PAI Honolulu

Chef Kevin is a science genius! Love every ingredients that touched my palate! And his wife Justine was a wonderful host! Definitely a Michelin star restaurant in my book! Homemade strawberry gelato with velvet cookie for my friend’s birthday was amazing! Thank you 🙏❤️ I had to lick the bowl!!! 😋Highly recommend it!!! 🥰👍🥰👍

Service was excellent, ambiance was quant and classy, cocktails with exceptional and the oyster with caviar was amazing. I want to also say the short ribs and curry pappardelle were very flavorful. With all the wonderful things I just said why not 5 stars? The papparrdelle was hand made, but it lacked consistency and it was a bit too al dente for me. The main reason for taking a star away was that our entrees were served lukewarm, which we found to be a major misstep for this price point and caliber.

Our experience at Pai was a great disappointment. We had hoped for a nice last meal in Honolulu, but the food ranged from mediocre to poor in quality and was extremely slow. Service: Our servers were polite but lacked the polish and professionalism we would expect from a restaurant at this price point ($210 per person). Our server, though well-intentioned, spoke very softly and mumbled the dish explanations so we had difficulty understanding him, and he generally appeared nervous, avoiding eye contact. Ambiance: The restaurant, which seats only ~12 parties to begin with, was no more than half full. The bluetooth speaker kept disconnecting, so every 10 minutes the music stopped and we heard an automated notification that the bluetooth speaker was disconnected. When the fire alarm went off in the middle of the meal, none of the servers stopped by to explain what was happening. We had a view into the open kitchen which only had 3-4 kitchen staff in it, including the head chef-- this may have contributed to the painstakingly slow pacing of the meal. Food: We had the Chef’s Tasting Menu. The dishes, each of which drew from a different global influence (Southern, Japanese, Chinese, Italian, French, etc.) lacked cohesion as an overall menu. The food itself was the biggest letdown. * Chef’s buttermilk cornbread - 5/10. The cornbread was good/ordinary though the honey-miso butter was tasty. * Kona kanpachi - 5/10. Three small pieces of kanpachi and two tiny pieces of scallop. The dish was nice but could have used a more generous portion of seafood as most of it was cucumber, tomato, and puree. * Samoan crab purse - 6/10. Though slightly one dimensional, there was good amount of crab and filling and as dim sum lovers, we appreciated the take on siu mai. * Lobster Cioppino - 6/10. The cioppino was flavorful and the half lobster tail was well cooked. However, the pieces of fennel on the side were confusing as they were not really integrated into the dish. * Escargot toppogi - 6/10. One of the better dishes, a combination of escargot and small pieces of tteobboki in a pesto sauce that worked well but didn’t wow us. The two carrots on top, which might have been meant to provide freshness, were raw and out of place. * Duck confit taro puff - 3/10. This is where the meal went rapidly downhill. According to the menu, the taro puff contained duck confit and foie gras rags with cabbage, shoyu mustard, and micro shiso. All of this was overpowered by the taste of cumin. The texture inside was oily and gooey with nothing to relieve the heaviness. Moreover, part of the filling was cold inside. * 90 Day Dry-Aged Ribeye - 2/10. Two very rare, small blocks of meat were gummy in texture and lukewarm in temperature. The cauliflower was ok and so was the XO sauce just but the steak itself can only be described as terrible. * Mai Tai Sherbet - skipped. At this point, we explained to the waiter that the meal had been taking a long time and we were not enjoying the food and asked if we could skip to dessert. * Dark Chocolate Haupia - 5/10. The chocolate haupia itself was neat and tasted fine but the crumble was gritty. Our final bill came out to $470, which is frankly outrageous for what we got. It is difficult to fathom how such a meal could be priced at a Michelin level. Our waiter apologized to us at the end for the slow and disappointing experience and we overheard him apologizing to at least two other tables as well, which suggests that our experience was unfortunately not unique.

The cornbread and turnip cake was some of the best foods I’ve ever had. (Pictured below). However compared to other Michelin starred restaurants it is not perfect. But service was incredible and food was still absolutely amazing.

Deeply disappointed in our experience with PAI. Atmosphere was not nearly as nice as the photos -- importantly missing is the fact that the windows open to an indoor mall courtyard, where bright overhead lights ruin the ambience. As other reviewers have mentioned, the music would periodically disconnect, announce the issue in an automated voice, then eventually reconnect. Service was well intentioned, but totally missed the mark -- servers cleared plates and provided new utensils after every course, but seemed harried and stressed when doing so, and occasionally cleared too early or too late and missed dishes. In addition, service was incredibly slow -- in all, our meal took 3 hours. Our servers played host, server, and bartender, and that was to the detriment of all of those things, especially the cocktails, which were all just a little bit off. Our server poured some rose, emptied the bottle, and promised to return to finish the pour and never did. The steak was both over and under cooked across my partner and my plates, and was a huge disappointment. In short, at a total cost of almost 600 dollars with tip (after being comped some cocktails for the issue with our steak), these atmosphere, service, and food quality issues are a massive problem. This dinner totally missed the mark on what we were hoping would be a romantic highlight to our vacation. Would not recommend this restaurant at its price point, and would encourage the team to reevaluate and reset on service and menu.

My husband and I have birthdays that are a few days apart. We went here to jointly celebrate our birthdays. It was an amazing experience. Some of the best food I have ever had in my life. Service was phenomenal. It was a wonderful experience. I highly recommend this restaurant, and we plan to return in the future.

Oh my gosh!!!! Food and service was top notch. We attended a special event and it was a gastronomical explosion! First the pickled mango tomato salad had the perfect acidic/sweetness ratio, next sisig lasagna was absolutely delicious and so very flavorful, then the slow roasted pork belly adobo just melted in my month and finally the foie gras banana lumpia with a jackfruit gelato was to die for. The drinks were perfectly matched to each dish. Heavenly!! A must for all foodies. Chef Kevin is a culinary genius! We had to try dinner again, after the Event off the regular menu and I must say again Chef Kevin did a spectacular job creating some innovating dishes! The Ginger chicken risotto was amazing, with multiple layers of flavors to create the right amount of umami. The grilled Tako and warm watermelon was to die for!! With the salty and slightly sweet flavors, OMG!! The Tako was sooooo tender. The deserts were just amazing! Every dish was my new favorite. Thank you Pai Honolulu for a wonderful meal!!!!!

OMG! This chef knows how to tickle the taste buds! The staff is so friendly and knowledgeable. The food was fantastic. They sure know what wine to pair with what dish! The whole thing was amazing! I did this as part of the Hilton Grand Vacations exclusive event and I highly recommend it!

We had an amazing dining experience and celebrated my birthday too. I am not alcohol drinker, but they have a selection of mocktails that were paired with dish. If you are looking for some extra special flavors and unique presentation, you just have to give Pai a try. You won't regret it... Thank you Chef Kevin Lee for your culinary creativity and delicious dishes with unexpected favors...

2.15.25 Valentine's Day Prix Fixe Menu Experience Kevin Lee's artistry for the eye and palate. Justine Lee, presented my date with the perfect wine pairings. I had the zero alcohol Reverie--hit the right notes, not too sweet and pretty presentation. (See the pics) Thank you Chef Kevin and Justine your attention to detail re: food, drink, service and ambiance created the perfect Valentin's celebration. Go, now and support this earnest, hard working, local business that supports local farmers. Note--park in the Harbor Court building. We took the City and County ticket and PAI defeated the cost with parking stickers.

