Merriman's Honolulu

Our server was superb and the ambience was relaxing and comfortable. Not only our server was good, I also noticed how every employee was really into his or her job. The management did a very nice job training and motivate its staff. We sat in front of the kitchen and had a great view how the kitchen and the wait staff all working together. Kudos! The food was excellent and the price was reasonable. The taro hummus appetizer was one of the best hummus we have had and the it was garnished with bits and pieces of fresh vegetables, a great combination. The burger was very tasty (but just a tad on the salty side) and it came with some very good fries. The buttermilk dressing for the fries was one of the best. The fish sandwich was also quite good. The Nerrimen’s Maitai was just okay. We will return to try other dishes and its desserts.

You can't go wrong at Merriman's. The service is always great and the food is outstanding. The Mai Tai comes with Lilikoi foam, you have to get one of these! The lobster pot pie is amazing! My only issue is that for $69 you should get the whole lobster chopped up in the pot pie. There's a decent amount, but I'm pretty sure it's not the whole lobster. The scallops and the pot pie are tasty , but the potatoes are just a filler. That being said, I get it every time we go! If you are sitting next to the kitchen, it's not too loud and you get to see the production going on which is kind of fun.

The food was good and the price reasonable for that area. The service was great, our waiter was friendly, helpful but not overbearing. We were there for happy hour and all four of us had a couple of drinks and left with a full tummy for $200 + tip.

Was blown away with my Wednesday experience! Lovely, lively and vibrant, chic atmosphere studded with style and elegance. The food followed suit with sophisticated yet simple takes on humble ingredients. Not a bite was left on the table. Service mimicked my sentiments about the food and atmosphere. Not only attentive, the staff was attractive and charming without missing a beat. Would recommend and would revisit numerous more times if this is the standard.

We celebrated my husband's birthday during a recent trip to Oahu. I'd read up on various restaurants before deciding on Merriman's. Our experience eclipsed everything I'd read online. The food and service were truly outstanding. Probably the best meal out I've had this year. From the appetizer poke bowls, to fish tacos, steak and eggplant entrees and the bread pudding desert, absolutely fabulous.

Outstanding customer service! The staff were all so friendly. Their food is a must try, especially their Chicken pot pie Luau. Go and enjoy yourself.

We were seated originally inside. Between the live music and the table conversations the noise level was way too loud. Thankfully we were able to get moved to an outside table. Could talk without having to scream to the table. Don't sit inside if you want to have a nice dinner conversation.. Kelsey our server was very helpful with food suggestions. Kitchen messed up on one of the dishes. Manager offered to redo it. Nice gesture but it would have set back the pace of everyone else eating. Aside from the mis-cooked dish everyone enjoyed the dishes they had. Evening ended up being a wonderful celebration. Definitely won't sit inside on our visits.

Ordered the Kalua pig quesadilla and bag of biscuits for an appetizer. The biscuits were a bit too salty but the quesadilla was very tasty. The entree was the Steak Frites and was a bit overcooked. The drinks took a bit long to come to the table. Overall the food was good and our waitress was very friendly and nice. A bit pricey but would visit again.

Came in for a drink and banana bread! Ordered a zero proof drink and 10/10! So refreshing: lilikoi pop with lilikoi cold foam??? YEAH!!!! What I didn't realize is they constantly rotate their flavor of banana bread and we ended up with their pineapple this time. So delicious! Love sitting outside with live music! Inside is nice, too. Actually, it's not bad where ever you're seated.

Perhaps having many in my friend group rave about company parties, engagement announcements, marriage proposals held at this venue, I had a high expectation of fantastic food, great servce, and immeasuable ambiance. So when retired, traveling aunty and uncle from New Jersey visit and ask where is a great place to take the family (that they have never been to before) , Merriman's was a natural choice. Walking distance from our home, we used our footmobile..... best report to make about this place. They asked if we had reservations on a Tuesday night, which we did not, the staff rolled their eyes and guffawed. Minus one from the current post of 4 stars. Six ppl in our party, they sat us at a round table in with 2 empty seats in the run of the kitchen and service area. More eye rolls from the server who had to repeat herself and we had to keep asking her bc it was soooooooo super loud. Eye rolls from the staff for them to have to step around us. Minus one more star... Maybe I am just not acclimated to what I was told was fine-dining; however, was that a misspelling on the menu about a cut of meat I was told later was steak and frites.... With a T? Minus one more... Not to mention fewer than 10 entree items? I can't even recall. Our bellies ached as we stared out at the LnL across the street, knowing we could have gotten 3x the portion for at least half the price. O stars now... Ambiance outside Merriman's was a lot more relaxed and open. Then again, this is our community, and we enjoy this everyday. We very well could have packed a picnic lunch and posted up under the stars and had a much better time catching up and talking stories. Our family would give Merriman's T minus negative 1 had it not been for the nice staff person at the end who took our family photo w two of our camera phones. We already have plans for aunty and uncle's next visit... we will go BBQ at the house and enjoy the pool and each other. I do not reccommend this place as the menu is scant, the prices are neither worth the flavor nor the portion, and most of the staff are unkind. Maybe we caught Merriman's on a bad day. We all left hungry. Even in what we are told is an egg shortage, I felt like I had egg on my face for suggesting this place.

