House Without a Key

Amy BreazealeGoogle Maps

Recently

We’ve been here many times and I have been remiss to leave a review. We always come back because there’s just something about this spot. It will capture your heart from the minute you enter. Especially sunset! Make sure you book in advance! We’ve had many many dishes here, we always love the Margherita pizza. The VERY best thing on the menu is the ICONIC Coconut Cake. 🍰 🤤🤌🏻 Tonight we decided to try the coconut ribs. I was a little surprised that they weren’t fall off the bone, but the flavor is outstanding. If you’ve never been here when you’re in Waikiki, you absolutely must give it a try! Book the lawn at sunset for the Hawaiian music. There is nothing like it. Enjoy! -John 3:17

Chelle DGoogle Maps

Recently

Best meal we had on the island and most memorable! The food was fantastic, the band was amazing, the dancing performed by Ms. Hawai'i/Ms. Universe, Brooke Lee was exquisite. The sunset and view was spectacular. It was a normal meal but this location made it a special night. Try the coconut cake. It's the best I've ever had!

Johnny XGoogle Maps

Recently

Incredible food, atmosphere and service. My wife got the swordfish special and I got braised short rib. Flavor was incredible. We also got two desserts, the coconut cake and chocolate cake, both very good. Atmosphere was awesome with live music and right by the ocean. My only gripe was that we made a reservation for 830 not knowing it closed at 9 on weekdays and before even sitting down they told us that the last call for everything was 9. Live music also stopped at 830. Although we were able to order and eat everything we felt a bit rushed and they started cleaning the restaurant halfway through our meal. They even asked if they could take our drink menu while we were in the middle of eating. Other than that, would highly recommend this place looking for a romantic dinner by the water.

Faith McleanGoogle Maps

Recently

Thomas, our server, was excellent. He was attentive and communicative. This review is not about him! We were sadly not impressed… and we ordered lots of dishes to try. For the price, you do not receive a lot of food. Refills are charged… the Chef’s special had no flavor unless you dipped it in the tartar sauce. My Caesar salad was good… but nothing special. And wasn’t cut up haha Our crab cake… was one crab cake… for $34… and it fell apart. It was a ball of loose crab. The sauce to dip it in was amazing though! Band was nice and helped the atmosphere. It seemed the staff was somewhat stressed, which I understand because there were a lot on people on a Friday night. We received our drinks, club soda and Diet Coke, and they were very watered down. We told our server Thomas and he was very kind and brought us new ones and poured them in front of us, which we didn’t even ask for! Thank you!! Ribs were very yummy!! Overall… for the price… you can go elsewhere…

William “Bill” OwenGoogle Maps

Recently

Amazing experience at House Without A Key! We began the evening on the oceanfront lawn with cocktails, including their house specialties -- Mai Tai and Coconut Cake Martini -- followed by entertainment with a band playing relaxing Hawaiian music and performances by hula dancers, while marveling at the sunset over the Pacific horizon. During the performance we enjoyed an appetizer of three types of sashimi and poke, all presented in different preparations. After cocktails, we were seated in the open air dining area -- still close enough to the show to be able to enjoy the outdoor performance. Dinner was excellent as well. For our appetizer, we enjoyed a crab cake that was filled with real crab, not breading. Our main course consisted of the house catch of the day, a Hawaiian swordfish that was cooked to perfection. Service at House Without A Key was impeccable, both in the cocktail area and in the restaurant. Highly recommended!

K YGoogle Maps

Recently

Gorgeous restaurant with the most amazing sunset and diamond head views. The food was delicious, and it seemed the pizza was very popular We were celebrating our 1 year wedding anniversary and did not received any sort of celebratory experience. Unusual for a nicer establishment, but I’m sure they get celebrations all too often

Randy YoungGoogle Maps

Recently

Unfortunately, the place is not great given all the reviews. The coconut cake is delicious because it's not saturated on essence of coconut and takes like an actual non-sugar packed coconut cake. The views around the restaurant are great but not unique to the line of restaurants here in Waikiki. Between the stage, the hedge, and the crowd you can't really see anything once seated either. The worst part is the inside bar, it is packed with people that just seem like they're trying to drink and not dine. Which is fine for them, it's the restaurants fault, not theirs. However, they're incredibly loud drowning out the table conversation and the performance on stage. The food and drinks were fine, but not great. Service was really good, and Jan was a delight to be around and offer great suggestions. It's more the atmosphere mixed with the okay food than anything else.

The Official CriticGoogle Maps

Recently

House Without a Key is a great date night location with beautiful ocean views and live music that creates a relaxed and romantic atmosphere. It is an ideal spot for an evening out. The food was good overall, though it was a little overpriced for what you receive. The ribeye steak was very good and well prepared. I was not a fan of the poi mashed potatoes, as they were not to my taste, but the soup of the day was excellent. The prosciutto Pizza was also very good and well executed. One thing that detracted from the experience was the drink service. I understand that refills are charged, but it would be much better if staff clearly communicated this and asked if I wanted a drink when it gets low rather than avoiding refills altogether. Overall, House Without a Key offers a great atmosphere, good food, and live music, making it a solid choice for a date night despite the higher prices. The ocean views are truly one of a kind and make the entire experience unforgettable.

RoninGoogle Maps

Recently

Its one of the few good breakfasts buffets I've experienced. At 7:30am on a Saturday, my entire family and I (roughly 8 of us) met in front of the restaurant. Since they dont take reservations, everyone in your party must arrive before you are seated. Hotel guest and visitors are seated on a first come, first serve basis. The food cruisine is split into two sections, a Japanese breakfast section and an American breakfast section. Overall the food and variety was good, but there were some items I didnt care for. The sausages/links are overcooked and dry. The French toast maple and coconut syrup was way too watery. Some of the Japanese dishes were alittle plain, no umani flavor to it. Randomly before the japanese dishes are two Mediterranean type foods. Lol out of place. One was the hummus and the other was an orzo salad. The pork kimchi fried rice didnt had much flavor either. Items the stood out were the pastries, the wet scrambled eggs and the egg omelet station. For atmosphere, the buffet had and interesting L-shape layout, no real organization so many people just jump in and around others to grab food. Also the egg omelet station was a bit hidden, meaning location of the kiosk was not well lit. Most of my family didnt realize the kiosk. Only when I pointed it out, they said it was too dark and didnt realize it was part of the buffet. Service was good, but they somehow exaggerated on the kona coffee they serve. The coffee tasted horrible. Metalic after taste and it didnt appear to be kona coffee. Regardless the guava juice was delicious and the staff were attentive to remove dishes we finished, taking it away so we could grab more food. All-in-all, it was a good breakfast buffet for locals. Also, their website notes casual business entire, but many come in t-shirts, shorts and slippers. So up to you. I felt overdressed wearing my collar shirt, jeans and shoes.

Soham AdhikariGoogle Maps

Recently

We celebrated our anniversary at House Without a Key and it was an incredible experience from start to finish. I had the Coconut Old Fashioned, which was perfect for someone who enjoys a classic Old Fashioned but prefers it less sweet — the coconut added a smooth, subtle twist that really worked. Because the portions are generous, we skipped appetizers. I ordered the Hawaiian signature sea bass and my wife had the ribeye steak. Both dishes were outstanding and cooked to perfection. The vibe deserves its own mention — simply amazing. Live Hawaiian music and a Hula performance created a beautiful cultural atmosphere, while keeping the mood relaxed and romantic. It is on the expensive side (about $200 for two), but if you’re in Honolulu celebrating a birthday or anniversary, this place is absolutely worth it. A truly memorable dining experience.