It's been a long time since last visit old friend. Forgive me for not returning sooner. You are always awesome. This recent experience was over the top memorable! Thank you to creative mastery of Chef Kevin L. and excellent service by team Tyrell and Malik, our party of three had such a wonderful evening. Each course off the tasting menu was artful, whimsical, and a treat for the senses. Chef leaning heavy on the freshest, locally sourced ingredients. While other options are available, highly recommend the complete tasting menu available! Here are a few of my favorites: Kona Kampachi (11 of 10!) - party for the tastebuds! Citrus cured kampachi, scallop,cucumber, cherry tomato seasoned in a ginger Wasabi dressing and served alongside a coconut curry puree. He'eia Samoan Crab - (11 of 10) - TBH I did NOT have high hope for this one as I don't care for siumai much but this one completely surprised me! Samoan crab meat and opakapaka balanced with fresh Ewa corn nibblits, pickled ginger and tied together with the subtlest red vinegar. Delicious! Also earning top spots on my palate: Kona lobster (10 of 10) with green lipped mussel, fennel, and ogo and in a lobster bisque. Mai Tai sherbert intermediate (10 of 10). Wow, just wow! Lamb taro puff (9 of 10) - think Chinese taro puff with exploding filling of cumin braised lamb. 90 day dry-aged beef (9 of 10) - seasoned with white and black peppercorn and served in an XO sauce. Dessert of Dark Chocolate Haupia gelee with an almond cookie Crumble and toasted coconut (9 of 10) - needless to say I didn't share this one! Escargot with ttebok (8 of 10) - I don't care much for mochi rice cakes but that's just a personal thing. I believe the later dishes were biased on my review as I was just so full I don't think I could appreciate them to the fullest. Parking partially validated in the building or on Merchant street free after downtown business hours. Will I be back? Absolutely! It's where I think of when looking for a special and intimate dining experience.

Pai Honolulu *** DEPENDS-MAYBE *** Food: *** Value: ** (small portions for price) Menu: *** Ambiance: **** Service: **** Parking: **** (validated) While screening restaurants with four stars or above, Pai Honolulu came to my attention with a 4.4 Yelp rating from 332 reviews. That's high! They have also won many local restaurant awards. This chef owned restaurant, has both an à la carte menu or you can create your own 3 Course or 4 Course menu. The chef, Kevin Lee, has an extensive background in culinary skills working at different ethnic restaurants in various continents. If you enjoy fine dining, prepared by a chef owner with culinary training & experience, I'd recommend giving Pai Honolulu a try. If you like larger portions and/or lower prices, you may want to go elsewhere. RATINGS & RECOMMENDED ORDER: Molten Dark Fudge Brownie = A Kona Kampachi = B 5-Spiced Pork Shoulder = C Braised Beef = C Baby Romaine & Kale Salad = C Strawberry Panna Cotta = C Yelp: https://yelp.to/iiI3eBzvZk Website: https://www.paihonolulu.com/ 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

Pai Honolulu is understated and underrated! The menu is heavily Chinese-influenced. My husband and I dined here for our wedding anniversary last year. We've actually had this restaurant on our bookmarks for a couple years and waited that long to finally dine here after I saw them introduce a more affordable three-course menu in early 2024 (they've had their four-course menu much longer)! During anniversaries and birthdays, we like to splurge...on a budget lol. I made a reservation at Pai via OpenTable. Our reservation was for 5:00pm, right when Pai opened, so we were the only diners for about half an hour. The restaurant wasn't too large, but still looked and felt spacious. Since I indicated on the reservation that we were celebrating our wedding anniversary, our host provided a menu which included a "happy anniversary" greeting! What a thoughtful touch lol. Also because of our anniversary, the restaurant offered both of us complimentary glasses of champagne. Our drinks were tasty. My husband and I have a strategy every time we dine out--we split everything so we could taste a variety of dishes. We ordered a three-course menu and a four-course menu. Both include appetizers and dessert, but the four-course menu includes both pasta AND entree, whereas the three-course menu allows either or. OUR ORDERS: Three-course menu: - Kona Kampachi (my fave) - Braised beef (my fave) - Strawberry panna cotta (my fave) Four-course menu: - Chilled crab corn soup (also my fave if I didn't take a pic of it) - Lemongrass curry chow fun - 5-spice pork shoulder - Espresso martini We took photos of all our dishes except the chilled crab corn soup. We must have enjoyed it that much that we couldn't stop for a picture! I can't comment on parking since my husband's car was already parked at his workplace in Downtown, while I took the Skyline rail from the Westside + the bus from Aloha Stadium to a block away from Pai. It took me awhile to find Harbor Court and the restaurant itself. Overall, we enjoyed our anniversary dinner at Pai. Gourmet dinner at reasonable prices and friendly customer service. I'd say Pai is a restaurant for real foodies, for those who want casual fine dining even without those so-called sunset or beach views.

It's been on my list for a while but due to circumstances, never had the pleasure... until now. Looking for a destination place for that special someone, an experience akin to a private dining meal? Yes, this is the place. After scanning a number of posted menus, I thought there were plentiful menu options, various prix fixed meals and perhaps an ala carte menu. When we arrived for our 5 pm midweek dinner, we were seated next to the open kitchen in a four-seat table. To be honest, it was not what I expected when I read the two page menu on the table. Well, let's just say the choices are limited with options in the "snacks" section. At that point, the options were sparkling or still water, our beverages, and snacks to be shared since none of us were wine drinkers. We started with the Oishi oysters (https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=saJuyv784apZzH--psHZ3Q&select=iyYULNhauQVGVe9a-TgxLw) and the Pai aged Charcuterie (https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=saJuyv784apZzH--psHZ3Q&select=K-hdIuyMVZbzKucUI-CdrA). The descriptions are Kuushi oysters, lilikoi mignonette, Kiawe smoked chili pepper water and salted nuts, pickles respectively. The oysters were akin to the familiar Kumamoto variety and were refreshing with the applied sauce. The soppresatta slices, housed cured, played well with the garnishes in alternating bites. For the main meal, here's a summary of my favorites: A. Kona lobster (before pouring of the bisque (https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=saJuyv784apZzH--psHZ3Q&select=1WV0rhFpapcuczXpmjmWHg) and after (https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=saJuyv784apZzH--psHZ3Q&select=jl1vcmVou85CCH5eaimlKw)) - half lobster tail, green lip mussel, fennel, ogo, cherry tomato, fennel and tomato bisque. Every ingredient shined with the rich yet not heavy soup B. He'eia Samoan crab (https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=saJuyv784apZzH--psHZ3Q&select=Ft3khDSIrXJxNM_L2cv35Q) - opakaka Siu Mai, Ewa sweet corn, edamame, pickled ginger, garlic chive, red vinegar. This is a dumpling like no other with the heart fish pairing with the subtle crab meat and flavor. C. Kona Kampachi (https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=saJuyv784apZzH--psHZ3Q&select=ypCWqmafd1sHQZWL_I-cFg) - citrus cured Kampachi, bay scallop, cucumber, cherry tomato, bell pepper, ginger wasabi dressing, lemongrass, coconut curry puree, ogo, cilantro. The sweetness of the fish made the other ingredients clean tasting. Other favorites were the Chef's buttermilk cornbread (https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=saJuyv784apZzH--psHZ3Q&select=UuknbQRuI7-kAAcPrKVETQ) (honey miso butter) and the Mai Tai Sherbet (https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=saJuyv784apZzH--psHZ3Q&select=kn8ZclyGROvFwRyb5LPaBw) (pineapple juice, orange juice, coconut milk, rum). The Dark Chocolate Haupia (https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=saJuyv784apZzH--psHZ3Q&select=fIOSspaK1fBQLSBoD3jnTQ) (almond cookie crumbs, cacao nib, coconut sugar, toasted coconut) was ridiculous too. I enjoyed the other dishes too but these were particularly memorable for me. Being familiar with the chef's background, I learned from a mutual friend from the area that my family and me are familiar with many of his family. He made the time to speak with us and took photos with us. My local friend was particularly impressed by the many awards that lined the bar shelves and a cabinet. Thank you to our waiter Tyrell, enthusiastic and boisterous, and his assistant Malik, the cool and collected one. Thank you and your sous chef, Kevin, for providing a wonderful meal who my friend thought was on her 'best ever' dinners list. It was impressive that you and your sous crafted this experience for us to enjoy, like having private chefs cooking for us. ** Not so subtle pre Valentine's hint.