I think they brought their lunch prices down a little since they first opened! I never returned because the prices (when they opened) were outrageous! But now they have a great lunch menu and HAPPY HOUR is also very reasonable. Food is delicious and service is top notch. Truffle fries are amazing.

Wow -- what a meal. This was easily the best dinner we had while on vacation in December. A recommendation from our cab driver from the airport, we went to Merriman's after looking it up on Yelp. We liked the atmosphere and the food looked fabulous. Needless to say, our expectations were surpassed. We started with the biscuits and an escargot style dish. My mom got a mojito and I opted for a diet cola -- they use craft sodas here, so if you want Coke or Pepsi, be prepared. The biscuits, as an expert on biscuits, we fluffy, buttery, and honestly some of the best I've had outside the American south. I ordered the steak frites -- I only eat steak on special occasions and this was worth the money for sure. Perfectly seasoned with a savory herb butter... melted in my mouth! My mom's mahi hit the spot for her as well and started a trend with her that would go through the week: she ate mahi at least once a day for the duration of our stay. The service was excellent. Our waitress was just the right amount of attentive and even gave some greatrecommendations of other places to try on the island of Oahu during our stay. We will definitely be returning next time we are in Oahu.

This is the definition of a 5 star restaurant. Everything was incredible from the food, the service, the atmosphere, the ambiance, everything was absolutely amazing. We walked in and were greeted by live music, we had a short wait for our table, and then the feast began! We tried their incredible biscuits, the octopus appetizer, and the ribeye special. But I have to say, what stole the show was the seafood pot pie. Was on the fence about ordering it but it's truly one of a kind. So creamy and delicious, with generous portions of lobster and scallops. Ultimate comfort food. Also special shout-out to our server Sarah who made the night even more amazing with her excellent service. She was so kind and helpful, and really took care of us.

Excellent restaurant in the Ward/Kakaako area! I recently had a work lunch here and I was genuinely impressed. I can't believe I've never visited this place before after driving past it so many times. This would be a top pick for a first class Tinder date! Let me paint the picture. You've been on Tinder for 3 months with no luck whatsoever. Then, that special one comes along. The one that shares your love for hiking, boba drinks, Star Wars, and corgi pups. You went to Starbucks and had some holiday lattes together and have already exchanged a few kissy face emojis. Now is the time for a really nice meal together. Yes, this place is that good. Anyway, the food was excellent! I had the Makai, which is the fresh catch (it was ono on the day I went). It came with rice and broccoli with a delicious glaze on the fish and broccoli. I also had the biscuits, which were much better than I expected. We also orderd the hummus, which has one fatal flaw--it needs to come with way more chips to eat it with! Even when we got "more" chips for it, there weren't near enough; and I'm a heavy dipper (not a double dipper). My suggestion, don't serve it with the little bowl of veggies. Serve it with more chips, a sufficient amout to finish all the humus with. For dessert, I had the bread pudding. It was spectacular, but for you purists, beware, it contained pineapple. The service could not have been better. Andaiah was fabulous! We sat inside, but they also have outdoor seating. I highly recommend this place if your looking for a restaurant that's a step up from the average. Cheers.

I was really excited to try another one of our famous Hawaiian Regional Cuisine chef's restaurants! We were a party of 12 celebrating birthdays and the new year. We each would definitely come back! Flavors were absolutely delicious for everything we ordered! A few things we tried included: Macadamia nut encrusted Mahi Mahi Cast iron roasted chicken Bone in Ribeye steak special Poblano mashed potatoes Bag of biscuits Bread pudding Chocolate purse I look forward to trying more of Merriman's dishes!

I brought my team here for our holiday dinner a few weeks ago. We had a reservation and waited about 15 minutes before being seated. I ordered the Mac Nut Crusted Mahi Mahi ($44), which came with two filets, a generous portion of rice, and some veggies. Unfortunately, for me, the dish lacked a bit of pizzazz. The nuttiness of the crust overpowered the Mahi Mahi's flavor, which was disappointing. I only took a few bites and ended up bringing the rest home for my boyfriend. On another note, the poblano mashed potatoes stole the show--it was zesty and absolutely delicious. I wish I had ordered more because, as they say, nothing haunts you more than the food you didn't order lol! I also tried a cocktail called "A Honu World". Firstly, I appreciate the pun because there's a literally cut out of a Honu on the ice cube! So cute! The prices were fair for what we received, and the atmosphere was lovely. The service is awesome too. My glass was topped off frequently. The only hiccup of the evening was when one of our entrees was mistakenly delivered to another table. However, the server handled it wonderfully, bringing a flight of poke and pupus as a gesture for the guest who had to wait. We really appreciated the effort to make things right. I'll definitely return to try their cast iron chicken and, of course, another round of mashed potatoes. Btw, they have "Just Lettuce" salad on their menu for $9, which is so camp. I'll have to try it next time for a full review lol. This is a great spot for little get together's or for a fun date night. They often have live local music playing outside, which adds to the ambiance. For parking, we found it convenient to park at D&B or Whole Foods.

