La Cucina Ristorante Italiano

Very cozy well appointed restaurant. The staff is good with timing on guests centered around the sole chef and his workload. The food is very flavorful, but the pasta is very salt forward so be prepared for that. You can bring your own wine, etc., which is a nice twist. Hard to get reservations, but overall a good dining experience.

Reservation is via email only. When you arrive for your reservation, you must stand outside the front door as the staff is focusing on the customers already seated OR as they are trying to get your table ready. We waited about 20 mins before we were called to enter and be seated. The bone marrow is DELICIOUS! We would come back for a few more of those even as a meal.

2nd time coming here. And really enjoyed it. Make sure you make a reservation at least 1 month out as it is hard to get in. Food and atmosphere is great. Free parking when we went. Had the house salad and squid ink lobster risotto. Delicious!

Update: It's been a few months since I've been back here and amazing is the only word I have. I have been here numerous times and this place never disappoints. Food is fabulous overall. I tried one of their king crab pasta dishes and I didn't love it, the first time I went there. But the consecutive times after, that seafood salad was 🤤. Highly recommend. The service is slower but they make everything fresh as it is just a 2-3 person team. So expect to wait awhile for your meal. Creme brulee cheesecake for dessert was fantastic. Parking is also validated. My third time there, I tried the beef cheeks pasta. 😍

Shared two appetizers, two mains, two desserts and an aperitif. The brussel sprouts and Pappardelle Norcina was divine. We ordered a lot of food, so our price pet person was higher than you need to go. It made for a wonderful date. Definitely recommend reservations far in advance. There is bar seating but it is first come first serve. Staff was attentive without being intrusive. We also have our order in advance to make sure they'd have what we wanted. As of September '25 they were working on an automated system for reservations but was not implemented quite yet.

Unassuming, nondescript venue, tucked away on the ground floor of an office building. It's barely visible from the street, and only from some angles. Drove by several times and couldn't find it, so I decided to park in the street and hunted around for it. Was starting to doubt Maps, but sure enough found it. You wouldn't guess from the location and ambience, but this is some of the best Italian food I've ever tasted! The salad, bruschetta, pastas and risotto were so delicious. Flavors were spot on. You will not be disappointed. The dishes were made from scratch, so expect serving to take a little extra time. Kudos to the server. She's a one woman force of nature that greeted and seated customers, took orders, served dishes, bar tended, bussed tables, and through it all kept a professional and friendly demeanor. Wow! Look forward to our next dining experience.

Wow, wow, wow! Just had an incredible dinner at this Italian spot! The Risotto and Pollo Piccata was TOO GOOD - the chicken was cooked to perfection, and the risotto was creamy and rich. Service was on point, and the ambiance was warm and inviting. Can't wait to come back!

They are reopened! Make sure you make reservation. Food was delicious and fresh you could tell everything made from scratch when you placed your order and that they used high quality ingredients. It’s BYOB if you want to pair your Italian dinner with some wine. Plenty of street parking on Cooke Street after 6pm.

We finally got to try here and it was worth the wait ! Reservations are done via email and can book up very quickly. We tried back in September but no luck. It is a small place so I can see why its hard to get reservations. We got the following Brussel sprouts - charred nicely and had good flavor Bone marrow - good ! We did order more bread for it Puttanesca- winner of the night. Noodles perfectly al dente and the sauce was delicious. Squid ink- my least favorite of the bunch but still very tasty Risotto with/ scallop, shrimp and clams. Very good, would try the one with sausage next time Crab pasta- 2nd favorite as the noodles were also cooked perfectly and had a good amount of crab in it. Cheesecake -good but for my preference I like a more firm cheesecake. My friends all loved it. Cant wait to come back here again , im already drooling over my next meal

Tried authentic Italian food for the first time, and it did not disappoint. Like others have mentioned, they get booked up pretty quickly, so definitely make a reservation. My coworkers and I managed to snag a spot within a week of reaching out. They suggest sending in your order ahead of time since the food can take up to an hour to come out, so just be mentally prepared for a bit of a wait. That said, once the food starts arriving, it comes out pretty fast after that. You can also bring your own drinks, which I thought was awesome (there's a small corkage fee). The Pappardelle Norcina was packed with flavor! Perfectly seasoned with a nice balance of savory and herby. And the tiramisu? Melted in my mouth. Creamy with just the right amount of coffee which was not too overpowering. The space is pretty small and can get a little warm, but honestly, I'd still come back to try more of the menu. Totally worth it.