Service was excellent, ambiance was quant and classy, cocktails with exceptional and the oyster with caviar was amazing. I want to also say the short ribs and curry pappardelle were very flavorful. With all the wonderful things I just said why not 5 stars? The papparrdelle was hand made, but it lacked consistency and it was a bit too al dente for me. The main reason for taking a star away was that our entrees were served lukewarm, which we found to be a major misstep for this price point and caliber.

I had the pleasure of dining at PAI Restaurant in Oahu, and it was an absolutely fantastic experience from start to finish. The moment you step inside, the warm, inviting atmosphere sets the tone for an unforgettable meal. The modern, yet cozy decor creates a perfect ambiance for a relaxed, upscale dining experience. The service was impeccable - attentive without being overbearing, and the staff was knowledgeable about the menu and happy to make recommendations. It's clear that the team at PAI cares deeply about providing a top-tier dining experience. Overall, PAI Restaurant is a must-visit for anyone in Oahu looking for exceptional food, great service, and a memorable dining experience. Whether you're a local or a visitor, PAI is a true gem that should not be missed!

This was the restaurant we were most looking forward to on our brief trip to Oahu. Unfortunately, it did not meet our hopes on so many levels. A huge disappointment. First, finding parking in this area is difficult at best. Apparently they have their own parking lot which should make it easy, but their signage from the street is poor, especially in the dark. They should have made the parking situation clear to us before we arrived during the several times they contacted me, which would have saved us a lot of frustration. Walking in, first impression: The lights are too bright (like a cafeteria) and the decor so minimal. A plastic plant separates our table at the window from the other half of the dining room. We are in front of the chef's kitchen with a view of the cooking. The restaurant is half full. A portion of the space is blocked off with paper screens. It looks temporary. The party of 8 on the other side of the restaurant is so loud and the acoustics are terrible. Ambience overall is poor. We start with a cocktail, which is lovely. They have this part down, as well as the wine pairings. We are served a buttermilk corn bread with honey miso butter compliments of the chef. It is delicious and we are off to a good start. After that, the meal goes down hill. The $25 foie gras is so small and watery in texture. For some inexplainable reason, it is served with an overly thin and crisp bread cracker that falls apart when you put anything on it, and the watery foie gras drips through all of the holes. A complete mistake on all levels. The kona kampachi, although pretty in presentation is bland and the elements just don't go together well - kampachi with tomatoes and jicama? The sauce also just doesn't add anything to the dish. Fortunately, my husband will eat anything, especially meat and he devoured his pork shoulder. That being said, he didn't rave about it. He said he was just hungry. My curry pappardelle on the other hand, for me was almost inedible. I thought the concept sounded interesting and I love pappardelle pasta, but the noodles were so thick and gummy, I took a bite or two and was done. When our server came by and took my plate and noticed I had hardly touched it, he said nothing except that he would wrap it up to take home. Desserts were fine. By that point I was uninterested. The service throughout was very attentive by the chef's wife and additional staff. She was friendly and had a birthday greeting and welcome printed on our menus, which was a nice, personal feature. But the chef could have also come out to greet his few guests and inquire about our experience, which he did not. He did not seem friendly, more studious and analytical and happy to be in his kitchen, far from his guests. Not inviting. As we were leaving, I realized that the server never brought me my dish to take home. As I was thinking of asking, I realized I wasn't going to eat it anyway. Not here, not there, not anywhere. Why didn't anyone in the restaurant care about our food experience? Not sure but would not return and could not recommend. Unfortunate and odd as the reviews for this restaurant are very polarized. Not for me.

This place is a hidden gem. I couldn't believe it was my first time in, and a friend of mine suggested we try it out! I thought I had tried every restaurant in China town. The service was excellent! It's a family run business which I love because it adds a homey touch with delicious food. We stopped by for cocktails mostly but ended up having to try the pana cotta desert. I took a look at their tasting menus because I knew I had to come back with a bigger appetite!

Celebrated a friend's birthday here last night at we had a wonderful experience. We were unusually early for our resy as we came in from the west side on a flash flood kind of day and luckily they were able to accomodate us. The ambiance was nice but not stuffy. Open kitchen. The printed menu wishing my friend a happy birthday was a nice touch. We opted for the 3 course tasting menu and she got the wine pairings as well. At first we thought we might leave still hungry because the portions looked a little small but we left pretty stuffed. She selected the chilled crab corn chowder, braised beef w/ XO long beans, and the strawberry panna cotta. I chose the kona campachi w/ lemongrass coconut curry, ciopinno, and molten dark fudge brownie with peanut butter bourbon gelato. We shared tastes of everything. Flavors were familiar yet kept interesting with some of the ingredients. The wine pairings were lovely as well. Service was friendly, and the owner made us feel like we were somehow regulars pretty quickly. We did not expect to shut the place down but before we knew it we were the only ones left, and nobody rushed us out. Great experience and we will definitely be back!

An all-around amazing experience. Excellent staff and amazing taste! The time we arrived when we left, we felt like valued customers and special guest. From the bartender to the chef, everybody was friendly and very accommodating. We look forward to going again and tasting more collectible treats on the super menu.

This was an enjoyable meal from start to finish. Actually before it even started, I received an email about the menu being printed with our occasion name, which is a nice touch, especially if not requested to reach out on their own. Our server was Tyrel who was so knowledgeable about the menu, we knew we were in good hands. I started with The Secret Garden cocktail, it was so good and sweet but not sickeningly. We all opted for the 3 course dinner and I ordered pate. The strawberry on top of the pate helped cut the strong meaty taste. The cornbread came next, I'm not a huge cornbread eater but this one was so good. It had a nice balance of savory and sweet. The honey miso butter went so well together. I got the kampachi, it was really fresh. There was a curry sauce that had no purpose if it was eaten with the fish. The fish cancelled out the flavor completely, it was good by itself though. I got the cioppino for my entree, this was a lot of food! The tableside bisque serving was a nice touch, because having it sitting in the soup would have ruined the seafoods freshness. The toasted sourdough bread wasn't my favorite, I would have preferred a softer bread, maybe if it wasn't toasted. To finish I got the Banana Rum Pudding. It wasn't clear that it was bread pudding from the menu. It was okay, I didn't really want bread pudding though. I would choose something different next time. Everyone at the table enjoyed their meal, one had the braised beef which was fork tender, another had the pork shoulder which was also fork tender and hard feat when it comes to pork. I really enjoyed the meal. The restaurant is small and nicely decorated. It is fancy but not stuck up and nobody was overly dressed up. The price was good Considering how much food it was, 3 full Courses for $69. Highly recommend

As my first fine dining experience, this was off the charts! Both the presentation and taste were amazing! Very unique concepts but also very approachable! Everything was super flavorful and we left absolutely stuffed! I hope I can come again soon to try the rest of the menu! Thank you Chef Kevin!