Had a lovely lunch with a friend today. Food was good, company great, service was great! Manager Chad kindly stops by each table to check on the guests. Very nice! My only concern is it's very loud and prices are a bit high. Found out parking is in the back... you need to come from the Ewa side of Waimānalo street or it us an illegal left turn I to parking srea. I must have missed the parking sign... only saw delivery area sign. There are 2 stalks that are for salon only so be careful.

This is a long review because there's a lot of things that were worth it but also things that weren't so bare with me. Celebrated our anniversary at Merriman's. Restaurant looks high scale, but casual which I loved. Service was great the whole time. Right off the bat, complimentary prosecco for our celebration! And at the end of the meal, they gave us a scoop of their house made vanilla ice cream with a message. We ordered extra drinks, an app, entree and dessert. Recommendation: Coffee-Tini - one of the better espresso martinis I've had. Perfect balance of sweetness to vodka. Smash Burger & Fries - SO GOOD. Burger was very flavorful and buttery, never got soggy. Only downside was that the ratio of fries was so little (see picture). Waialua Chocolate Purse - thought we had to open up the paper like laulau then realized it was edible LOL it was really good and unique. Def recommend. OKs: Roasted Beet Salad - This one was good, but it was like any other salad.. nothing unique so I didn't think it was worth $17 especially for the size. Makai Fish Special - I really wanted the fish tacos but the server notified me the fish for the tacos was salmon and I don't think salmon tacos sounded pleasing so I opted for the Fish special which was some type of white fish, with a tomato based puree and a couple broccoli and potatoes.. it was OK. Good enough to eat but fell a bit mid - don't remember the price on that. If I didn't have two desserts at the end I'd probably be still hungry. Overall, I would recommend. Even though I was meh about some of the menu items, overall for this type of ambiance and service, it's actually a good price. I'll most likely get something else if I come for lunch again. Looking at the dinner menu, will definitely try coming for that.

Came for the happy hour menu from 3-5:30 PM! Definitely worth the happy hour prices. We tried the smash burger and also the fish tacos. Everything was really well seasoned with the freshest ingredients. Vegetables perfectly complemented the burger. Homemade everything from the tortillas to the buns for bread! I absolutely love when you can tell where your ingredients were sourced from. Oysters were a bit pricy but the perfect taste of ocean! Mai tai with the lilikoi foam was so well balanced. Service was really quick. They do charge a service fee of 4%, but it goes directly to the kitchen staff. Free parking in garage nearby. Lovely shopping area. Dining inside and outside, plus bar seating. Spacious, beautiful restaurant with giant windows for natural sunlight.

We wanted to find a special restaurant for our last 2024 meal - and boy, did we! Every dish we ordered was better than the last one. My only regret is that we did not save room for dessert. My favorite dish was the lobster pot pie, with everything else coming in a close 2nd. I am adding this to my list of regular spots on the island. BB

Merrimans is about two blocks away from the Ala Moana mall. It's a nice clean restaurant with really good service. The staff are very friendly and efficient. The food is pretty good for the region and prices. We got the pot pie which is quite delicious yet different from your normal every day Marie Callanders type pie. It's well cooked with a nice green curry flavor. I do wish it had more chicken but it was really good anyway. The Kalua pork quesadilla was good but not am. The pork itself was a bit dry and it didn't have a lot of flavor.

We went to celebrate Thanksgiving. It was a nice gift. We tried 3 entree. Food and service was good. It was better than when it first opened years ago. Too bad they charge for bread.

Our experience was amazing from top to bottom. I'm in a lunch bunch that chooses a new place on the island to dine once a month. December it was Merrimans and I'm so glad it was. The service was amazing from the start. We were greeted by the sweetest servers and they gave us the run down on how the restaurant worked. The inside was stunning. So clean and open, and it's so pretty decorated for the holidays. The food lived up to the hype as well! I got lilikoi lemonade, a side salad and the fish/shrimp and chips. The malt vinegar aioli it came with!!!!! Oh my goodness I could eat it every day! They were so sweet and kept bringing it to the table as we ran out. My fish/shrimp was cooked to perfection. Crisp on the outside but tender on the inside. I ended our lunch the the special sorbet, which at the time was a coconut lime and it was so good. Parking was super easy to find in a garage near by and there were lots of shops to walk when we were done. I can't wait to bring visiting family in!

