Sam's Kitchen

Food: garlic shrimps were decent but missing the crunchiness. Spicy garlic shrimps were too spicy for us to enjoy. Potato salads that came with it had too much mayo on it. Service: takeaway time for two orders took way longer than I anticipated. Atmosphere: a nice ambient/chill place to sit and relax. It's a good place to go on a date.

Hawaiian garlic shrimp is a iconic local dish, not technically traditional Hawaiian food, featuring shell-on shrimp tossed in a pungent garlic-butter sauce, heavily popularized by North Shore, Oahu food trucks since the mid-1970s. With the recent flood happening at the end of March, and our trip being in early April, going to North Shore wasn't advised. While we have some great Hawaiian garlic shrimp spots in Arizona, we had to at least try to get some garlic shrimp while on Oahu. We gave this place a try just because we were already in the building. It wasn't a choice we made prior because honestly, I would have suggested trying a more well known spot like two miles away, haha! We shared a $14 Shrimp with Original Garlic sauce on it and made it a combo with rice, a scoop of potato mac salad, and regular salad, $14 + $6. Sam's Kitchen was okay. I would have loved to have the shell-on but this place does not offer shell-on shrimp. Still, they make a decent garlic shrimp.

This restaurant is hidden from the sidewalk and not easy to find. But once you are inside is a wonderful retreat from the busy street. It has tables in an outdoor setting and there is a swimming pool belonging to the bamboo hotel . We ordered the shrimp with rice and salad, and a cooked vegetables. The shrimp were nicely large and flavored with spicy garlic.

Great quiet location. We ordered the chicken main course, me wife ordered the with normal garlic and I ordered the terraki and pineapple sauce. We both liked the terrain sauce better. Main issue was the chicken was overcooked, tough, dry and hard to swallow. The crispy French fries not very crispy. I did let them know that the chicken was overly tough and was hard to cut with the plastic knives they provided, bit they just said thanks they look would let the kitchen know. Guess we won't be going back.

I ordered the tofu with Matsuri sauce plate (rice, potato salad, and salad) and loved it—so much flavor and a really satisfying vegetarian option. The gentleman who took my order was super friendly too. Highly recommend and will be back 😊

Hidden at the pool of Aqua Bamboo hotel, this relocated restaurant serves up some decent plates in a nice atmosphere. I got a steak and garlic shrimp plate which is what I picked up several times post pandemic when service was not up to speed yet. Now that it’s up n running again it was nice to sit by the pool and eat while hot. The Garlic Shrimp is fantastic and I love that the shell is removed. The steak was a bit tough this time but the flavor was on point. I got a terriyaki sauce recommended by the cool server. Good sevice and comfy setting. Try Sam’s Kitchen.

Ordered the garlic shrimp with ahi for takeout. Shrimp was tasty, but would’ve liked a little bit more of a crunch. Ahi tuna was nice and fresh. Seems like a nice place to eat in even though I orders takeout- a little hidden but has nice seating and by a pool. Very kind and accommodating workers, I showed up as they were cleaning up around 20 mins before closing, and they were willing to make me a takeout order even though it seemed that the kitchen was already beginning to clean up. Thank you!

I always come down here as soon as I land Hawaii! This place offers the best garlic shrimp so far in my life 🥳 the price has been nearly doubled but still worth to try out! Definitely come back again and again. You can take it out and take it to the beach like 5 min walk and taste with the view of the ocean 🌊

This is a hidden gem! Love this place! Affordable and delicious healthy food with great cocktails in a tropical oasis setting! Not crowded or overpriced like most places in Waikiki!

We got the Garlic Shrimp and Ahi Poke from Sam’s Kitchen in Waikiki, and both were absolutely delicious! The garlic shrimp was perfectly cooked — crispy on the outside, juicy inside, and full of rich garlic flavor. It paired so well with the rice. The ahi poke was super fresh, seasoned just right, and had great texture. The staff were friendly and the takeout process was quick and easy. We enjoyed the meal with a bottle of wine at our hotel — great portions and excellent value for the price. Highly recommend for anyone looking to enjoy authentic Hawaiian flavors in Waikiki!