Chef Kevin Lee and his wife Justine are the dynamic duo of Pai. The chef keeps things running like clockwork in the back, while Justine keeps the front of the house functioning smoothly. Pai often has tasting menus, which provide an overview of Chef Lee's talents. Tonight was a special menu prepared by Eoin Chadwick, an Irish chef who had several riffs on traditional Irish dishes, each course paired with an Irish whiskey. It was mostly delicious, although to be honest, I wasn't a huge fan of the porridge cake. Pai is pretty small and intimate. To make it even more intimate, we sat at the counter, which is practically like eating at a chef's table as the food is being prepared just a few feet from you. The only downside was the bathrooms, which require an escort to take you across the lobby and through two security doors.

Had to try this place after seeing the reviews and it was great. The Christmas margarita was really tasty, as is the cosmo. From a food standpoint, these are original takes on the usual courses so we enjoyed them. Each course was well balanced and was quite tasty. The corn bread with the miso-honey was delicious. I would buy a pan of this if I could. It had a crispy edge and the butter complimented the warm bread s well and got us ready for what's next to come. The kampachi was delicious and had surprisingly tasting combinations such as the beets and the fish and the puree. Lamb chow fun had a nice build of spice that snuck up on you, but it's definitely tasty. Makes great leftovers. The salmon was quite good as well. The wasabi and the furikake made everything go well together. Pork shoulder was tender (although a little salty) Dessert was good - brownie was slightly two sweet for my taste, but those chocolate (and peanut) lovers will definitely appreciate it. The Japanese french toast was nice and fluffy. Had breakfast vibes, but still tasty. Service was really good since we went on a light night so definitely attentive. We ordered shrimp chips but it never came, so the server got us two half pours of wines that complement our dishes. As others notated, a little pricey but everything was good and was a great experience.

At Pai it's only a set course menu that you could choose from. There was not like an à la cart menu that you can pick and choose from. The dishes were very flavorful. The oyster had just the right amount of flavor. The smoky old-fashioned was strong and smooth, and the effect of the smoky cylinder presentation was on point. The furikake salmon was amazing, I would order that again and again. The portions were reasonably size and I actually had to take home leftovers because I was full. The brownie was basic but hits that sweet needed. Overall, I feel like it's a little overpriced, but the dishes were delicious.

I loved this place! Every dish was different with uniquely crafted flavors. The corn bread was the star of the show From the moment the warm, golden loaf arrives at your table, you know you're in for a treat. The exterior boasts a delicate crunch, hinting at the delights within, while the interior is a revelation of moist, tender crumb infused with the rich, sweet aroma of corn. Each bite is a symphony of flavor, balancing the subtle sweetness of the corn with a hint of savory goodness that keeps you coming back for more. While Pai Restaurant is known for its innovative fusion cuisine, the corn bread is a testament to the timeless appeal of Southern comfort food. The attentive staff at Pai Restaurant only adds to the dining experience, ensuring that every visit is nothing short of extraordinary. From their warm greetings to their genuine passion for hospitality, they elevate the enjoyment of each dish, including the legendary corn bread. Whether you're a local resident or a visitor to Honolulu, a visit to Pai is incomplete without savoring this delightful creation. Prepare to indulge in a slice of Southern heaven that will leave you craving more long after your meal has ended.

Another fabulous 5 star experience! Chef Kevin out did himself again! We will be back and we can't wait! First class all the way!

We were invited to a chefs private tasting as part of a tour offered at the property we stayed at. It was a very intimate experience and we were seated family style with other people from our tour, so we made some new friends!

Tucked away Downtown near the harbor is this cute restaurant PAI. ***Pre Fixe $95 per person **Corn Bread w/ Miso-Honey Butter (7/10) Corn bread was really good! Super soft and moist. Although I wasn't a fan of the miso honey butter. I thought it gave it an interesting after taste. Which I assume it's from the miso since it has an earthy taste to it. **Kampachi (supplemental $5) ~ 9/10 Highly recommend getting this! Super refreshing with bursts of flavors! The Kampachi tasted super fresh and the purée served on the side of it complimented the Kampachi very well. **Ginger Chicken Risotto ~ 7/10 I'm not a huge fan of Risotto, but this wasn't bad at all! The chicken skin on the top was crispy and gave the risotto a nice crunch texture. The risotto was really creamy and rich, but you can't really taste the pesto. **Slowed Furikake Salmon (supplemental $15) ~ 8/10 The furikake salmon was pretty decent! Super soft on the first bite and it was topped with ikura that was marinated in Yuzu sauce. It also came with a side of these vegetables that completed the salmon really well. **Molten Fudge Brownie ~ 9/10 One of my favorite dishes that was served. The Molten fudge brownie. It had the perfect gooeyness and it was warm. The sweetness from the gelato which I believe was bourbon vanilla infused complimented the flavors of the brownie so well. Overall, A little pricey for a pre-fixe, but it was really good. Service was on point and the food was delicious! I wouldn't mind coming back on a special occasion again! :)

My dining experience at Pai was deeply disappointing, bordering on feeling like a scam. I rarely write reviews, but I hope this one spares others from a similarly unfortunate experience. This review is about the Chef's Tasting Menu. Ambience: The restaurant is a modest space with an open kitchen layout. The decor is unremarkable, but what stood out immediately was the lack of staff--just 3 servers and 3 cooks, which raised our first red flag. Service: While the servers were polite, the service was far from polished. Our server, though well-intentioned, spoke so softly and mumbled through dish explanations that it was difficult to understand him. He also avoided eye contact and generally appeared nervous, which was another red flag. An especially odd moment occurred when one server interrupted us as we were providing feedback on a dish, eagerly interjecting with, "EXCELLENT, right?" I wish I was joking. Food: The food was the biggest letdown of the evening. The initial courses were mediocre at best, lacking the flavor and composition one would expect from a meal at this price point. From the Taro Puff course onwards, things took a turn for the worse--the puff was cold in the middle, and the dry-aged ribeye was nearly raw, and had a gummy texture. Additionally, the timing of the courses was odd, with some dishes arriving immediately and others taking 10-15 minutes. Although our server acknowledged the poor experience and apologized, the head chef--despite being informed of our dissatisfaction--never came out to address the situation or offer an explanation. Notably, our server also apologized to two other tables, suggesting our experience was not unique. I strongly advise against dining at Pai, especially for the Chef's Tasting Menu. Our experience was far from what one would expect for the price, and it was clear that we were not the only ones who felt this way. Be warned!