I was really looking forward to dining at La Cucina--it's one of those spots where you have to book months in advance via email, so my expectations were definitely high. The menu was solid, though a little more limited than I anticipated. For appetizers, my boyfriend and I ordered the bone marrow, which was rich, flavorful, and a great start to the meal. For mains, he had the squid ink ravioli stuffed with lobster and saffron sauce, while I went with the crab ravioli topped with a cream sauce and blueberries. Both dishes were outstanding--the kind of flavors that remind you why homemade pasta makes all the difference. That said, there were a couple of downsides. The restaurant was uncomfortably warm; it seemed like their AC either wasn't working properly or was set too high, which definitely affected the overall experience. Service was also very slow. It's a small, family-run restaurant, so I understand they operate at their own pace, but it's something to keep in mind if you're expecting quick service. Overall, the food was fantastic--fresh, unique, and worth trying--but the slow service and warm dining room made the evening less enjoyable. If you're patient and don't mind lingering, it's a great spot. But if you prefer faster service with equally good food, you might want to consider another option on the island.

I remember the days when La Cucina first opened and how much I looooooooved the lobster ravioli. Well, I had a kid (a loooong time ago) and I haven't been back until last month! I took my friend for her birthday and we had such a wonderful experience. There is free parking in the garage or metered street parking. We got a reservation via email - communication was prompt. We also opted to "preorder" as I do know there is one chef and food does take some time to be prepared. Service was attentive - there were two servers holding down the restaurant and both were very kind and sweet. I'm a bourbon kinda girl but this place has wine only - so my friend and I shared a bottle of Riesling. For appetizers we ordered the -prosciutto salad - it was okay -burrata - this was a first for me, it was good, and my friend really enjoyed it! -mushroom crostini - soooooo good! -meatballs was a special of the night - it was very flavorful Entrees -mushroom risotto (minus the sautéed foie gras - don't judge me! but I added shrimp instead) VERY GOOD! -spinach and garlic ravioli - it was okay -pappardelle norcina - you can taste the love in it. Very good! -Spaghetti Aglio Olio e Peperoncino - man this was FULL OF FLAVOR!!! It looked very unassuming but was DELICIOUS! -Gnocchi Tartufo - little heavenly pillows... I couldn't stop eating them. Cooked to perfection. Dessert -tiramisu - not too sweet, not overpowered with coffee, it was good! -creme brulee cheesecake - YOU HAVE TO ORDER THIS! Thank goodness I don't live close by because I would order this way more than I should... it's AMAZING! We shared a slice... then I ordered one to go :-) I think we had a good 7 boxes of leftovers to bring home. This is one of my favorite Italian places and I highly recommend you give it a try!

Food was delicious. Had lamb and clams and shrimp serentino We ordered takeout special since everything was delicious

I had heard it can take months to get a reservation but we lucked out since there was a cancelation on the day I sent in my request. All communication is done only through email. I was a bit hesitant but they are very responsive so no worries here. I can see why it can take a while to get a reservation. It's a charming, little restaurant with good Italian food! We started off with the Insalata di Prosciutto. It was one of the best salads I've had. All the ingredients were fresh and the prosciutto was very flavorful without being salty. The dressing was what made the salad so good. It was very subtle, not too sweet, tangy or oily like Italian dressings are sometimes. The salad was actually my favorite part of the meal. Next, I had the Tagliatelle Neri e frutti di Mare, squid ink pasta with a variety of seafood in a light tomato sauce. It was excellent, the pasta was cooked just right and the assortment of seafood with the tomato sauce came together nicely. For dessert, we had the spumoni. It was good, and how can you not like ice cream with nuts and fruits. I intend to come back and try the other delicious items on their menu. If this dinner was any indication, everything else will be just as delectable!

Small hole in the wall spot. Pastas made from scratch so ono! Good service will be back again!

I think it's been over a decade since I've eaten here and it's still as wildly popular as it was long ago, so that tells you something. RESERVATIONS are (highly) recommended. Reservations are hard to come by. This place is small. You must plan ahead, email them and get a response. I got lucky and someone cancelled. Or you can try to walk in and sit at the bar, but there aren't many seats. LOCATION This place is located in Imperial Plaza, the condo building across from Lexus on Cooke/Kapiolani. It has no view. None. Not even of the street. It's located on the ground floor right there in the middle. PARKING Parking is in the building's parking structure, which you enter from Kawaihao. Or you can park on the street. FOOD The Italian food here is not like most of the other "Italian" restaurants in Hawaii. Its better. I don't know how to explain it.

Heard this was a great Italian spot but difficult to get a reservation. A friend secured a reservation 2 months in advance so felt fortunate to be able to try this out. Came on a Saturday evening and the place was packed and so so noisy. We ordered in advance so thankfully no need to scan the QR code for a menu. Service was good, with dishes nicely spaced. The bone marrow was outstanding and the best dish of the night! Then came the mushroom crostini. The flavor was good but the crostini only toasted on one side so a little soggy. The Brussel sprouts were good but nothing special. The ravioli zucca was excellent in flavor. The lamb shank and desserts were all good. So overall food was tasty, good service but so so noisy you couldn't hear your dinner party.