After working 32 years, it's good to keep in touch with fellow co-workers after you retire. Ten of us, all retirees meet every four months for lunch at a local restaurant, with each of us taking turns in finding a restaurant and making a reservation. Our last outing was at the upscale Merriman's Honolulu. Chef Peter Merriman had a vision more than 30 years ago that restaurants could showcase the produce and meats of local farmers to come up with their menu items, instead of having them shipped from the Mainland. The Chef opened his first restaurant, Merriman's, in Waimea on the Big Island. Two more were opened, on in Maui, and the other in Kauai. The 4th location was opened in Honolulu in June 2018 in Kakaako. In addition to the four restaurants, Chef Merriman owns/partners with other restaurants, Monkey Pod, Beach House, etc. Chef Merriman is one of a group of pioneers of the "Farm to Table" movement by creating Farm to Table dishes, and all his restaurants serve regional cuisine. Merriman's Honolulu combines the feel of a neighborhood bistro with hints of old Hawaii reflective of Chef Merriman's reflective style and has indoor and outdoor dining. There is live music in the evenings. Its lunch menu includes: * Appetizers: French onion soup, kalua pig quesadilla, oysters, biscuits, truffle fries, poke, tako hummus, various salads. * Entrees: fish, birria and fish tacos, eggplant & fish sandwiches, fish & shrimp & chips, chicken pot pie, steak frites, smash burger. * Dessert: choc purse, bread pudding, lilikoi posset, ice cream. sorbet. I ordered the chicken pot pie, and despite sounding so plain, I loved it! Served piping hot in a cast iron fry pan, the crust was very flakey, with lots of delicious sauce, and huge pieces of chicken breasts and carrots. So glad that I ordered this; however, I found the lunch menu to be very limited in choices and pondered for awhile about this chicken pot pie and chose it by a process of elimination. It was interesting how they packed the remainder for taking home. They put the interior is a cardboard shaped into a cylinder, and the crust flat in the container; I felt they were cool enough to have put it in its entirely into the box. Service was adequate, as our server took our orders, which were promptly served. With four of us ordering the chicken pot pie, our server came back to tell us that it would take 15 minutes to bake. No problem, as we were busy catching up with the latest. I should also note that our server had not provided any info on their specials. I and probably the other retirees also, had overlooked this, as we were so busy talking to each other. Not sure if they had regular specials, but found out later that Merriman's is participating in Honolulu Restaurant Week Nov 9-17, 2024 and had a prix fixe menu. Despite this omission, he did provide us with 9 separate checks, which made payment easier. Loved the trendiness and ambiance of this 6,000 sq ft restaurant! Black & white chairs, patterned tile floor, bench seats, open kitchen, high ceiling, and wooden ceiling fans that we enjoyed our 3 hours there without any hints of a time limitation. We had a nice round table in a corner that was relatively quiet and allowed us to converse. It was very crowded during the time we were there. Open daily from 11:30a to 9p. Located in the ewa end of Ward Village, free parking is available in the Anaha parking garage, off of Anaha and Queen Sts. or at any Ward Village parking garage that are shared with other businesses. What is bothersome is that the restaurant charges a 2% kitchen charge, I won't rehash this controversial charge, but still have a problem with it. Plus, each of us was charged 20% tip for a large group. Nope, no additional tips. The architecture/interior decor and the chicken pot pie make me want to return; however, the limited lunch menu, customer service, and kitchen charge tell me not to return. Glad that they are doing well. Support local!

We came here for Happy Hour from 3 pm to 5.30 pm with limited seating*** $2 off for cocktails Great 5 stars service 10|10 We enjoyed it so much.

Great birthday lunch! Food was tasty as usual and not disappointing. Desserts and drinks were made perfectly and we enjoyed it. I wish I got the name of our server m, since he was friendly and did a great job! *I hope the next time we return, their black/white chairs are changed out. My 93 m4 year old father in law had a hard time sitting in the chair, because of the broken plastic and it had scratched his legs, we mentioned it to our server, and he quickly went and got him another chair, and a pillow for his back. Super thoughtful!! Some of the chairs definitely need to be replaced, Otherwise we love Merrimans!! We'll be back!!

We love this place! So if you have even a little time you need to stop by even if just to stop by for a quick bit or drink at the bar during happy hour. Service as always was 5 . We had Josh and Drew taking care of us and they were the best. I cannot say enough about Drew's ability to make amazing cocktails. Thanks again Drew for making me a special drink! It was super yummy.

Celebrated my friend's birthday here. They greeted my friend, Happy Birthday! to make this occasion special. We ordered Restaurant week course with Lilikoi ice tea. The ice tea is not too sweet so we liked it a lot. The course started with Corn, Leek, and 'Ulu Chowder with Spicy Herb Croutons (it was a bit salty but Ono). Then they took awhile to prepare course 2. (Though it is unusual for them to make us wait for so long, the waiter and a kitchen staff came to apologize.) The main was Miso-marinated Salmon with Kimchi, Namasu, Spicy Eggplant Banchan, and Jasmine Rice. We enjoyed it and finished with a cute dessert of Liliko'i Posset with Vanilla Whipped Cream and Macadamia Nuts. Then they brought a birthday plate for my friend. Mahalo for the memorable birthday lunch!