Delicious. Creative. Great service. Highly recommend. The bartender prepared some beautiful and delicious cocktails. We really appreciated that they offered a good selection of creative cocktails. We had the 3-course tasting menu. The cornbread with miso butter was so unique and tasty. I've never had shrimp chips but they were great, especially with the horseradish crème. The pork shoulder was the best I've had. So tender with a nice crunchy crust. The chicken mushroom and cauliflower was fantastic. Not something I wouldn't ordered normally but so glad I did. I would order it again. And dessert was a great way to end the meal... we enjoyed the panna cotta, the brownie and the cookies. All delicious. Our servers were friendly and professional. Chef Kevin came by to say hi. The restaurant was clean and nicely decorated. Overall, a wonderful dining experience. We'll be back.

I was looking forward to the chefs tasting experience after seeing that it was a top rated experience on OpenTable, and that this restaurant has fantastic reviews on multiple different food review platforms. The ambiance was nice and the service was attentive. While the food tasted alright and was plated quite nicely, it does not come close to what I would expect from a price tag of $210 per person. None of the dishes were particularly mind-blowing other than the glazed octopus and the squid agnolotti. Some dishes were even unenjoyable because some of the ingredients were either stale, raw, or too tough. I would not recommend coming to this restaurant for their chef's tasting menu, it is simply not worth the money and was overall a disappointing experience for us. Chef's Buttermilk Cornbread honey-miso batter 6/10, Cornbread was crumbly and tasted good with the miso butter. Bay Scallop white grape & clam gazpacho, jicama, marcona almond, pickled grapes, celery heart 5/10, The scallops lacked flavor, and the almonds tasted a bit stale, but the pickled grapes and celery hearts worked well together Samoan Crab & Opakapaka Siu Mai opakapaka, sweet corn, lemon zest, garlic chive 4/10, Could not taste the crab in the filling, texture and taste resembled bland generic Siu Mai Tamarind Glazed Baby Octopus truffle corn pudding, jicama, potato, cucumber, apple, mint, ginger wasabi dressing, chaat masala, cilantro, chickpea 6.5/10, tamarind glazed octopus itself was the best thing we tasted up until this point, but the cucumber's rawness dominated the other ingredients of the dish, which contributed very little flavor Squid Luau Agnolotti lomi tomato, limu, inamona (kukui nut & sea salt), green onion 8/10, our favorite portion of the tasting menu, seasoned well, every ingredient had a role on the dish, and had a good kick to it Duck Confit Katsu Bao five spiced duck confit, foie gras, sesame hoisin, green onion, cilantro 5/10, could not really taste the duck, there was too much bao bun compared to the filling, there was not enough of the sesame hoisin sauce, so it tasted dry 90 Day Dry-Aged Beef kona coffee & juniper, taro & potato gratin, shiitake mushroom & truffle purée 4/10, the beef was very tough and difficult to eat, the taro and potato gratin was a unique way of presenting starch in this dish, but it was pretty flavorless. Mai Tai Sherbet pineapple juice, orange juice, coconut milk, rum 7/10, refreshing, and the rum was not overpowering Strawberries & Créme Panna Cotta ume gelee, almond cookie crumble, matcha 6/10, The crumble was nice and crunchy, and was a good textual contrast to the panna Cotta

This was one of our last stops for our mini-honeymoon trip. This place was a friend's recommendation and we're so glad we tried it. We opted for the prix fixe course meal and it included a salad, a pasta dish, a main entree, and dessert! We pretty much tried each dish between the 2 of us and was able to enjoy every part of the meal that was offered. Most notably, the seafood was prepared exceptionally well in each dish that offered it. I've never had such soft and flavorful seafood cooked like that before. I didn't think much of the chicken risotto when we ordered it, but there was so much flavor packed into that small and simple dish. The fried chicken skin was a 10/10, loved it! My favorite dish of the night had to be between the octopus and watermelon main dish we had and the dessert. The warm and sweet watermelon went so well with the octopus that we couldn't help but each everything on the plate, down to the last sip of the broth/sauce. Ok but the dessert though, it was insane. Who would've thought to shave frozen foie gras over a warm piece of French toast? You're a genius. No words, just find memories to be honest. Experience was a 10/10, not to mention the wonderful service; the food was amazing, and we'd love to come back to celebrate another occasion when we can.

A hidden gem. Stumbled on this small restaurant by accident and I can't stop thinking about it. I've never had such welcoming service and out of the dozen or so items I had, none of them missed. Cocktails were wonderful, and I had to stop and think after every bite I had. I have worked in restaurants my entire life and words cannot describe how perfect my experience was. Me and my friends were lucky enough to meet the Chef/Owner and hear his story, and I cannot wait to go back and experience more. The best restaurant on the islands.

Service is amazing. Made reservations online and emailed about dietary restrictions. I got the 4 course meal and my husband got the tasting menu. My kampachi was good but I would have loved a bit more kick in flavor. The risotto was amazing but the egg poha was ok. The French toast was very good though. My husbands tasting menu was way better. The agnolotti pasta, soy mai and bao were top notch. Drinks a bit bouzy but good! Overall great food. Only draw back was the temp. Felt very humid in room which made eating a long course a bit uncomfortable. FYI parking at Harbour court was a fixed at 2 dollars during our dinner time period.

Very very very disappointed experience dining here. On February 2nd my girlfriends & I came to dine here, our reservations were at 5pm. We were looking forward to trying this place for a while & unfortunately our excitement quickly turned into disappointment. In the beginning of our dining experience we told our server that our friend has a very serious pistachio, hazelnut, & cashew allergy & can go into anaphylactic shock. We purposely ordered accordingly since they weren't able to accommodate for the premixed pesto in the ginger chicken risotto & ginger maitake arancini dishes. We asked for the kampachi without pistachios, the server brought us the kampachi dish WITH pistachios. So the dish had to get sent back. Then we ordered the roasted parsnip & fennel salad, we only ordered that because the description on the menu did not have any nuts in it; which is a huge red flag for anyone who had a nut allergy. When the salad was brought to our table, my friend with the nut allergy put salad on her plate & as she was about to eat it, luckily, she noticed there were nuts in the salad. We asked the server what those nuts were, she had to ask the chef, & come to find out they were hazelnut. Thank God we noticed the nuts before our friend started to eat the salad. The item was sent back. What was supposed to be fun & relaxing dinner after a very long work week for the 3 of us, turned into a very displeased experience. We kept having to be extra vigilant by checking our food because our server did not take the situation seriously. She looked annoyed every time we had to send dishes back that contained nuts, & gave us half ass apologies each time. She did not seem genuinely sorry at all. At the end of the dinner, we left feeling upset & saddened by the experience, especially by the lack of urgency to the situation. I will be calling management when they are open on Thursday to discuss this matter. We are very blessed that our dining experience did not turn into a traumatic one had our friend ingested nuts because of carelessness on the restaurants end if she went into anaphylactic shock, had to get rushed to the ER, & possibly died. This is the first time my girlfriends & I have dined at an establishment that lacked empathy, understanding, & urgency to this serious matter. We understand mistakes happen but we had to remind our server 3 TIMES about the nut allergy, at that point, it was carelessness. We still tipped 20% on over a $350 bill, I'd say we were more than generous. To make up for the server's constant mistakes, all she did was bought us a round of drinks & took the salad off of our bill. That is not enough at all to make up for the frustrating experience we had.