7/31/25 My wife's dish "Spaghetti Aglio Olio e Peperocino" their simplest basic pasta meal w Pecorino Romano, garlic, olive oil, parsley, capers n a touch of red pepper flakes So good in itself But... she decided to add thinly sliced Prosciutto Ham which made for an amazingly tastier dish! Go get you some!

I went back to try a different dish, Tagliatelle Neri e frutti di Mare (Squid ink pasta sautéed with chopped clams, shelled clams, mussels, tiger shrimp, calamari, fish, garlic, capers, and parsley in a light tomato sauce). It was very tasty, but the pasta was too soft for my liking. Also mussels didn't taste as fresh as other things in there. However, it was still a good satisfying comfort food and I enjoyed it. What bothered me the most was the waiting time until the food was served. I was informed of that and was prepared, so it was okay this time. But generally, I don't think I want to wait over one hour for one dish to be served, even if the food is good. The staff were very nice though.

I gave them a five star 3 years ago and I'm going to do the same for tonight's dinner at La Cucina Ristorante Italiano. Funny thing is that my friends took me here for the first time to celebrate our birthdays and tonight, I'm here with a different friend to celebrate my birthday. We tried calling at 5:28pm to make a reservation over the phone, we were unsuccessful. We decided to drive there and do a walk in. Dara greeted us and we told her that we tried calling but were told that reservation is done by emailing them and receiving a confirmation email. Let's just say that blessings on us because she had us sat down for table for 2 as long as we were done by 8:15 pm as the seats we're seating on is reserved for another party! We appreciate you Dara for not turning us away! Internet connection isn't the best but we got thru the QR code menu and placed our order within 8 minutes from when we sat down. We ordered Midollo Osseo. It was 2 roasted seasoned bone marrow topped with pesto and served with toast points. I said this before and I'll say it again. This is a must've have! It was seasoned well and a bite with the toast is so buttery and salty and oh sooooo deliziosa!!! The bone marrow is rich in flavors, and it danced well in my mouth! Pappardelle Norcina: homemade Italian sausage sautéed with onions, garlic, porcini mushrooms, whole mushrooms and topped with pecorino romano. This is pasta is an eccellente choice for those who love Italian sausage! Fettuccine Aragosta: fettuccine mixed in. garlic and chopped Maine lobster tail in a pink sauce. This might be my favorite pasta! It was saporita (flavorful)! The staff is on point with customer service! It made our dinning experience much more special with the attentiveness and friendly attitude. I want to thank Dara again for allowing us to experience an amazing dinner tonight. Although it's my second time here, it was a first for my friend! The restaurant is small but it's the perfect place for an intimate dinning experience. I highly recommend to make a reservation ahead of time by email so you won't have to stand in line or take a risk of not getting in. There's a few validated parking in the building. È stata una cena spettacolare! It was a spectacular dinner! Thank you for reading my review. Have a great evening!

Terrible reservation system . Get yelp or open table and get with it! Heard food is good but can't get reservations

Pinch me I must be dreaming! La Cucina Ristorante Italiano (The kitchen Italian restaurant) is the closest thing to authentic Italian cuisine you'll find in Honolulu La Cucina made me happy and sad at the same time. The meal here made me reminisce about spending last holiday season in Rome and all the delicious food that came with it. Yelp BFF was able to score last minute reservations, so we came hungry. We ordered the bone marrow, porcini crostinis, gnocchi, pappardelle, and tiramisu. The bone marrow was so rich and perfect for a starter. I've never had gnocchi as pillowy as La Cucina. It felt as though I was chewing on clouds. The pappardelle was hearty and tickled all the right taste buds. Although we were so full, we couldn't leave without trying the tiramisu and honestly, it was perfection! The perfect way to wrap up any Italian meal. I'm so happy we get to go back in a few months. Definitely bookmark this place and make reservations in advance! Thanks for reading my reviews! Let me know what I should try next!