Small parking lot off of Queen St. does NOT connect to TJ Maxx and Nordstrom garage. 3 handicap stalls available. Walkway from garage to storefronts on Kamakee St. Do not recommend allowing hostess to seat your party near the front entrance, in the summer, if air conditioned climate is desire. More-so during days of high humidity. You will surely perish as the front door keeps opening and closing. Housemade Lilikoi Iced Tea...is the color of mud. It is a tart drink. Tastes like there is regular li hing mui and pineapple juice in it, but none. Ask server for a jig of simple syrup and add to your liking. It's a nice beverage. I finished it. A+ Bag 'O Biscuits...x4 nice biscuits served with butter. So tasty and fluffy, even the next day! A++ Single Smash burger...not a very thick patty. Not much flavor. Edges were crispy. Lettuce, tomato, onion on a house made "bun". Absolutely FABULOUS! Ate half, took the other half home. It reheated well. The bun was not a regular hamburger bun. It was airy and spongy with a nicely sea salted crust that definitely made up for the blandness of the patty. A++ Shrimp & Fish & Chips... Asked for all shrimp. I was shocked beyond belief at my first bite. Quite a mouthful! It was almost ALL SHRIMP! The coating is pretty thin. I would have to say the size is somewhere in the colossal to jumbo families. I want to go back, but have no one to accompany me. Meh, single diner, who cares?!? Sign me up!

09/19/24. Another visit here tonight. This time it's for dinner and to celebrate my BF's birthday. Reservations on Open Table. Free parking in the Whole Foods parking lot. We checked in with the host and we were immediately seated to our table by the window facing Kamakee Street. Great view of street side and kitchen. Host took our pictures upon request, as our birthday girl was given a lei in recognition of her birthday! Our drink orders were taken and soon thereafter, our appetizer and entree orders were taken. A Bag O' Biscuits (House-made buttermilk biscuits) served with butter were ordered with our meal. Freshly made and very flaky and tasty. Great service overall, with one exception, the noise level in the restaurant was extremely loud. We could barely hear our server tell us about the daily specials. Ambiance 3/5 stars. Score lowered due to extreme noise and over crowded restaurant traffic and tables. The drinks were all nonalcoholic and fruity! I diluted my Lilikoi Pop, as I like it light. I ordered the Mushroom Ravioli (Waimanalo mushrooms, roasted Poblano, brown butter, Hau'ula tomatoes, parsley). Three large raviolis were presented in a dish. One of the ravioli pieces was pretty spicy. It must've had extra poblano in this one. It was a very oily and buttery entree and I couldn't eat it all. Due to oiliness of this dish, I would not order it again. My BF ordered French Onion Soup Gratin and the steak frites (black peppercorn crusted prime sirloin, Rosemary sea salt, fries, and herb compound butter). This was very tasty and savory. Ordered medium well. Still very tender and tasty. It was cooked closer to medium. The soup was devoured by my BF. My BF's daughter ordered the Bistro Burger (House baked bun, Waimanalo mushroom, vine ripened tomatoes, Gruyère cheese, Herb compound butter and herb fries). I was given the tomatoes and I consumed a few fries. Both were yummy. My BF had the mushrooms from the burger with her steak. BF's daughter enjoyed the burger and fries. Food overall: 4/5 stars Our water glasses were timely refilled, we were checked on frequently, and used plates were removed. Great service here. Dessert: complimentary ice creams, wafer, and candles. Also ordered House made coffee ice cream. Delicious and creamy. Overall service 5/5 stars.

This place is spectacular! The cast iron chicken was nothing short of amazing. Those bag of biscuits are so good and just go ahead and purchase two bags. There is no reason to split one and feel deprived! Haha. Drinks were good! Service was Fast! Eating outside is our go to here! We Love this place.

Had lunch here for the first time as all the other times were dinner. Great menu. Great service. Sat outside. Perfect weather.

This place is an island institution and I hadn't had the chance to check them out in the past but was lucky enough to recently experience their happy hour pretty nice size menu with several different kinds of poo poo poos as well as some good sized courses such as burgers and quesadillas. I ordered the burger the truffle fries, the kalua pork quesadilla and the string beans. I also had one of their signature Mai tais as well as their special cocktail that happened to be made with lemongrass that day. The food overall is really tasty. But I would have to say that some of it is in the saltier side, especially the string beans...so having a nice cocktail with your meal is a really good way to balance it out. The service is top-notch, very much in the laid-back aloha style and the inside of Merriman's is very warm and inviting... feels like a retro aloha island vibe. You can park in the Ward Center area garage as well!

Merriman's Honolulu is one of our go to spots in the neighborhood! They are located in the heart of Ward Village under Anaha. From enjoying their Caesar salad and burger for a weeknight dinner to their holiday prix fixe menus for Thanksgiving and Christmas, each visit has always been incredible. The service is top notch and their entire team is so hospitable. The space is so beautifully designed with indoor and outdoor seating. Happy hour runs from 3pm-5:30pm. They have great live music each night starting at 5:30pm. The bar seating is first come first serve and that's usually our favorite spot to sit. You can check their IG for any daily specials they're having. It's truly the perfect spot for any occasion!

Made reservations before a show we were attending and it just so happened we caught the last 30 minutes of happy hour. The birria tacos are delicious! Melts in your mouth! For dinner I got the beet salad and it was so refreshing and full of great flavor. The mushroom ravioli was INCREDIBLE! I love that the mushrooms are from Waimanalo, which is where I live. But the ravioli is so rich and filling. By far the best mushroom ravioli I have ever had. The lilikoi posset...WOW! Even if you just come for dessert you will not regret it! The atmosphere was busy but not crowded. The live music was great and entertaining leaving the energy inside with great spirits. Perfect place, perfect food. Cant wait to come back!

