Senia

Senia – Where to Go in Oahu for Tasty Hawaiian Food Served with Artistic Flair
Local Expert's Rating:
4 / 5
The Bottom Line:

Are you looking for the top spot in Honolulu for artistically-plated dishes served alongside innovative drinks? If so, you cannot go wrong with a trip to Senia. Their culinary expertise shines through in all they do, while their quiet atmosphere and friendly service completes the fine dining experience.

- The HawaiianIslands.com Local Expert Team

Ultra-fresh ingredients, imaginative cooking techniques, and truly artistic plating all come together to help Senia stand out from the crowd. At this upscale Honolulu eatery, you can enjoy all the top Hawaiian and New American culinary creations, like Maui Venison Tartare and Herb Roasted Rack of Lamb. Their friendly service helps complete the fine dining experience, as does their chic yet inviting atmosphere.

If that sounds like just what you need in your life, you’re going to have to plan ahead to get a taste. Senia only opens up shop for a few short hours each evening to provide dinner service. Their tables stay occupied from open to close as a result, all filled with patrons who booked their spot at least 30 days in advance.

Once you manage to get on the schedule, you’re in for a real treat. From the second you walk through the doors of Senia, the staff will send friendly alohas flying your way, and then lead you to your table. You can then opt for the full tasting menu to get small bite plates of all their top offerings. If you’d rather choose a single menu item to savor, you can order off their regular menu instead.

Either way, be sure to start your dining experience with an appetizer and a drink of their large menu of cocktails, wine, beer, and non-alcoholic beverages. Then, you can sit and browse through all the menu items at your leisure while whetting your appetite.

As each of your selections arrives at the table, give yourself some time to simply admire the beautiful plating. The artistic flair that goes into assembling each dish at Senia is always a true sight to behold – and wholly ‘Gram-worthy if you have a moment to snap a photo.

The must-try items at Senia include:

Ahi Brioche
To start your meal off right, you definitely need the Ahi Brioche in your life. To create this snack plate, they take slices of brioche bread and top them with tasty Ahi cooked to perfection. To amp up the flavors, even more, they add avocado, tamarind, and shio kombu over the top.

Tuna Salad Nicoise
If you’ve always loved tuna salad, you’ll want to see how Senia takes this fan-favorite to the next level by ordering the Tuna Salad Nicoise. They build this dish by chopping up Kupu Place lettuce and placing tuna over the top. Then, to bring all the flavors together beautifully, they add a quail egg and anchovies to the mix.

Roasted Bone Marrow
A decadent delight through and through, the Roasted Bone Marrow never fails to impress with its big, bold flavors. They start this dish long before they open their doors to help create the perfect flavor profile. Once you order it, they plate up the marrow along with Hawaiian sweet rolls, oxtail marmalade, and piccalilli. If you’d like even more sweet rolls, just ask, but they are an extra charge.

Triple Smoked King Salmon
Served as a share plate for two to four people, the Triple Smoked King Salmon promises to tantalize your tastebuds from the very first bite. To create this masterpiece, Senia smokes the salmon with three different hardwoods and then serve it with a maple butter glaze. Lemon and chive waffles arrive alongside to help elevate the delicious flavors and fill you up right.

At each visit, it’s well worth trying to save room for the scrumptious desserts at Senia. If you’re a chocolate lover, then don’t hesitate to order their L’Opera. This amazing treat pairs Waialua chocolate with Kona coffee and hazelnuts to create a flavor combo to remember. No matter which dessert you select, the exquisite flavors and fun plating techniques will undoubtedly leave you wholly impressed.

Insider Tips:
-If you’d like to easily make reservations, just use the online system on their website.
-Expect a 20% service charge when dining with six or more people in your party.
-When ordering share plates, give them an extra 25 to 30 minutes to get everything prepared.