Wow! Amazing! Deliciooooooosoooioooo! Are words that kept reappearing in my mind as I took a bite of all items we had for dinner!!! Funny story sort of related that in hindsight was a huge mistake........ My wife loves Italian food, so for an anniversary many years ago, La Cucina was on short list of new Italian spots to try. As you can guess, she ended choosing another spot. It's now safe to say, La Cucina blows that place out of the water!!! This place is racing to the top of my list for best Italian restaurants....not just on this island.....but any I can remember even on our travels. Why you stay.......the FOOD is amazing. Here's a quick hit list of our first bites here: Salad......fresh greens and tomatoes packing a punch of flavor thanks to the olive oil vinaigrette that was vibrant and tart Mushroom crostini......crunchy, umami, buttery, rich. Pastas - All made fresh. We tried 4 of them: 1. Crab, 2. Sausage, 3. Bolognese, and 4. Spaghetti Aglio Olio. They all pack so much flavor, the sauce just marries with the pasta in every bite. They were all wonderful, and to highlight how good they were....I'll just talon about the most simplest one. Spaghetti Aglio Olio is a simple pasta with minimal ingredients that include Garlic, olive oil, capers, parsley, Pecorino Romano, and a touch of red chili flakes. As I already stated for all, each bite had so much flavor......large punch of garlic, quick hits of tart and tangy from the capers, a zig and a zag of heat for the chili, in which the olive oil is the glue to all the flavor. That leads me to the Veal Picatta, which paired perfectly with the Aglio Olio. Rich, creamy, and zesty sauce all over the veal. The veal was so sofr and tender. Amazing! The host/server was friendly, polite, and very attentive. The restaurant is cool and hip, it is on the smaller side, so get there early so you can get a seat. We just beat the crowd....once it got crowded the place got loud from all the talking and laughter. Every party seemed to be enjoying and have a great dinner. The best part is the restaurant is run by only a wife (host) and husband (chef) tag team and a helper in the kitchen. You can tell they take pride in their restaurant and food. In seeing some other reviews about wait time, is probably the opposite end of that spectrum.....you only have a single person cooking, so in response to that........:wonderful things comes to those people who are patient ;-) haha.

We are not huge on Italian food but this was delicious. Buried in the imperial plaza, we walked by and discovered this seemingly hole in the wall and decided to try it. Was always busy when we went by and we struggled to get a reservation (they only coordinate reservations through email). Despite having no reservations, we showed up at 520pm on a Friday evening expecting first come first serve bar seating and were seated immediately at a table with plenty of seats open in the restaurant. Started out with free warm bread and olive oil+vinegar. For our meal we ordered: Crostini Al Porcini (A): Delicious oil and delicious topping. Would certainly order again. Squid Ink Pasta (A+): This was our main entree and we would get it again. Plenty of protein diversity and the pasta was very tasty. The sauce was also amazing. Ravioli Neri (B): This was our second entree. It was a bit saucy and cheesy so not our favorite, but still quite tasty. Overall, this restaurant beat our expectations. Seems to be family run, a cool ambience, and great food. Worth the wait if you go in:)

La Cucina Ristorante Italiano Overall: ***** Highly Recommended ***** Food: ***** Value: **** Menu: ***** Ambiance: *** Service: ***** Parking: ***** (free validate, close proximity) La Cucina is my favorite Italian restaurant and in my opinion (and many other foodies) is the best Italian restaurant in Hawaii. Every dish was sooooo good!!! Chef Don makes fresh noodles every day and it makes a world of difference. I've eaten at many Italian restaurants in New York City and Boston, many times. Chef Don is right up there with some of the best Italian chefs. His sauces are very delicious, his pasta is cooked al dente. He has a deep menu with great selection for every pallet. Dara, Don's wife, co-owner, manager, hostess, waitress, bus person & bartender, provides excellent service and recommendations. I rarely give 5***** reviews for service, but every time I've dined at La Cucina Dara has given us excellent service. She is all alone handling the entire dining area by herself. Yet, she has time to check in and ask if the wine and dishes are to our liking. My wife recently told her, "I don't know how you do it." Again, I highly recommend La Cucina for authentic Italian food and fresh pasta! It will be one of your best decisions! RATINGS & RECOMMENDED ORDER: Midollo Osseo = A+ Super Delicious! Risotto Funghi e Tartufo = A+ Pappardelle Norcina = A Fettuccine Aragosta = A Ravioli Neri = A Spaghetti Granchio e Vodka = A Pappardelle Agnello = A Osso Buco = B Tagliatelle Neri e frutti di Mare = B Crostini al Porcini = A Insalata di Prosciutto = A Bruschetta = B Yelp: https://yelp.to/3JYbHGJFmQ Website: https://www.lacucinahawaii.com/ Google: https://maps.app.goo.gl/G3zLd37vu1VWnhba9?g_st=ic YELP: Milton K Sorry! They allow only one 12 second video & the remaining to 3 seconds. The full video and pictures of the entire menu can be found on other platforms/apps: MiltonIn808 RATINGS KEY: A = Really Good - one of the best B = Good - would order again C = ok - similar, nothing special D = Not very good - wouldn't order F = Terrible - avoid

Small italian fusion restaurant thats only open for dinner (now). They get busy so its hard to get a table sometimes. We happened to luck out when we went, especially since we had a larger group of people. Menu is online only, so dont look/wait for a physical menu. Staff is nice Food took a bit because we ordered after a large party. Overall the food was really good. Would totally get the ravioli again. Got it because it said there were dried blueberries on top. While they werent lying the blueberries did nothing for the dish. It was literally like an aesthetic garniah, since the flavor also did not go with the ravioli. Bolognese was ok, if you like meat sauce im sure youd like this. I dont, im a cream or butter base girlie. Pesto was super salty. Not sure if it was from the pesto sauce or the sausage that was added in. And while i love burrata it was weird on the pasta since the pasta was hot and the burrata was cold. Eggplant parmigiana was really good though, especially with the bread. Definitely a fusion place since they give oil and vinegar with bread at the beginning of the meal. Do highly recommend though