Happy Hour in Kaka'ako, Honolulu, Hawaii... Located on the corner of Auahi and Kamakee Streets, Merriman's has been around for a while. I've been here before, so I knew to park at the Ward Entertainment Center for free and walk over. Some people may want to park at Whole Foods, too. We didn't have a reservation, and the place was packed and noisy! However, we were "early", waited for about ten minutes, and got seated at a small table by the wall. Our server was Paige, but we ordered through the gal who poured our water. We decided quickly since we were hungry: Fish Tacos, Smash Burger & Fries, and Pacific Shrimp & Chips. I had the Fish Taco first. It was a bit spicy, but I powered through. At first, the Smash Burger was so delicious with its toasted bun. Later, the salt was more apparent. The Pacific Shrimps were crunchily battered and freshly firm. We both got tired of the well-done fries because they were plentiful. This was a pretty good experience. The guy that brought our food to us apologized for the wait. He said, "Busy is good." Paige checked on us and filled our water glasses before we asked. Thank you!

My coworkers and I came during happy hour and had the best time! I enjoyed the Birria Tacos and Mai Tai together. The oysters, the beans and the garlic parmesan fries were also great choices. If you're driving to Merriman's and wondering where to park, there are paid parking spaces nearby, parking available at whole foods and ward parking structure for free. The sunset created a whole vibe, the atmosphere is very modern and service was on point!

Food was excellent. Service was very good and unobtrusive. Ambiance was casual elegance.

Fabulous facilities great outdoor venue with live music! Go there for happy hour with great drink and appetizer prices and the management and staff are so wonderful and amazing! One of our favorite places to go to now! Five stars!

The good, the bad, and the annoying. The good: My mahi mahi was pretty tasty - well cooked and well seasoned. The service was also good. The bad: Prices aren't too bad for the area but the serving sizes are small. So small that if you don't order an appetizer you will leave hungry. No thought whatsoever seems to have been put into the sides plated with the entrees. Every plate I saw go by, including ours, had the same tired steamed broccoli. My partner's plate also had some steamed carrots and 2 cubes of potato (that was his starch). I also got some buttered rice. One bite of it had some garlic flavor. White rice and steamed veggies were really giving me a school lunchroom vibe. My partner was not too happy with his fish special, ono and crabmeat with the aforementioned 2 cubes of potato. Although he thought the crab tasted good he said the sauce lacked flavor and had the sever not said there were capers he never would have known. The annoying: The noise level is ridiculous. The server had to keep repeating herself and it was next to impossible to hold a conversation. Add that to a lengthy wait (about 40 minutes for food that took less than 15 minutes to eat) and it did not make for an enjoyable experience.

What a beautiful evening at Merriman's! The ambience was well lit and stunning, and spacious! The service was wonderful, and the food was delicious! We didn't wait long for our food. For our appetizers, we enjoyed the very delicious Garlic Roasted Wild Shrimp. It was very tasty with its savory buttery lemon sauce which was accompanied by toasted bread. In addition to that dish, we also had the Szechuan green beans and the bag 'o yummy biscuits. My main dish was the macadamian crusted fresh fish - this was divine. The portion of the fish I felt was rather "petite," and it came with a side of garlic rice and green beans...we also ordered the steak frites with its crispy fries, and my husband got the Venison special and enjoyed it very much! Everything was so good here. Top notch food accompanied by top notch service. Well done!

Great meal at Merriman's! We popped in here late one evening after a restaurant next door couldn't accommodate my allergies. Merriman's could though! The waitstaff spoke with the manager and kitchen and the manager came and clarified things with me. I felt I was in good hands. The chicken I had was so so yummy. I often have to sacrifice flavor for safety when I eat out - but not here! I was disappointed that I couldn't have the biscuits due to my allergies but the fam said they were delicious - perhaps Merriman's will replace their non-stick spray and then I can eat these?? Overall a great experience and I'm glad we were turned away from the other restaurant.

#27 of 52 (weeks of trying a new restaurant at least once a week) I know that the owner of Merriman's is the same owner of Moku Kitchen and Monkeypod which has my favorite mai tai on the island. I heard their happy hour is fantastic (plus they have the green beans that Moku no longer carries which I love) so while by bestie was visiting I had to bring her so she could try the mai tai. We made reservations for 4pm just in case it was busy. There were a good amount of people in the restaurant but not overly packed. I love the decor inside. It's very bright, nice lighting and decorated very nicely. It just feels very comforting. First up drinks! I wanted to drink two mai tai's so the plan was for my honey to drive. The mai tai is only $9 at HH and at his other restaurants it's higher so I was very pleased. Both myself and my bestie ordered one. Their menu for happy hour is wonderful. So many good selections and not super pricey. For food we ordered the Spicy Szechuan Green Beans (my favorite) $9, Pacific Fish and Chips $9 and the Smash Burger and Fries $10. First off I can't sing enough praises for the mai tai. It is STRONG but the lilikoi foam is the best and makes the drink. The food arrived pretty quickly. The fish looks like it's a beer batter but it's actually a light batter which is nice. The malt vinegar aioli was so good I had to ask for extra. Fries were perfectly cooked as well. I tasted the smashburger and it was also very good. Lastly the beans are my favorite. The sauce on it is pretty salty but it's also got a lot of umami. The macadamia nuts crushed on top offer a nice crunch. I loved them so much I ordered a second order. My plan to get two mai tai's did not go as planned. The drinks are so strong that even with all the food I was a little tipsy and didn't need another drink. We'll probably come back at least monthly for their happy hour. Very good food and drinks at reasonable prices.

