




About
A Culinary Shift in Kaka'ako
Stepping into Taste offers a sharp departure from the typical Waikiki tourist traps. Located in the heart of Honolulu’s burgeoning Kaka'ako district, this spot functions as a creative playground for chefs looking to redefine Pacific Rim cuisine. The space is industrial and airy, defined by polished concrete floors and high ceilings that amplify the clatter of silver against ceramic, creating a high-energy hum that feels distinctly modern.
Menu Philosophy and Flavors
The kitchen leans heavily into the bounty of the islands, though it avoids the standard luau cliches. Instead, expect bold, elevated preparations of local fish and seasonal produce sourced from regional Oahu farms. The signature dishes often feature a masterful use of local chili pepper water and house-made ferments that provide a sharp, acidic contrast to the richness of the seafood. It is an adventurous place to eat, designed for those who want to taste the actual complexity of Hawaiian agriculture rather than just the sugar-laden expectations of the tropics.
The Experience
Be prepared for the reality of urban dining: the parking situation in this part of Honolulu can be a puzzle, and the acoustics mean you will likely be participating in the conversation at the next table. It is loud, it is fast, and it is unapologetically current. If you are looking for a quiet, candlelit dinner, this is not it. However, if you are after a sharp, innovative meal that reflects the changing culinary identity of O'ahu, Taste delivers a profile that is hard to replicate elsewhere in the city.
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Location
667 Auahi St, Honolulu, Hawaii, 96813-5105
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Reviews
Showing 3 of 1 community reviewsPatricia McGarryGoogle Maps
Recently
My first time getting food from here and needless to say, what a disappointment. The Yellow Curry with chicken I ordered literally had just 4 pieces of little chicken and the soup was very watery. The noodle salad I got was sloppily made and the Veggies were all wilted. She gave me my Thai iced tea in a cup with a wrong size lid. ( she said they ordered the wrong size lid for their cups) Good thing I asked for a plastic bag cause the cup was half empty when I got home and was spilled in the bag. The taste of the food was not all that great. I will not be going back here and do not recommend this place.
Precious PreciousGoogle Maps
Recently
I usually trust Google reviews but thank GOODNESS I didn't read the reviews before trying this quaint little stall at the DonQ food court. I always walked past it but decided to try it this time since I was craving some VEGGIES! AND YOU KNOW THAI AND VIETNAMESE CUSINES LOVE THEIR VEGGIES! For a small place they have QUITE the menu options! We ordered: * summer rolls (came with a tangy peanut sauce) * chicken satay (came with the most AMAZING peanut oil sauce I'm ordering this for the summer rolls next time) - the flavor on this was fantastic too, not dry and came with a very light coconut cream which I enjoyed and don't like coconut lol. * rad na (this is my fav dish to get at thai places and not every thai place has it but basically a savoury gravy noodle dish * larb (protein lettuce wraps) - ground chicken for protein and I was a bit worried when it didn't come with any sauce but it was SEASONED so well it didn't need any! The food was SO DELICUOUS EVERY BITE!! And SO SO affordable especially right outside of Waikiki, nice portion sizes and all around $10-12 for each plate??!?! We got our plates pretty fast too! Service was friendly! I'll be back for the mango sticky rice ! The only miss was the thai tea but ugh nothing beats thailand, amirite.. ?
LenaGoogle Maps
Recently
We ordered via UberEats. The fish was good. The spicy topping on the side was real spicy, FYI. The other 2 dishes were OK too so not sure why there were lots of bad reviews. Could be we didn’t have to deal with their customer service directly. The only thing is they could have given more Larb and Papaya Salad.
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