Always passed by this spot and never knew how to get a reservation until semi recently. It's super easy just email them with the times you're thinking about and how many. Also to note that some of their dishes like osso bucco needs to be preordered 2 days before. They are very responsive which is always nice. I made reservations for 6 of us for my mom's birthday, we got there a little early and waited outside as the sign requests and were promptly greeted when our time slot came up. For 6 of us I ordered 3 appetizers, 4 pasta dishes, and 2 meat dishes. I think this was just enough for us but if you have bigger eaters might need to order more dishes. The dishes came out almost one after another, appetizers first then pastas and finished off with meats, might have been nicer to have the meats come out at the same time as the pastas but it was okay since we wouldn't have had space on the table if they did that. I think both times that I've been here the pappardelle is a bit more on the al dente side and a bit salty, so just keep that in mind. Winners that we had were the bone marrow appetizer, the butternut squash ravioli, and the osso buco

Wanted to visit this restaurant but could never get a reservation. Finally, stars were aligned. Small unpretentious restaurant, the aroma greets you as you enter. Started off with the tasting board, an Assortment of cheeses, olives, prosciutto, and salami. Everything was fantastic. Salad was a mix blend, tossed perfectly with a vinaigrette and topped with olive tomatoes. The Tagliatelle Neri e frutti di Mare was sensational. The black ink pasta was homemade soft fresh texture, sauce was flavorful, balanced and seafood was perfectly cooked. The fettuccine was creamy and just as good. Very generous portion size too. Tiramisu was the perfect ending to a great meal. Server was friendly, knowledgeable and was on point throughout the meal.

Super easy to find street parking. Free after 3 or 4pm. Place is tiny with no more than 10 tables and kind of noisy. Reservation is a must to get a table. Food is quite good with attentive servers. The chef is a proud graduate of the KCC Culinary Institute. Drinking is part of European culture so not drinking is forbidden to enjoy Italian cuisine. Playing Italian music would greatly enhance the culinary experience. I wish the servers also speak Italian.

The reservations for this restaurant are crazy they are booked months in advance and prices are very high with small portions Seating is very tight not much space between the tables I will not be using this restaurant in the future

This is definitely one of the best place to get a good and authentic pasta here on the island! Their pasta were so creamy and the meat was just so juicy! Their Pappardelle Agnello with lamb was just amazing, the lamb was so juicy and one of the most tender lamb I've had. Their Pappardelle Guancia di Manzo was out of this world! The sauce was so good that we had to finish every bits of it! Their Rigatoni Bolognese was so smooth and tasty too! The restaurant is on the smaller side and it does take a bit of time for the food to be delivered since the chef cooked each dish by themselves. It is a more intimate setting and definitely a good place for a date night! Get your reservations in if you want to guarantee getting a spot. The bar table is a first come first serve, but there's only about 6 open seats. Reservations get booked about a month in advance, so get your reservations in early!

Small, cute venue but love the set up. Our absolute favorite place to eat! We have tried EVERYTHING on the menu and have been there so many times. There is a little bit of a wait because it's a small staff but totally worth the wait! Food is ammmmmazing every-time. Staff is so sweet and attentive. Highly recommend and recommend this restaurant to all our friends and family .

La Cucina Ristorante Italiano has been one of our favorite authentic Italian restaurants for years! Last weekend, my husband and I enjoyed a wonderful dinner with delicious food and friendly service. First, we enjoyed our favorite appetizer....crostini Al porcini...toasted bread with fresh mozzarella and porcini mushrooms! So crunchy and addictive! Then we both ordered the papperdelle Norcina...homemade Italian sausage with white wine, pecorino Romano,and porcini mushrooms. So delectable! With its fantastic staff (Dara) , convenient location, and awesome made-from-scratch dishes, La Cucina is a must try relaxing, gem-of-an-eatery....right in the heart of downtown Honolulu. Hope to see you there soon!

The food was good from the appetizers to the lobster pasta. The service was amazing the two ladies were on it and always checked up on us. The place is nice just a little small cozy restaurant.

One word, AMAZING! We booked reservations over a month in advance. I was expecting a big restaurant but not all. There was a lot of street parking off of Cooke street. They did suggest we preorder our food which we did. They confirmed our order after seating us and taking our drink order. The oxtail

Went around opening to get bar seats because my friend said reservations are normally a few months out! My friend is a pasta fanatic so I was excited to eat here as she recommended it! The ambiance is very nice, it is quiet and chill. Wanted so much to like our pasta, but 2 out of 3 of our pastas were very salty :( The Pappardelle Guancia di Manzo would've been our favorite flavor wise but it was too salty to enjoy. My friend did like the crab ravioli! Each dish was around $24-$30 There is a parking lot and validation. On the day we went, there was 1 chef and they kindly mentioned before we entered that it would be 60-90 minutes for our order to come out.