I've been wanting to check out PAI Honolulu for some time now. Last Thursday, I was lucky to celebrate my belated birthday dinner here with my girlfriends. Truly dining in style. Reservations made easily on the Open Table app. The entrance to the parking structure is on Bethel Street. Don't forget to get your ticket validated. With validation, we paid $2 for 3 hours. PAI Honolulu is located on the ground floor of Harbor Court. As soon as you approach the restaurant, not only are you in awe by the simple elegant ambiance, you are also welcomed with smiles and warm greetings from the restaurant workers. We arrived at the table, and our menus were printed with a birthday greeting at the top. Sweet touch. We decided to order cocktails, rather than doing the wine pairing. *Lilikoi Agua Fresca (lilikoi, pineapple, mint, and soda) - I ordered it with vodka. It was refreshing and delicious. It tasted like a lilikoi mojito - my fave. (5/5) We went with the 4-course prix fixe menu for $95 per person, along with the extra snacks to start. *Oscietra Caviar & Oyster ($25 for 2-pcs): dressed with lilikoi mignonette and Pai fire water. Oyster sat on a pile of salt and a bed of ogo. The most expensive oyster, but also the best I've ever had. The oyster was fresh, clean, and flavor was on point. (6/5) *Shrimp Chips ($8): accompanied with horseradish crème fraìche and charred Maui onions. We were a little hesitant at first and then couldn't think of eating shrimp chips any other way. Wow. Paired so well together. (6/5) *Chef's Buttermilk Cornbread: served with miso-butter honey. Dense cornbread paired well with the creamy butter. (4/5) *Citrus Cured Kona Kampachi ($5 extra): with baby carrots, spiced carrot puree, pepitas, and ginger wasabi dressing. This was a pleasant way to start the 4-course meal. (5/5) *Ginger Chicken Risotto: prepared with ginger-scallion pesto, chicken confit, pecorino, mustard crème fraìche, cashew nut, and Korean chili thread. I love risotto. This was a nice change to the usual. The chicken skin pieces were a wonderful addition to this dish. (5/5) *Slow Roasted Pork Shoulder: over creamy polenta, succotash of black bean, parsnip, butternut squash, kobacha, and corn. I liked it. A bit rustic for my liking. My friend enjoyed it though. Compared to the other dishes, for me, this could have used something extra. Could have used some sweetness or heat. (4/5) *Dark Chocolate Molten Brownie: topped with salted caramel, cacao nibs, toasted peanuts, and peanut butter cookie crumble. Accompanied with peanut bourbon gelato. If you love chocolate, you'll love this. So rich. So good. (5/5) For my birthday, I was presented with a complimentary dessert, a red velvet cookie with Kona coffee gelato. A nice treat. I was so full from our amazing 4-course meal, I shared the birthday dessert with my friends, and we still couldn't finish it. Overall, PAI Honolulu is top notch. Ambiance, service and food/drinks were all impeccable. The chef is innovative with his menu. He truly thinks outside the box, and it pays off. Some dishes may sound odd, but somehow, everything works. Thanks PAI Honolulu for a beautiful and filling birthday dinner.

Haven't been here in a long while. It was nice to be back. New menu, great service and good food. They still have the Chefs tasting menu and now you can choose three or four Course menu options or just small plates if you choose.

Our experience at Pai was a great disappointment. We had hoped for a nice last meal in Honolulu, but the food ranged from mediocre to poor in quality and was extremely slow. Service: Our servers were polite but lacked the polish and professionalism we would expect from a restaurant at this price point ($210 per person). Our server, though well-intentioned, spoke very softly and mumbled the dish explanations so we had difficulty understanding him, and he generally appeared nervous, avoiding eye contact. Ambiance: The restaurant, which seats only ~12 parties to begin with, was no more than half full. The bluetooth speaker kept disconnecting, so every 10 minutes the music stopped and we heard an automated notification that the bluetooth speaker was disconnected. When the fire alarm went off in the middle of the meal, none of the servers stopped by to explain what was happening. We had a view into the open kitchen which only had 3-4 kitchen staff in it, including the head chef-- this may have contributed to the painstakingly slow pacing of the meal. Food: We had the Chef's Tasting Menu. The dishes, each of which drew from a different global influence (Southern, Japanese, Chinese, Italian, French, etc.) lacked cohesion as an overall menu. The food itself was the biggest letdown. * Chef's buttermilk cornbread - 5/10. The cornbread was good/ordinary though the honey-miso butter was tasty. * Kona kanpachi - 5/10. Three small pieces of kanpachi and two tiny pieces of scallop. The dish was nice but could have used a more generous portion of seafood as most of it was cucumber, tomato, and puree. * Samoan crab purse - 6/10. Though slightly one dimensional, there was good amount of crab and filling and as dim sum lovers, we appreciated the take on siu mai. * Lobster Cioppino - 6/10. The cioppino was flavorful and the half lobster tail was well cooked. However, the pieces of fennel on the side were confusing as they were not really integrated into the dish. * Escargot toppogi - 6/10. One of the better dishes, a combination of escargot and small pieces of tteobboki in a pesto sauce that worked well but didn't wow us. The two carrots on top, which might have been meant to provide freshness, were raw and out of place. * Duck confit taro puff - 3/10. This is where the meal went rapidly downhill. According to the menu, the taro puff contained duck confit and foie gras rags with cabbage, shoyu mustard, and micro shiso. All of this was overpowered by the taste of cumin. The texture inside was oily and gooey with nothing to relieve the heaviness. Moreover, part of the filling was cold inside. * 90 Day Dry-Aged Ribeye - 2/10. Two very rare, small blocks of meat were gummy in texture and lukewarm in temperature. The cauliflower was ok and so was the XO sauce but the steak itself can only be described as terrible. * Mai Tai Sherbet - skipped. At this point, we explained to the waiter that the meal had been taking a long time and we were not enjoying the food and asked if we could skip to dessert. * Dark Chocolate Haupia - 5/10. The chocolate haupia itself was neat and tasted fine but the crumble was gritty. Our final bill came out to $470, which is frankly outrageous for what we got. It is difficult to fathom how such a meal could be priced at a Michelin level. Our waiter apologized to us at the end for the slow and disappointing experience and we overheard him apologizing to at least two other tables as well, which suggests that our experience was unfortunately not unique.

Had a wonderful experience at PAI, everything from booking our reservation for our anniversary, to the staff, the food, and the whole experience! I communicated with Justine via email to book our reservation and they printed specialty menus for us to celebrate the occasion! It's a small restaurant with an even smaller staff so it seemed like everyone did everything. However, I would say that our main server was Khristian who is the restaurant's bar manager and mixologist. He was amazing, and his cocktails were fantastic. You can tell he puts a lot of love into his cocktails. We got their standard prix fixe menu and an 8-course chef's tasting menu. It's truly a fine dining experience here and it was a lot of fun. Some of our favorite dishes from both of these menus: - buttermilk cornbread - samoan crab - lamb - NY striploin - Japanese sweet bread french toast Biggest and main downside is that the restrooms are not located in the restaurant and you have to literally be escorted by a staff member to unlock the restroom. Overall great experience and would definitely recommend!

I came here in late May to celebrate a friend's birthday. We did the 4 course prix fixe with wine pairings and had the chef's table. First of all, JUSTINE IS AWESOME! She is who you will be emailing with to make reservations and handles the special occasions. I LOVE how this restaurant custom prints menus with your occasion at the top, and knowing my friend was pescatarian, their menu had the dishes altered so there was no meat dishes (or a veggie option listed). Justine came over and said hi and even poured one of our wine courses! She is awesome and the wife of the head chef! We started with the shrimp chips, for only $8 a great add on. and then the courses began! The pacing of the meal was perfect, the wine pairings perfect, and each dish was better than the last. I can't choose a favorite! Across the two of us we tried almost everything. Highlights were the salmon main, and the peanut butter chocolate dessert, and the squid agnolotti. Also the kampachi.....everything! Presentation, taste, service- everything as top notch. We even got to meet the owner and chef. Everyone knew who we were and what our occasion was....we felt so special! This is an amazing way to celebrate any occasion and I highly recommend!