First time visit! The prime rib loco moco was delicious and the egg was perfect. The chocolate purse was a neat dessert that you had to crack the "purse" to get to the chocolate inside. The vanilla was a good balance. The soda was light and not too sweet or tangy. There was a musician playing live music which was nice. The team even closed the blinds once the sun hit a certain point and started to come into the dining area. The team was very attentive to us and checked in often. I had a great time.

This is a review for their happy hour. Their happy hour is 2-5pm, which is pretty long. We went there before 4 on Thursday and it was empty. So the service was good and fast. The drinks and food came quickly as well. As this is owned by the same company as Moku and Monkeypod, they offer the same signature Mai Tai and similar happy hour dishes. I had the Happy Hour Fish & Chips that were fresh and hot. Lastly, what I like about this place in addition to food and drinks, is the ambience. It's a little on a fancy side and feels like Miami or NYC for some reasons. I'll definitely be back here again.

Went for happy hour! Service was amazing and the atmosphere is perfect for a chill date night or girls night. We ordered the fish and chips, tako style escargot, biscuits, fish tacos, burger, green beans, and a couple desserts. Overall the food was all very tasty and fresh. My favorites were the fish tacos and fish and chips. I found the burger to be a tad oily, and I really wanted to love the tako escargot but I felt like it was lacking flavor and garlic! I'd definitely go back again for happy hour as the prices are very reasonable and service/ambiance is great. Look forward to trying more of their menu.

Met friends for happy hour. The food is good, not great. The atmosphere is nice, bar-like, with live music for entertainment. Service is good, you rarely have to wait for your drink or food. Prices are a little on the high side, but given the nice environment, it's expected and not excessive. We had a smash burger with fries, fish tacos , shrimp & chips. The shrimp was the highlight; I didn't expect it to be so large and tasty. Not overcooked and oily, either. The fish tacos were good, not outstanding, and the smash burger was like a regular burger. It was not very crispy or tasty. Overall, this was a really nice place for drinks. It's very comfortable with easy parking and accessibility.

Merriman's Honolulu is not exactly the first place that comes to mind when you think of a solid, no-nonsense burger, but here we are. A $10 happy hour burger with fries? And for just $4 more, a second patty? That's a deal so good it almost feels like a mistake Size-wise, they didn't hold back. This wasn't some tiny, sad bar burger that leaves you contemplating another round of appetizers. The fries? Generous. You leave full, no question. But the bun--yeah, the bun is where things get a bit experimental. A croissant bun. It's slightly sweet, and buttery in a way that feels like it belongs at breakfast rather than wrapped around a beef patty. Some might love it. Personally, I just kept thinking about how the bun-to-meat ratio felt a little off. More bun than I wanted, and that's with the extra patty Is this the best burger on the island? No. But if we're talking pure value? It's an absolute winner. A legit, satisfying meal for under $15 in Honolulu is rare enough, but one that includes a hefty burger and a pile of fries? Almost unheard of. Worth it, even if the bun isn't quite my thing

Jackson gave da bestest service and very attentive and funny. We had lots of fun our first time here. Food was great and really nice. Great time to spend time with friends. We sat outside and it was beautiful.

We came here for happy hour on my friend's birthday and they definitely know how to make someone feel special! We started out with free champagne to do a birthday toast. We had a friend at our table who does not drink, and they brought her a fun nonalcoholic drink, so she could also enjoy the toast. We ordered several different dishes for happy hour, and all of them were very delicious. They really do take time and care and put it into the food. The Szechuan green beans are always delicious, and a favorite. It was a little bit salty the day that we ordered it. But, when you're drinking, the salt is just fine! We also tried the fish tacos which were a nice size portion for the price ($10 on HH). I appreciate that they served with THREE different salsas! Next we had the shrimp and chips. The chips were perfectly cooked and so is the shrimp. I think the fish and chips is better value, because you get a way bigger portion with that. The shrimp and chips has only two pieces of shrimp. We tried the hummus which has both chickpeas and taro in it. It was very delicious, fresh and healthy. It served with taro chips and fresh vegetables crudités to dip in the hummus. We also had the oysters which are just so fresh, clean and delicious. They also brought out a complementary scoop of vanilla ice cream with a wafer,cookie and a candle. That was so over-the-top, sweet and nice of them. The ambience is lovely, it's nice and quiet to have a conversation and it has air conditioning. It seems like a weird detail to note, but a lot of expensive restaurants in Honolulu don't actually have air conditioning, so in the summertime it's uncomfortable as you're trying to enjoy your $100 meal while sweating through your dress. The bathrooms are very nice and clean. Also, the location is convenient. I really can't fault them on anything! Their cocktails are also divine. The bartender really knows what he is doing.

