Whenever you need to take a load off after shopping your heart out at the Kukui Grove Center, you can count on Kalapaki Joe’s to restore your energy. Their delicious food and bright, flavorful drinks serve as a quick pick-me-up any time of the day. Since they’re open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner seven days a week, it’s easy to find time to swing by – and you’ll be glad you did.
Your dining experience starts with a quick check in at the front of the restaurant. There’s not always someone there to greet you, but when there is, you’ll get a warm welcome and plenty of alohas. If not, just sign your name in the book and they’ll get you to a table once one opens up. They have seating available indoors and out, so you can decide where you’d like to dine in style.
If you park yourself at an indoor table, you can watch all the local sports playing on the screens all around. At the outdoor tables, on the other hand, the chill atmosphere allows you to simply focus on grubbing on your favorite foods. Either way, you’re definitely in for a treat, especially if you decide to start with an appetizer or two plus your drinks of choice.
Since they’re a sports bar, they don’t disappoint in the drinks department. In an effort to support local brewers, they have a huge list of beer, hard seltzer, and other alcoholic beverages from nearby vendors. On top of that, they have all the major bottled beer brands plus white, red, and sparkling wine of all kinds. If you prefer something a little fancier, turn your attention to their cocktail menu instead.
As for their food, it’s typical bar fare, but that doesn’t mean it’s not downright delicious. They have all the Hawaiian staples, like Loco Moco, Poke Nachos, and Ahi Tacos, plus a whole lot more. No matter what you order, consider adding avocado to the mix for an extra charge. The bright flavors and creamy texture take their dishes to the next level, especially if you go for a taco or two.
Their must-try items include:
Hawaiian Bananas Foster French Toast
When you want to kick your day into high gear right from the very start, stop by for the Hawaiian Bananas Foster French Toast. They create this iconic dish by slicing Hawaiian sweet bread into four big wedges. Then, they dip it in their flavorful batter, fry it until golden brown, and cover the whole lot in Foster sauce teeming with fresh bananas.
Nobu Poke Nachos
Simply known as the Ultimate, the Nobu Poke Nachos are built for sharing, although you’ll want to keep them all to yourself after the first bite. To build this amazing appetizer, they start by whipping up a batch of ultra-fresh ahi poke. Then, they put the poke over fried white corn tortilla chips and add avocado and pico de gallo. Wasabi aioli and teri glaze get drizzled over top before furikake finishes it off right.
Hippie Tacos
When you want to chow down on taco goodness while skipping the meat, the Hippie Tacos are the way to go. They make this entrée by chopping up Beyond Burger and seasoning it with all the right taco spices. Then, they put it in two six-inch flour tortillas and pile on the grilled onions and mushrooms, pico de gallo, avocado salsa, romaine lettuce, and parmesan. As if that’s not enough, sweet potatoes come alongside to bring everything together.
If you want discounts on drinks and appetizers, come in any day from 3 pm to 6 pm. On Tuesdays, it gets even better. Every Tuesday is ‘Taco Tuesday,’ after all, so swing by for deals for days on Steak Street Tacos during happy hour. They do have a two-drink minimum, but that’s easy to meet with so many excellent options on the menu.
Insider Tips:
-The local made hard seltzer flavors change on the regular depending on the batches received each week.
-If you love to get your beer right out of the tap, look to their tap wall to see what’s available.