are filled with Hawaiian inspirations and favorites - from staples like Loco Moco, Poke Bowls, and Kahlua Pork to more unique dishes like French toast made with Punalu'u taro bread, homemade SPAM sliders and musubi, and Macadamia Nut Waffles with Chicken Katsu. -- MACADAMIA NUT WAFFLE WITH CHICKEN KATSU Served with Sriracha Mango Syrup...$18 We opted to get this after seeing the group next to us get it and it didn't disappoint! The katsu were fried perfectly (golden on the outside, moist on the inside) and I liked the syrup's sweet and spicy tang. Part of the waffle felt a little soggy under the katsu, but it was still great overall. -- KAU KAU BENDICT - Crispy Taro Cakes with Griddled Homemade Spam, Poached Eggs, Sesame Miso Hollandaise, and Smoked Salt...$18 I was a little dubious on this one, fearing the taro would be overcooked or dense, but it was so good! The taro cakes were crispy and not all that heavy, the housemade SPAM tasted like a less salty version of the real thing, and the hollandaise was both unique and delicious! -- LILIKOI CHIFFON TARTLET - Sweet Pastry Tart Filled with Airy Passionfruit Filling and Topped with Rum Whipped Cream...$7 In simple terms, this tasted as good as it looked. The passionfruit filling was delicious with just a smidge of tartness while the crust had the perfect consistency. Also, both the filling and the whipped cream weren't cloyingly sweet either (though, I didn't eat much of the latter). -- KAHLUA PORK SLIDERS - Three Toasted Hawaiian Rolls with Slow Roasted Shredded Pork, Huli Huli Sauce, and Vegan Pineapple Slaw...$12 More solid than spectacular, but still pretty good. While I liked that the pork wasn't super salty, I do wish it was a bit more peppery. Also, it sucks that the buns got a little soggy towards the end, but I loved the pineapple slaw, even despite how wet it was. -- LOCO MOCO - Two Housemade Ground Burger Patties, Two Easy Eggs, Homemade Brown Gravy, and Green Onions over Two Scoops of Rice...$20 Our first server mentioned this might be more of a dinner option and I can see why. Between the beefy patties and rich gravy, this would've made for a heavy, albeit tasty, brunch. The patties were juicy and well seasoned while the gravy was super flavorful. -- GARLIC SHRIMP - Crispy Shrimp with Garlic Scampi Sauce, Two Scoops of Rice, and Choice of Mac Salad or Vegan Pineapple Slaw...$22 The ones I've had in Hawaii are better, but this is still solid in its own right. I liked the shrimp and slaw, but I do wish that the scampi sauce had been a bit more buttery and garlicky. Also, the brown rice was okay, but would've been better with the heavier Loco Moco than this one. -- ISLAND FRENCH TOAST - Punalu'u Taro Bread Griddled with Vanilla Custard and Served with Pineapple-Ginger Compote, Rum Whipped Cream, and Mango Syrup...$15 This was as awesome as I hoped it would be. The taro bread had a nice crust yet had a soft, gummy-ish center and I loved the custard's creaminess. The compote was a little heavy on the ginger, and the syrup was a little sweet, but they complemented each other in moderation with the bread. -- PORTUGESE SAUSAGE & EGGS - Homemade Linguica Patties with Two Eggs and Two Scoops of Rice...$18 I wasn't sure what to expect, but this wasn't too shabby. The sausages had a slight kick to them and I liked how big they were. However, I do wish they had been slightly juicier/fattier, as they tasted a little too lean and crumbled apart. While you could make the argument that the food is closer to a four than a five, the service more than validates rounding up from FOUR AND A HALF STARS. From the servers to the co-owner(?) Chris, who works the front of the house like a rockstar, all of them are just really good people. Honestly, every visit has been such a good time that even after visiting several times already, it's not a question as to if I'll be back, but when! And congrats, now you're in the know, too.

This place is AMAZING! kau kau is a wonderful gem that offers spectacular service, ambiance, and oh man the food. Each item is crafted with care and thought. Staff: everyone is welcoming and friendly. Super attentive but not in an annoying way. Ambiance: the decor and music gives relaxation vibes without being boring and homely. Food: unique, homemade vibe, and damn delicious. The flavors and presentation are out of this world. Kau Kau is delicious and you're never going to leave disappointed.

Very much above average food for Sacramento. It is high quality and made with care. It can get busy and overwhelmed and be slow, but still might be worth it. The food is excellent and there aren't many restaurants in Sacramento at this level.

Came in on a Sat morning for brunch, was greeted by the friendly owner, & promptly sat at the bartop. I looked over the menu & decided on the breakfast sliders w/ spam (they offer a vegan option as well). I also got a half carafe of the POG mimosa. The sliders were delicious...I'm not too familiar w/ spam, but it did not disappoint. Very juicy & the added avocado I requested really made it a great meal, I just wish I had more lol. The owner was personable, checked in routinely, & added more champagne to my already half gone carafe, on the house. Will def come back for their lunch/dinner menu!