La Cucina is the most authentic Italian restaurant in Honolulu with the freshest pastas and mouthwatering lamb shank. The food is phenomenal which is why reservations are so coveted and why there's always a line for their first come first serve bar seating when they open. To make a reservation, you have to email them directly with your request. Once they confirm it, they give you the option to pre-order their main entrees that must be ordered at least 48 hours in advance. It has such a cozy and romantic ambiance making it the perfect date night spot.

A small but well-lit restaurant on Cooke Street, La Cucina turned out to be a very good restaurant! There is a parking lot attached to the building it is a part of and you can walk out of the garage and find the restaurant. The restaurant asks for an email to make a reservation and so we did that and got a table a few months in advance. There is only seating for a few tables but it does not feel super crowded. While it was a bit pricey for us, the food was super good. For appetizers, we ordered the crostini al porcini and brussel sprouts. The crostini was super tasty and the brussel sprouts were as well without feeling overly salty or heavy. For our mains, we got the green fettuccine aragosta, pappardelle norcina, osso bucco, and lamb shank. Everything tasted fresh and very flavorful! We would recommend everything that we got and would love to come back and try more of what their menu has to offer.

My favorite restaurant for Italian food! Reservations can be made via email, however they are often booked. There's also the option of walking in when they open. This place is small, casual, and non-intimidating which I love. Food was excellent. Can't wait to be back.

I've read reviews about this establishment and, yet, have never gotten around to patronize La Cucina Ristorante Italiano until two days ago and I am grateful to my friend for taking me here! Yay! For starters, I appreciated the ability to park in the Imperial Plaza parking structure, as it was a quick, safe, walk to the establishment--all covered, so in the event of inclement weather, one needs not to worry about being subjected to the elements. Next, since this is an intimately sized venue, and reservations are only taken for parties of four or more--understandably so--we waited outside for 20 minutes. The lobby area allows for covered area with seating and conducive for conversation. Once seated, the server was excellent in assisting us with scanning the QR code for the online menu and making food and beverage suggestions. I was excited to start with their Crostini al Porcini (mushroom lovers--this is for you!) and the delish Midollo Osseo...yummmmmmmm!! After battling with myself as to which entree I was going to settle on--Nostra Pasta, Ravioli Fresca, Gnocchi Fresca, Risotto or Platto Solitario choices, I decided to try something I've never had before. I highly enjoyed--and wished I had leftovers--the Risotto Zafferano: baby scallops, shrimp, and chopped clams with white wine saffron sauce. If you're drooling, you're totally excused. To end the perfect meal, we made sure to save room for dessert: Creme Brûlée Cheesecake (OMG!) and Tiramisu (well-balanced). We left full and content. I will be back!!

My new fave Italian restaurant in town. It's a small little restaurant with maybe 30 seats (including the bar) at most. They book out weeks/months in advance and it's difficult to get emails/call-backs because they're so busy. So we decided to chance it and walk-in instead (first come, first serve). We went about 1 hour prior to the restaurant opening, to stand in line. There was already another couple in front of us and another party of 2 doing the same thing behind us. Luckily we 3 couples were the only ones able to get bar seating with no reservations for that evening! From what I observed, there's 2 servers in front and 2 people in the back cooking/cleaning. The food is made to order and it took almost 3 hours for our entire meal to be served. The items come out and are dropped with other orders in the room, if that makes sense. Like if you and the table next to you ordered risotto, that came out at the same time. As for the food, everything had its own distinct flavor profile. The lobster was peppery, the ravioli was floral from the sage, risotto comforting as always, the bruschetta was fresh and the porcini was dark. All in all, I believe it was worth the wait. We couldn't get to eat everything we wanted in this one visit, so we'll definitely be back.

When you return to a restaurant after several years and the food is still as delicous as you remembered it, then this is a good place. Yums! Service is exceptional and friendly. The restaurant was clean and neat. Definitely a recommend.

It wasn't easy getting reservations here but, being persistent will payoff. The food here was fantastic! We had the lamb shank and osso buco and they were delicious! Those need to be pre-ordered as a note. This is definitely on the I'll be back again list. Because there are other things on the menu I would like to try. The service was great and it was a little noisy I think because of a large party.

Be aware that the dishes are homestyle, cooked from scratch by Chef/Owner Don @lacucinahonolulu and will be a bit of a wait but it's really worth it. The staff is very small yet they are friendly and attentive to guests, some of whom might be impatiently waiting for their food. Email your order at least 48 hours in advance if you want to get the Osso Bucco, Agnello shank - Oven baked lamb shank braised with fresh herbs in a tomato sauce, and Coda alla Vaccinara - braised oxtail. Corkage is $15 per bottle because they have a liquor license now. I have been here several times and everything that I have tasted were delicious.