Hidden Gem! Pai Honolulu's atmosphere was terrific, the local live music by Taz Vegas was awesome, he played and sang some of the classic Hawaiian songs from the 80s and some new stuff, fitting the music with the audience. The volume of music and conversation was just right, perfect setting to enjoy pupus, cocktails, and talking story. We had the pizza, bread sampler, cornbread, cookies, and shrimp chips and all were so ono, I loved their fancy cocktails mixed up by Torie (sp?) with the Calamansi Drop being my favorite followed by the Lehua. Service by Lauren and Kate was excellent too! This is a great place to enjoy with friends and family or to impress that special someone.

This restaurant deserves a Michelin star!!! We had been to PAI a few years ago and loved it! Decided to go again and try their prix fix 4 course menu. To celebrate my nieces high school graduation. The atmosphere is lovely with an open kitchen for us to see where all "the action" takes place. We started with with shrimp chips that brought back childhood memories of growing up in SF and their amazing buttermilk cornbread with miso honey butter. The citrus cured Kampachi was great and my favorite dish Ginger chicken risotto was divine! The subtle flavors infused were delicate and bursting w flavor. Honestly I will dream about this this dish for many years!! The vanilla custard French toast was out of this world. If you want to go on a culinary experience that will permeate your senses you must go to Pai.

The food here is amazing! The food and experience is definitely worth it. We came here for a friend's birthday and they even had personalized menus for the event. I ordered from the pre fixe menu, which comes with the cornbread and you can choose from sets of appetizers, pasta, entree, and dessert. Each of the dishes were portioned out perfectly. I left full but didn't feel disgustingly full either. The crab and avo salad and cornbread came out first. Both were really good. The pasta dish might have been my favorite though. I ordered the lamb agnolotti (kind of like a ravioli-type dish). It was super flavorful and cooked well. It was a bit rich though, so I'm glad the dish wasn't bigger than it was. The mushroom entree was also excellent. It was kind of weird just eating mushrooms and cauliflower for a main dish, but I loved it! The flavors from the sauce and the vinegar really blended well with the mushrooms. The apple pai was superb and I would recommend it if you like apple desserts. The service here was also excellent. They also have their own parking lot for the building (they do validation). The parking structure is a bit low though, so I wouldn't recommend going in with large trucks or SUVs.

PAI is genuinely one of the best restaurants in Honolulu. We had reservations for a Thursday evening and chose the chef's tasting menu. Every single dish was crafted perfectly; the flavors were elevated and very thoughtful. We didn't want the dining experience to end! We were able to observe Chef Kevin Lee curate each plate meticulously and the open concept was lovely! You can definitely feel his passion in the kitchen. Also, the staff were awesome and quite knowledgable (Khristian is a sommelier so he had the best recommendations and he's super knowledgeable on the wine pairings). We enjoyed every dish and my favorites were the Lamb Look Fun, Sisig Lasagna, Chilled Lobster, and the Turnip Cake! In terms of drinks, I highly recommend Lehua and Smoked-out Cortes. I can't say enough good things about PAI - will definitely come back again!

Second time here just as great as the first time! The Chef excels on creativity and definitely executes to perfection. The Somoan Crab and Chilled lobster were great starters that kept me wanting more! His signature Agedashi XO Turnip Cake was superb and you can definitely understand why it is one of the Chef's signature dishes. The NY Striploin was super yummy and had a Kai Coffee and Juniper crust. I love this restaurant and look forward to coming back in the near future to try his other inventive and delicious dishes!

Let's get straight to it. Every dish feels cherry-picked and methodically well put-together. **Fresh oysters with lilikoi mignonette. Refreshing flavor with spin to it. It's like almost like they are showcasing a Hawaiian flavor paired with the freshest and sweetest oysters. Loveeeed it. **Cornbread with honey miso butter. YES YES YES. Yes, I know. I have a peasant tongue due to my attraction to bread. Have you ever tried bread that's lightly toasted but warm and moist on the inside with a strong aroma of sweet corn then dipped with honey-flavored miso-y butter? The savory concoction is literally like angels dancing in your mouth. Salivating as I write this review. The cornbread carried this review so hard as it was going to be a 4 star review due to the entrees being a miss. **Citrus flavored kanpachi. The dish had an salty avocado mousse with almonds and what I believe to be cabbage. Gosh, just blew my mind away! Unfortunately the main dishes were both a miss for us. The ginger steamed snapper made me reminiscent of homemade fish dishes however it was incredibly light in flavor... which I completely understand due to the mala oil so the flavor slowly builds up... but still not there. Braised pork shoulder was obv sweet and not for my palette. Had Great conversations with the waiter. Loved the ambiance as it was remote and intimate. It felt like we were the only ones in the restaurant. Complimentary wine to celebrate our 4 year Anniversary! Definitely will be back to try their next seasonal menu. Ambiance: 10/10 Customer service: 10/10 Food: 9/10 Price: $$$ Parking: Street

This is my new favorite go to date night spot. I consider this place to be fine dining but aloha style. What I mean is, you can dress casual but enjoy a five star preset meal. The ambiance is chill. Service is very attentive and they answer every question while also explaining in detail where the ingredients come from and how the food is prepared. Book your reservations now and enjoy some ono grindz!

So due to concerns from COVID, my friends and I were unable to keep our appointment at PAI (I was very very sad). HOWEVER... PAI was able to do a take out menu for their Prix Fix Course and my friends and I couldn't be happier! Presentation (5/5) - Wow...literally the first words to come out of all our mouths! Because our dinner was for a birthday dinner, they kindly boxed up our meals in individual boxes. With it personalized, we were able to know who's meal was who's without any confusion. Due to their nicely packaged plates (or I guess containers in this situation) no food was disturbed and we were able to enjoy the beauty of the chef's presentation. Taste (5/5) - each plate was filled with flavor, good portion sizes, and tasted wonderful. From the appetizers to dessert, every bite was mouthwatering and made our taste buds dance. I probably will try to request for more bread next time if it's possible...it was soooo good, I really wanted more! If you want the fine dining experience with your friends or loved ones at the privacy of your home, consider ordering from PAI! Although the experience would have been grander at the restaurant, we were not disappointed by the quality of the food and time the chef and the staff put into making our birthday celebration a wonderful one! **DISCLAIMER - I forgot to take a pic of the Hamachi dish because we were so busy talking and eating that by the time I realized, it was too late

We had such a lovely evening at pai Honolulu. The ambiance, service and food were all on point. Open kitchen concept with a few other tables makes for an intimate dining experience. Desmond and Laurel were super helpful with menu suggestions and all around great service. We enjoyed everything we ate and drank and highly recommend pa

Tonight's forecast: 99% chance of wine! Thank you Patrick Okubo and Chef Ken Lee for hosting a fabulous wine dinner at Pai Honolulu. While speaking with the servers, some of the menu items served on this night are regular items on their menu, but others were created special for this wine pairing event. Nonetheless, everything was fantastic! I really enjoyed the BBQ Brisket with Buttered Corn Risotto. I'm not a fan of beef, but this brisket was so tender and the fatty piece on it made it even that more delectable. And the buttered corn risotto complimented the meatiness of the dish, ever so nicely. The Kai Coffee Crusted Venison with Truffle Broccoli Jus was also very well prepared. The broccoli created a nice rich flavor to balance out the saltiness of the jus, and the venison was also very tender. As for the Fresh Fruit Tart with Dark Chocolate Pudding and a Graham Cracker Crust, it was good, but while cutting through the crust, I was afraid the tart was going to fly off my plate. The crust was hard to cut through and the insides were soft (pudding and fruit), so I opted to eat everything inside and then work on the outside. But the flavors came together, both sweet and tart. Don't even ask me about what wines were paired with the courses, because really, I was just here for the food #losemoney All in all, the servers were very attentive to our needs, and special shout out to Khristian who really went above and beyond to make this meal enjoyable for us! We'll definitely be back to try more items on your regular menu!