First things first the service was hands down phenomenal!!! 10000/10 if nothing else I would come back for that. Zane and Chris were amazing, knowledgeable, and accommodating to all of our questions. As a person that is not a fan of Hawaiian food I have tasted in the past I came in treading lightly and anticipating disappointing bland food but boy was I surprised. To start we had the poke sampler and pork sliders The sliders were so flavorful from the delicate texture of the meat to the pineapple slaw everything was a perfect blend mixture complementing each other. I'm not a big fan of poke, while I did try some of everything and it was good my friends loved it so give it a try. For the piece de la resistance aka the Garlic shrimp oh emm geee I ordered it with the sushi rice and macaroni salad. I was so overjoyed with the flavors . The plate was so good!!! Drinks: We began with a bottle of: pedroncelli sauvignon blanc Followed by a Cabernet and finished with the Dows Porto to accompany our dessert. My favorite was the Port but each bottle had its own. Overall I enjoyed everything about this place and would recommend. The ambiance is definitely one to return to.

Good food. Guy in the apron was friendly but he's too touchy for my taste. I don't like being touched by other people -1 star.

Make your way here now! Food was amazing and service was on point. What a gem. Chris went out of way to make an accessible spot for my wheelchair.

It's special and rare when you walk into a place (I was dining solo for breakfast) and you're treated as family. That's Kau Kau! The owners make everyone feel welcome. I sat at the bar reviewing work proposals and the owner was so impressed with my discipline to not indulge in moring bottomless mimosas. I was too! I went for the Loco Moco. It exceeded by expectations! This was not some plain hamburger patty. It had amazing flavor and the gravy was spot on. Coupled with the perfect sticky, but not glue rice, rounded out this meal. My mouth is watering for more!

Ahi poke bowl was really tasty! The food is fresh. Service was smooth. I recommend!!!

I've wanted to try this place out for a while now and finally had the opportunity. You can easily miss this place while driving. It was close by but I have never been so it took a minute as it was in a small shopping area with small stores and restaurants. It's a smaller restaurant so keep that in mind for big groups. Good size shared parking lot as well. It seemed to start getting busy around noon as we were leaving. Great service, super friendly. Food was amazing. We had the locomoco, chicken and waffles and eggs bene's. All were amazing and great portions as well. Everything was well pricing and definitely want to try this place again. *Keep in mind their brunch menu is not everyday.

I'll be honest and say that I found the food to be very underwhelming in flavor. While the presentation and portions were decent, I wasn't really impressed with our meals.. I absolutely love Hawaiian food (especially Portuguese sausage for breakfast!!), so I was excited to come across this spot on Yelp. My husband and I came for brunch of a Saturday afternoon; I ordered their Portuguese sausage & egg plate and he ordered their chicken katsu and macadamia waffle plate. The Portuguese sausage was by far the most flavorful thing we ate; However, I can't pinpoint what ingredient they use, but it just didn't impress me or taste like the authentic typical Portuguese sausage I've gotten countless times in HI. The chicken katsu breading was also pretty bland and underwhelming. Waffle was decent, tasted as expected for macadamia nut. Also not a fan of their house coffee, I think they may serve a light roast as it tasted very acidic and I typically enjoy drinking darker roasts. Otherwise, service was good and the ambience is very cozy and clean. Staff was friendly as well.

Fabulous experience! I came here to celebrate my birthday with some friends. The owner is super funny and accommodating. I love how it looks inside the restaurant. There are plants everywhere, and the tables have a kind of country-style vibe. The food menu was really interesting and simple. We waited about an hour or so since one of our friends was going to arrive super late. Lots of catching up, so we waited before ordering. The food was awesome! It tasted so fresh with fresh veggies, etc. The service was great, and I enjoyed being at the restaurant. I would recommend it if you haven't tried this place yet. Do it already!

Local joint. Music was very obnoxious for this early, barely getting my coffee down. I get it, island theme funk but would be more fitting at 8pm after some shots. Like seriously, wish I had my headphones. Ugh!! Food was ok, liked the breakfast sliders but nothing mind blowing. Was disappointed with the macadamia nut waffles, soggy when I expected crispy and delicious. It's in a funky spot amongst antique shops. Brandon was nice and friendly but other servers were too busy chatting with the locals than attending to patrons' needs.