I just wanted to say the service here is next level compared to all of the places we've dined on our recent trip. (That includes you, Moku kitchen) We stayed a block away from here, so we visited for happy hour. Their offerings had a spectrum of food selections. From bar food style munchies of fries to elegant oysters on the half shell. We pretty much tried everything on their happy hour menu and it's 3-5pm daily. We didn't get their live music that day, I can't remember if it was the rain or wind but that didn't matter. The ambiance and touches of hawaiian decor is splashed throughout the restaurant. Drinks were excellent here. Good to know their mai tai tastes exactly like moku kitchen. (Sister property in case you didn't know) That blue "farm to table" cocktail was terrific as well. Can you spy the honu? And yes, drinks are stiff here well worth the $ I do remember about a 4% surcharge on food for their workers. More than well deserved I thought due to their excellent follow through. We must've had 6 different people dropping off food, drinks, and checking up on us. The crazy part was the bill was less than Moku Kitchen. (Then again we were hungrier there). Anywho, I just wanted to put it out there this place is a gem to come and relax after a long day.

Highly recommend to go for happy hour! There were several food and drink options to choose from. For drinks we got the Mai Tai. For food, we got the Parmesan truffle fries, Kalua pig tacos, and Pacific shrimp and chips. I think out of these options, I liked the fries the most. Definitely would get the Mai tai again. There was plenty of seating, both outdoors and indoors.

We chose Merriman's for an early Father's Day lunch. We were seated promptly, and our servers were attentive. I felt that the menu was kind of limited, but it was a good assortment of foods. We started with the kalua quesadilla with a poi crema (we ate it before I remembered to take pics ). The quesadilla was crisp and tasty, but the crema was too subtle to enhance the flavors. The umami buger was juicy with mushrooms and some arugula to give it a little kick. The chicken pot pie has limited availability, and I was happy that I could try it. The crust was flaky, with good-sized pieces of chicken, potato, and carrots. It was not the best I've ever had, but it was still good. Our grandson got the kids' cheeseburger, and he gave it a thumbs up . Our granddaughter chose the chicken tenders with fries but didn't have much of an appetite. The fries were crispy and seasoned perfectly. The chicken tenders looked just right for a kid's appetite. Overall, we would recommend Merriman's. The food is delicious, and the service is top-notch!

Great dinner! Reservations are easy to make online and they celebrate your special events. The atmosphere inside the restaurant is comfortable and welcoming. Service was amazing and food delicious. Everything I tried was great and the chocolate purse was the perfect dish to end the night. Can't wait to return!

My friend wanted to take us out for dinner to celebrate my husband's birthday and choose Merriman's. It was our first time. It was pretty busy for a Tuesday evening around 6:30pm but we had reservations. Service is great. My husband wanted a specific wine that they did not have and they were able to have a wine specialist answer questions and accommodate to help find a wine to his liking. For appetizers our friend got the kalua pork quesadillas which had kimchee & a poi vinegar sauce which was interesting but good. She also got the poke with taro chips and avocado. For entree I got the Macadamia nut crusted Mahi Mahi. It was light and good. My husband got the Steak Frites which he said was really good. For dessert my friend ordered the chocolate purse. It was different with the burnt leaves. My husband also got a compliment birthday treat. The wine specialist was able to help us pair our dessert with a dessert wine. Which his recommendations was on point. Overall our first time experience was great. We will be back.

My friend and I decided to enjoy Happy Hour on a Friday evening. Chose Merriman's. Been here several time previous only for lunch, so we wanted to check out their offerings. Place was busy but not overly so. That did change by 5:00 PM. Was a good vibe with the conversation flowing amongst the many guests. Our server Elaine made several suggestions as to her favorite pupus. Drinks came out quickly and so did the food that we ordered. We ordered the fish tacos, beef tacos, fish and chips, taro chips with hummus .. it was so delicious and salad. For dessert we had the chocolate with vanilla ice cream. The chocolate was wrapped in phyllo dough..mmmm! Definitely coming back again.

Our friends raved about this spot, and we came back for their birthdays. It was such a pleasant experience with amazing service and LOTS of food. Our server Roman was very knowledgeable and offered an explanation of all their specials. He, along with the whole staff, were so attentive that I almost felt like an inconvenience of them doing so much for us! Our host, first started with singing happy birthday to our celebrants; she was a star!! So sweet of her thank you! Many of us got the Mai Thai, myself included; wow, it was so tasty, and strong! I loved the foam on top of the drink as well. I got the soup of the day, which was a coconut tomato bisque and vegan! It was so flavorful and the perfect portion. Next I split the cucumber avocado salad with a friend. It was smaller but honestly perfect size for us because the server ended up sending us an extra salad and truffle fries for the table. For my entree, I for the Chicken with potatoes. It came in an iron skillet, and the chicken was so moist. Great seasoning I would definitely get it again. Also our friends got the steaks and it was such a large portion! They couldn't finish it with all the extra food we were given, so good problem to have haha no complaints. Thank you all for the best experience!