Kapiolani Seafood Restaurant

Taking everything into consideration, our dim sum experience here was good. Leave it to our compatriots from Guangdong; they have the ability to turn any restaurant, anywhere on earth, into an old Hong Kong-style dim sum eatery. The atmosphere was quite noisy, with crowds waiting in the cramped space left over from packing tables into a room clearly not meant for them. Just like your standard run of the mill Hong Kong dim sum eatery. As for the food, the dishes were pretty tasty. Everything we tried was above average for Honolulu, though more or less average or slightly below average when compared to the dim sum scene in Los Angeles, a 3/star at best. The service was friendly and quick, and the seating area was tight and noisy—no surprises there.

Our foodie group held our annual lunar new year gathering of 33 people - 11 per table, which was too tight but that was our fault for not capping the guest count. The staff was very helpful and accommodating, and everyone thought our set menu selection ($50 per person) was excellent. By the final dishes, though, we were too stuffed to really eat it all. BTW, they serve the rice and veggies toward the end, so if you want those served earlier in the course, you should request that. Parking is a bit of an issue - spots are limited in the lot, so come early before the dining rush if you want to snag one.

Stopped by Kapiolani Seafood and was pleasantly surprised. It’s in a blue, slightly run-down building, but don’t let that fool you. The food was good. I ordered the clams with black bean sauce, green beans, dumplings, and fried rice. Everything came out flavorful, hot, and fresh. Service was fast and straightforward, and there’s parking available, which is a big plus in this area. Overall, a solid spot if you’re looking for good, no-frills seafood and Chinese dishes. I’d definitely come back.

The dining area is packed full of local people catching up with friends, eating with older relatives. There are a few couples. The process to get a table is a little unclear. Some people were sitting outside, but at the cashier counter a notepad of names and party count seem to be used somewhat. I had to chase someone down to inquire whether there was a wait. Then the people sitting outside came inside and she said "who was first?" She quickly triaged us to 3 different tables. The menu is a paper half sheet and a laminated color picture menu to aid people in making the correct selections. The order is confirmed; tea pot and cups are delivered; paper inventory of your order is taped to the table. As food is delivered they are crossed off the sheet. The portion sizes are very large here. We

Yesterday I got to try the Sichuan Spicy Boiled Fish Fillet and it was my first time trying and it tasted so good. Also, the the service was very friendly and helpful.