We arrived later in Sacramento and decided to try Kau Kau. The ambiance and decor were pleasant from the time you stepped inside, with a natural and open feel. The ceiling fans stuck out to us because they were all belt-driven, linked, and powered by a single motor (excuse the nerdiness). We chose lighter meals to share, starting with the musubi and were pleasantly delighted by the tasty handmade spam. The Garlic Shrimp stole the stage with its perfect combination of garlic and crunchy goodness, combined with wonderful mac salad. We also had the Lomi-Lomi Salmon dish, which was a refreshing spin on classic Hawaiian cooking, albeit a little heavy on the dressing for our tastes. The lychee-meyer lemon sorbet was the ideal palette cleanser to finish our meal on a positive note. Despite our children being cranky after the travel, the excellent service absolutely rescued the day. Chris, our server, went above and beyond to make our dining experience nothing short of spectacular, bringing smiles to our faces even amidst the tiredness.

Nestled in the heart of Sacramento, Kau Kau Restaurant offers a delightful culinary journey to the islands of Hawaii. Not sure if this is a thing but the decor was somewhat Boho and Hawaiian. On a recent visit to Kau Kau, we indulged in two of their signature dishes: the Garlic Shrimp and the Huli Huli Chicken. Both dishes were good, delivering an authentic taste of Hawaiian cuisine that left our taste buds tingling with delight. The Garlic Shrimp, served sizzling hot, was a true standout. The plump, succulent shrimp were perfectly cooked and infused with a tantalizing blend of garlic and butter. Each bite was savory, leaving me craving more long after the plate was empty. Equally impressive was the Huli Huli Chicken, a traditional Hawaiian dish made with ginger, garlic, brown sugar, and ketchup. Tender, juicy chicken, marinated, and grilled to perfection, imparting a smoky charred flavor that complemented the dish beautifully. Paired with a side of sushi rice rice and macaroni salad. To complete our meal, we ordered their mini hula pie, their spin to the famous Duke's Hula pie. It was coconut ice cream dipped in chocolate and put on a cookie crust, served with whipped cream topped with macadamia nuts. It reminded me of a Mounds Bar. Very delicious in its own version. In addition to the exceptional food, the service at Kau Kau Restaurant was impeccable. The staff were friendly, attentive, and eager to ensure that our dining experience was nothing short of exceptional. Their genuine hospitality added an extra layer of warmth to our meal, making us feel like valued guests in their island paradise. While the prices at Kau Kau Restaurant may be slightly higher than average, the quality of the food and the overall dining experience more than justifies the cost. For those seeking an authentic taste of Hawaii in the heart of Sacramento, Kau Kau Restaurant is an absolute must-visit. Whether you're craving flavorful garlic shrimp, mouthwatering huli huli chicken, or any of their other enticing offerings, Kau Kau promises to satisfy your appetite and leave you longing for your next visit. Aloha!

Soon as my husband and I walked in we felt welcomed. This was our first time eating here and it won't be our last. The host and server were wonderful. Place is also a cozy not too big or small just right. Food was delightful. Wish I had taken pictures. The chicken & waffle was delish pair ask for extra syrup . My husband enjoyed the loco loco couldn't her enough of the gravy. Highly recommend this restaurant.

Even though it was busy, I didn't have to wait long to be seated for Saturday brunch. The restaurant is very East Sac vibes with decor that's charming & stylish. It's a mix of industrial & modern Hawaiian chic. I was a bit disappointed due to being given a messy menu & a dirty water glass that had to be changed out. Also, one of my poached eggs was barely cooked. Thankfully the owner helped right away by having my meal remade & even provided mimosas on the house. It was my first time here & the owner, Chris, made sure I was taken care of including the rest of the tables in the restaurant. He greeted those walking in & said his goodbyes & gave gratitude as patrons left. I could tell he was proud of his restaurant & enjoys connecting with the community through his service & food. 10/10 - Spam Musubi: the spam was thick, not salty, & had a slight crisp; the sauce was savory & slightly sweet. 8/10 - Mac Nut Waffle with Chicken Katsu: the waffle was fluffy, but it needed a stronger macadamia nut flavor; chicken katsu was fried perfectly; the sriracha mango syrup tasted good on top of the chicken. 8/10 - Kau Kau Benedict: taro cakes were fried to perfection & tasted great; the hollandaise sauce was different, as it was pretty tangy & slightly runny; this was a good take on a benedict, however, I wouldn't order this again.

Another spot we decided to hit up when in Sacramento was Kau Kau. We were looking around for a brunch place and this place won out the choice mainly because of the Homemade Spam they have on the menu. As soon as we read that all the memories of the delicious "Spong" (Alan Wong's version of spam that was served at the now closed Pineapple Room in Ala Moana) came flooding back. So how did Kau Kau's version compare? Not as good but good nonetheless. The dish I ordered was the Chicken katsu and waffle and we also ordered the Spam benedict and an order of manapua to share. The katsu was pretty good, although I'd say the chicken breast was cut way too thin so the balance between chicken and breading was a bit off. The waffle was a mac nut waffle and pretty tasty. It had a sriracha-mango syrup to pour over it which was good too. The Manapua was a bit disappointing. It was more like the pork dumplings you'd get at a dim sum place, not the breadier manapua you'd get in Hawaii. The Spam Benedict? That was good. It came on a taro cake with perfectly poached egg and a hollandaise over it. One nit was the taro cake would've been better crispy. The soft texture of that along with the spam just didn't have enough textural contrast. Overall it was a good meal. Mark H's sister enjoyed it and we wanted her to get a sample of "Hawaii" type food.