My friend and I went to this restaurant. Only Japanese service in an Italian restaurant. We had a reservation which they could not find and completely spoke down to us and was extremely rude. They were so snobby and rude. Never again.

I am so surprised to see the negative reviews, but I feel like those people are missing the point. This is a very small restraint with one chef making everything from scratch. It is not easy but he works extremely hard to run this place, and it's been around for many years for a reason. The ambiance is beautiful and has a relaxing atmosphere. The service is wonderful and the ladies are very friendly. The food is top notch. It's like you've been invited to someone's home. The chef takes time and so much effort to make everything. I had the gnocchi and it was exceptional. My husband had the ravioli and, again, exceptional; both very pillowy and delicious. We had tiramisu and the cheesecake and they were also delicious. Thank you, Chef. We thoroughly enjoyed the experience and we'll be back again for sure.

Made a reservation to eat at this restaurant for the first time since 2018. This was a special occasion spot for me before, but the last time I ate here I was a bit turned off by how long it took for us to get our food (over an hour), and then the pandemic happened so it's been 5 years and my friends were interested in some pasta so I thought I'd give it another chance. The pasta is still very good but the service and timing may be worse. Staff are nice but this place has a bunch of rules that make the experience less enjoyable. Even if you have a reservation, you have to wait outside to be seated and under no circumstances can you approach the staff when you arrive. We ordered in advance as recommended but when we arrived we were informed they were out of one of the dishes. Not sure why you'd order in advance if they don't prep for the orders. The server suggested another dish in its place - we ordered it, and then she came out later and told us it was also sold out. Very confusing why the restaurant would suggest a dish that they are sold out of. We were the last group to be seated so there were no orders placed between the time we were seated and when we made this order. We finally got our food over an hour later at 9:10pm. The pasta was very good - we ended up with the norcina (sausage), aragosta (lobster), and frutti di mare (seafood). Norcina and frutti di mare were my favorites - Norcina had great texture and flavor and the frutti di mare had a nice light tomato sauce with lots of seafood. The lobster pasta was a bit rich for me and the pasta a bit over cooked but it came with a lot of lobster and it was a large portion. The final piece that made me uninterested in returning was that they started cleaning up at 9:30. It felt like we were being asked to leave 20 min after receiving our food. I don't really recommend coming to eat here unless you come early (before 7pm) and want to chat/drink for an hour or more until your food arrives. Once the food comes it's very good though! Parking was easy in the building.

Many people expect a long wait for their food but our last visit was an exception. Let me say that we took advantage of the restaurant's recommendation that we preorder all of our food - not just the entree that required advance notice. Our meals were still freshly made so you don't lose anything by ordering ahead. The red wine list seems to have improved. I had a generous pour of a Bordeaux and my husband had a Pinot Grigio that was also generous. We had the Crostini al Porcini. Four well-shaped pieces of toast packed with mushrooms and cheese. Great value. We also had the Cavoletti di Bruxelles (Brussels Sprouts) with Italian sausage, cranberries, almonds and parmesan cheese. Excellent. Our group had the Osso Bucco, Tagliaterri Neri e fruiti de Mare, Gnocchi Tartufo and Papardelle Norcina. Generous portions for all. The Osso Bucco was so tender! We were too full for dessert!

02/02/23 Just finished take out from La Cucina.., vongole, sausage risotto, bread and tiramisu! Perfect for 2 of us. We enjoy going to dine in, but if time doesn't permit, take out us an excellent option. Pasta and risotto were done perfectly.

Service is slow depending on what time you are there and how crowded because one guy is cooking. BUT....you might say the food is worth the wait....absolutely delicious! if you can afford the wait, go here. Probably the best italian on the island.