This was the first restaurant I visited back in May after quarantining for over a year during COVID. We opted for outdoor seating, which is in a covered courtyard. Because I was in the early stages of pregnancy, my appetite was nowhere near what it used to be so guess what... The husband got to eat his meal and part of mine as well. Unfortunately I don't remember many details about the experience, but the service was excellent, and the dishes were creative and fresh. Can definitely recommend for a fancy date or occasion.

Very weird restaurant location inside a residential building (our Lyft driver was very confused) across the street from the theater, but the food and service was great. Our server was actually a legit wine sommelier which was pretty cool. Told us water sommeliers were a thing too lol. We ordered the 8 course that took about 2 hours so here we go: 1. Buttermilk Cornbread: pretty funny to have on the menu but it's definitely good stuff. Moist, fluffy, buttery, rich and corny. Good size too and lots of butter on the side. 2. Inaniwa udon: more like fresh-made ramen noodles than udon but the chilled noodles were a good al dente. The trout roe was pretty strong but also a good salty flavor. I didn't really notice the cucumber but my friend swore she tasted a bit of wasabi. If you're not a fan of roe though, I would suggest bringing a friend cuz I ate my friend's portion. Definitely a very noodle "salad"-esque appetizer. 3. Chilled lobster: good big pieces of lobster that was cooked perfectly and wasn't chewy at all. More crispy like a chilled shrimp salad. The truffle corn pudding tasted like pureéd corn. Also a very refreshing dish. 4. Agedashi XO Turnip Cake: didn't really notice the turnip but definitely tasted like a crispy tofu that was hot and fluffy on the inside. The broth was a good contrast from the chilled dishes earlier. Strong daikon flavor that wasn't sweet but wasn't too savory. 5. Grilled tako: a crispy and got a good char octopus leg with a mildly spicy curry that had a rich flavor. Slightly sweet that went really well with the octopus and crispy noodles on top as a fancy crouton texture. Would've been great with a scoop of rice or bread too. 6. BBQ Brisket Gnocchi: can't say I was a fan of the gnocchi as it was more like mash potato texture and flavor and not the chewy mochi texture I was used to. Great for potato lovers though. The BBQ brisket was great though. Smoky and had a great seasoned crust. Not chewy at all and went well with the crispy chips. I opted out of the blue cheese but they sprinkled a generous serving for my friend. 7. Moloka'i Venison: honestly the broccoli was the best part. Slightly grilled, crunchy and big. We joked that the venison was the garnish and the broccoli was the real star of the dish. Saw a couple who didn't finish their broccoli and we were appalled. Venison was cooked closer to rare than medium rare but it was tender with that coffee crust. A slightly gamier steak cut with a good slight bitterness to it. The sauce had rum I believe. 8. Watermelon dragonfruit soju sorbet: I didn't notice the soju but my friend did, so your mileage may vary. I thought it tasted like a sweeter watermelon sorbet, hard to notice the dragonfruit. Pretty refreshing palette cleanser. 9. Mango Panna Cotta: one of the best desserts I've had. A sweet pickled mango gelato with the red li hing powder that gave it a slight sour punch. A mango panna cotta that was like a slightly sweet delicate jello with that strong black sesame brittle contrast. Perfect balance of sweet, salty, savory and sour. I could've eaten a Costco size of it and not get bored. For drinks, I got the blueberry mocktail which was okay but the green tea was bad. I swear they got some generic basic paper tea bag brand like Lipton or Bigalow. It wasn't even a silk tea bag or tea leaves. Would not recommend for tea drinkers. Overall, best place we ate in Honolulu out of the 3 prefixed menu restaurants we went to. Definitely recommend for anyone in the area. Just don't order the hot tea.

Chef Kevin and his wife Justine have created a memorable experience of wine and food pairings! The food is phenomenal as was the service. We were constantly surprised as each course arrived and they did not disappoint! This has become my favorite restaurant on Oahu!!!

Dining at Pai Honolulu is an experience that's truly close to my heart. From the moment my partner and I decided to have our wedding reception there, we knew we made the right choice. The food was beyond compare, a culinary journey that left all our guests raving for weeks. But it wasn't just the food that made our day unforgettable; it was the warmth and dedication of the staff. They treated us not just as customers, but as family, going above and beyond to make our special day perfect. And the professionalism of the kitchen, their seamless operation and passion for their craft, was evident in every dish served. It's these qualities that draw us back time and again, not just for the exceptional cuisine but for the feeling of coming home. Pai Honolulu will always hold a special place in our hearts, and we look forward to creating more memories there in the years to come.

Such a beautiful place with great ambiance and staff! They're we're super welcoming to my group that accidentally got our reservation time wrong and still sat sus right away. The prefix menu was great and everything was nicely plated. I did the wine pairing as well and really enjoyed listening to the history and how much the sommelier knew about the wines. Love this place!

What a fun experience! PAI is a perfect place to visit if you're looking for a tasting menu that delivers. They have options for this; the chefs tasting menu with 8 courses which is $185pp or the monthly prix fixe, which is customizable and $95pp. We opted for the $95pp option and did not regret it. Location is weird, to be blunt. You would never just stumble across this place. It's located in a tucked corner inside a city building, which keeps it a bit stuffy, but the decor is gorgeous. We sat outside, which is completely covered and semi-indoors. I would sit inside next time. Our server, Leah, deserves 5 stars and beyond. She was fabulous. Funny, knowledgeable, and provided excellent service. She was always there when we needed her, but never overbearing. As a plus, she took fabulous photos! We basically ended up trying just about everything on the menu. Some items were fantastic and others were a bit lackluster. We were not blown away by the cocktails, even after trying quite a few, but the first course (the cornbread) was kicka**. Best cornbread I've ever had. The salads; both the candy cane beet salad and the crab and avocado salad were delicious. One of my favorite courses. Even more delicious was the pasta course. The curry bolognese was FANTASTIC. Such an unexpected and perfect combo of flavors. The mushroom lasagna with blue cheese creme was also really tasty. Sadly, the main entree course was our least favorite. Two of us ordered the short rib entree, which was disappointingly bland and average. Especially for an up-charge, it wasn't worth it. The short ribs weren't as tender as we had hoped and there was close to no sauce on the plate, leaving the whole dish dry. The hamachi redeemed this course, which was flavorful and perfectly cooked. Luckily, we were sharing so we did get quite a few delicious bites each. Desserts were all great. No complaints there. Overall, we had a nice night and an enjoyable experience. Huge thanks to Leah for taking such good care of us!