Normally I love Hawaiian food and can't wait to try another PI inspired local restaurant. I think their overall intent was well thought out, but the execution (food) ended up being extremely disappointing. Appetizers w/ the poke sampler and pork sliders were decent. Size of the poke sampler was pretty disappointing, but the chips were freshly fried. The poke bowls were very, very disappointing - nearly all rice and the proportions were completely out of whack. Super anemic w/ their scoops of fish, and even after asking for an additional scoop of salmon, it still wasn't enough to give flavor to the huge mounds of unflavored rice. It's hard to enjoy when it's so expensive and so lacking. Servers were fast and friendly. Plenty of nearby adjacent parking in the lot. Restaurant is tidy and clean with tasteful decor.

Ate at Kau Kau for the first time a few days ago. My wife and I were greeted by Chris (who is a character by the way) . Since there was a bit of a wait for a table for 2, Chris offered us a POG mimosas. The wait turned out not to be long at all. We ordered the macadamian nut waffle with katsu chicken and a loco moco, both were excellent! Chris suggested that we pair the macadamia nut waffle with one of the sour beers they had on draft (I can't think of the name) it paired well with the waffle syrup. He also brought over some Chinese Chile crunch oil to add to the Loco Moco which added a little something extra to it already very good dish. We don't live in Sacramento but when the opportunity presents itself we would definitely visit again.

Not going to lie, I've had better. I think the combination of a hot environment & pricing of the food I had a hard time focusing on tasting the food itself. The service was quite fast though. Their location is quite hidden. Trust your google maps! My husband has lived in this area for a while & he never knew this place exists.

Kau Kau Lunch time was empty when we arrived. We were promptly greeted and seated with menus by a very friendly host. Nice menu! Between two of us we shared an appetizer and two mains. Poke platter had 3 manini (mini) scoops tako, salmon and ahi with two sauces on the side and a huge bowl of wonton chips. The tako was tasty but had more garlic chips than octopus. The ahi was the best out of the 3 and fresh. Can't say much about the lomi tomato salmon poke..Not authentic. Do not recommend. Somen noodle salad was too vinegary for my palate and I like vinegar shoyu anything. Garlic shrimp plate had good Mac salad and the shrimp was tasty but not something I'd re order. The dessert menu came and I had wished it was on the main menu because I would have had dessert first! Hopeful that brunch is better!

Great food, great service, the owner was amazing with my 2 little ones. Highly recommend this restaurant!

I had a really pleasant evening dinning at Kau Kau. The Nigori sake was too bitter for my liking. I asked for a sweeter sake, which is apparently not available. The poke sampler was great; however, the chips to poke ratio was not well balanced. I enjoyed the spam musubi. Thr Huli Huli chicken was tender and flavorful. However, I was expecting roasted chicken, which is how this dish is typically prepared. I absolutely love the butter mochi, which paired very nicely with the guava ice cream. Best mochi in the Sacramento area. I would like to try their brunch menu during my next visit.

Our second Time at Kau Kau. This time I ordered the chicken Katsu. I was looking forward to it and discovered that I did not see that it came with my old Japanese curry sauce. I do not like curry anything. However, it was pretty good, came with white rice and macaroni salad. The macaroni salad is a little al dente, I could use more mayonnaise. My husband had local moco and loved it just like last time. We had a Lily tartlet and it was delicious. Chris, the owner is very pleasant and has quite the sense of humor, keeps you laughing. He hired a new server who was in training and I believe will do very well once he is fully trained. I still wanna come here for brunch on the weekend.

Delicious food, friendly & welcoming service, low key tropical vibe with nice greenery & kitschy cute decor. They serve lunch/dinner and weekend brunch which is what we partook of. Hawaiian style breakfasts with some dishes having the option for homemade spam or vegan Omnipork. My mom's Belgian waffle was studded with macadamia nuts and came with a wonderful mango syrup. Her katsu chicken breast was tender, lightly breaded, not oily. My French toast was made with taro and came with a sweet pineapple compote. We also had enjoyed our breakfast sliders and POG drinks. A neighboring table ordered the Benedict and though we were stuffed, seeing her order caused a little jealousy. Excited to bring the rest my family here next month and try their other dishes.