Wow. Second time at this restaurant this last Wednesday and it did not disappoint. We emailed ahead of time looking for a specific day of the week and time so we had to wait one month for the availability but it was so worth it. They responded promptly via email and worked with me providing multiple dates that fit my parameters. FYI they also do have walk-in/bar seating available on first come first serve basis and they also post on instagram their weekly openings! So if you have some flexibility there are different options. The first time we went we were able to get street parking on Cooke St. . Right in front which was nice. The second time we had to park in the garage which was free, and very conveniently located in relation to the restaurant. The server was helpful with the names that we could not pronounce on the menu and happy to answer any questions we had. We ordered the Ravioli Spinaci, Gnocchi Tartufo, Pappardelle Guancia di Manzo, Fettuccine Aragosta, Burrata, Tiramisu And the Creme Brûlée Cheesecake. The ravioli was so tasty, the last time I ordered the Ravioli Granchio and it was my absolute favorite, highly recommend, and the spinaci was just as tasty. The gnocchi, is in my opinion one of the most rich and flavorful menu items from my two visits. The gnocchi is so soft. The fettuccine aragosta (lobster) was super good but everything about it the fresh lobster flavor- so good- if lobster is your thing do not pass it up. The burrata was so fresh and delicious as our starter- I will say that if you're planning on kissing anyone that evening make sure you both have some but the breath is soooo worth the flavor. And lastly the desserts- we couldn't decide so we got them both and we were so glad we did. The cheesecake was so light and fluffy and almost had a bit of a cookie dough flavor in the crust. My boyfriend who does not like cheesecake really enjoyed this. And the Tiramisu was too notch- we got it both times and the coffee flavor is so rich while the cake as a whole is still very light. Delicious!! So much we had to get some to go for the rest of the family to enjoy. We love coming here and planning on being frequent visitors for special occasions. It's totally worth any wait to get a reservation (the peace of mind in my opinion is better but you can walk in!). It's a casual atmosphere but both times our party dressed up for date night and we didn't feel over dressed or out of place but you would be fine in jeans as well. The wait for the food was not long although we were warned that it can take longer due to the smaller kitchen/single chef. Both visits were reasonable wait times for the food. Pricing is quite affordable in my opinion. We also ordered so much and felt it was very reasonably priced and when you consider the fresh ingredients as well as the hard work that goes into the small operation serving such exquisite dishes- it feels like a steal. Highly recommend!!! It is a hidden and unassuming gem. Cannot rave enough. Best Italian we have found on the island in my opinion.

This is our favorite Italian restaurant on island. The food is amazing and at a very good price. Many places are overpriced and small, but this place gives you high quality food, at big portions, and for a great price...I'd even say it's underpriced for what it's worth. Make sure to make a reservation...it's small and they fill up quick.

I really love the food at this place. The gnocchi was so pillowy. The tiramisu is also tasty. However, be advised there is not a lot of staff, so the service is very slow. You will be waiting quite a while.

Chef Don Truong, has something so special going on. This little tiny Italian restaurant located in imperial Plaza. There is plenty of street parking, and free parking after 6 PM inside the parking structure around the corner of the restaurant. With rich warm wood tones, and great lighting, the restaurant, invokes your appetite from the moment you enter. Service was excellent! The food! With fresh house made pasta and house made sausages paired with a great wine list, equals a memorable dining experience.

Great food and service! I would highly recommend this to all who love Italian cuisine! It's a very small 5-6 table establishment so make reservations or arrive early.

Got to eat here because a relative invited us to have dinner with them on a Friday night. She had been here before and knew how to "navigate the ropes" so to speak! Here's what we learned: 1. Reservations can only be made through email. Confirmed this with the owner who was also our server. 2. Parking is available in the Imperial Plaza structure or on the street if you can find it; I did. 3. You can bring in your own wine and there is a corkage fee. 4. Menu is via QR code. Same menu that is available online. They do have daily specials that can will only be known when you arrive. There are a few standard menu items that are recommended to be ordered 2-3 days in advance. Email is your friend. 5. Ambience and service is quaint and classy. Smaller restaurant with table seating and some bar seating. You can choose to dress up or be casual. We saw both types of attire being worn. After all this is Hawaii. 6. No cloth napkins just paper. Still does the job. 7. The food is what you want to know about. From appetizers, salad, to main dishes and dessert all were delicious! Portions are not large, but of quality. We ordered our meal family style to share and it was perfect! Literally every dish we had was delicious! 8. Expect not to rush in and out. Enjoy your evening and have pleasant conversation the food is made to order. 9. Coffee is premium and a nice way to enjoy dessert and end a delicious meal. 10. Walk ins are possible if you want to give it a shot. We saw a few "get in." Fair is fair and what we learned is that this place is certainly worth coming back to. Come and check this restaurant out if you want quality Italian food served and cooked by the owners during a time and day that they are open for service. After all, they do need to take breaks some times.

I had been waiting years to try La Cucina RIstorante Italiano and it did not disappoint. Made the reservation roughly two months in advance, when we arrived there was one waitress and each table was already laid out for the parties. Patience was a virtue when waiting for the food to come out, but definitely worth it. To start we had the Midollo Osseo, bone marrow to share. It was delicious, each of us had our own bone marrow, which is good because once you start you will not want to share. Probably my favorite bone marrow that I've ever had. It was rich, flavored well, but not over powering the natural taste, and cooked well. We made sure to have pastas that were made in-house and we decided on the Gnocchi tartufo and papperdelle norcina. The trufflee flavor came thru in the gnocchi dish even with the sausage, a combination I've never had before. And the papperdelle was rich, and not overly heavy. You can really tell they craft each dish with attention to detail. A great place to go for an intimate date night or a special occasion. Was a little confusing to find the location, we parked on the street and then realized you walk through the building even thou it appears to almost be closed with security doors mainly down. There is a parking structure connected to it as well.