Haleiwa Joe’s

Very friendly and happy staff. The food is the definition of mediocre. One item I ended up sending back and they were nice enough to take it off the bill. But still would never go back. It reminded me of food at a Denny’s.

All I can say is come early when they open up so you can order their huge a$$ prime rib! It was very ono! I think by far the best that I have had. Service was excellent. We also he their dessert which was awesome. I heard they run out prime rib after the first seating.

This place has great food. The happy hour is a good way to go. A lot of tourists in this joint though. Has that tourist feel when you just want to chill. I live in Kaneohe so when I go out to eat I want to feel at home if that makes sense. This place doesn’t have that vibe.

Hadn’t been here in years until earlier this week when I had a birthday dinner to attend.
The wait was pretty long since they don’t take reservations, but there are some tables at the front that you can order drinks and pupus at while you wait.
Service was good, but kinda all over the place. We had a designated waitress, but had someone else bringing out drinks, and a handful of other staff bringing out food and doing other random things (i.e. Bagging food, etc). But don’t get me wrong, they all were very accommodating. Also, we had a large party, so they split us into 2 tables, but each table had a separate server, so one table ended up finishing way before the other.
The food was great. The bf and I shared the coconut shrimp as an appetizer and he had the Fresh Ahi for dinner, which he really liked. I had the Miso Salmon for an entrée. It was delicious but the rice to salmon ratio could’ve been better (In my opinion, could use a tad more rice). I also felt it could use a side of vegetables or something.
All in all, I enjoyed dining at Haleiwa Joes. It has a nice outdoorsy atmosphere and is a good place to dine with family and/​or friends.

The food is phenomenal and the service is the best on the Windward side. I would consider Haleiwa Joe’s to be #1 in fine dining for the entire Kaneohe area! The food is scrumptious and each plate is prepared beautifully. This is one of those places that makes your mouth water every time you think of eating there again. If you have a special event you want to celebrate, this is hands down the place to be.
Tips:
1. The restaurant is open air, so wear a touch of repellent.
2. They do not take reservations. Come at 4:30pm if you want a table with a stunning view!
3. Sit back, eat, relax and catch a memorable sunset.
Aloha!
Alex and Adam

I stick to getting drinks before dinner especially since there always seems to be a wait of 30mins.
Appetizers are good, dinner is good, and desert is my favorite.

Long waits, doesn’t take reservations, run by college kids (probably their first job as a waiter/​waitress), poor service, disappointing dining experience… shall I go on.
It was my first time coming here, and the place did appear to be fairly popular, as did the gigantic prime rib. Unfortunately, I was disappointed with the food and the service. Our waiter was extremely forgetful and just flat out sucked (he was nice, but that is the only positive point I can think of). The food was a big fail for me. It started with the complimentary bread, which tasted cheap and store bought. Next, the fish monger soup lacked fish and was overly salty (it actually tasted like they dumped a can of stewed tomatoes in a small bowl and doused it with sea salt). I complained to the waiter and 15 minutes later he brought back another bowl (with the dinner entrees), which had the exact same problem. As for my entrée, I ordered the salmon… and when I bit into it, it tasted strongly like propane gas. Gross! I ended up complaining to the water and just got a salad instead.
Also, our waiter rarely filled our water or checked in on us. Additionally, he took a good 20 minutes to serve our table a single slice of birthday cake.
Other issues… this place is entirely run by young kids. I don’t recall ever seeing any managers walking around. No oversight or quality control. While the restaurant is situated in a nice location with a beautiful view of the mountain, the restaurant itself felt old and outdated (as did the menu items). Sorry, I hate to be such a hater, but Haleiwa Joe’s pretty much sucks, and I don’t plan on returning anytime in the foreseeable future.

I’ve had the privilege to dine in at Haleiwa Joe’s on several occasions.
My first time here was on a Mother’s Day weekend back in 2012, so it was really busy and it took a little over an hour for us to get seated. We showed up around 5 PM & when we finally got seated, we were told that they had ran out of prime rib, which was the main reason why we chose this restaurant. We were sorely disappointed.
Although, we did order other stuff and the food and service was still good.
My last time here was back in July of 2014, sadly.
But that was the trip that made me realize how much I’d been missing out every time they ran out of their prime rib. I have to admit that it was one of the best prime rib I’ve had, weighing in at 22oz (with bone, of course). But it also wasn’t cheap either.
My son actually finished his – even though there were 4 adults and none of us were able to finish ours because it was so huge. It was well seasoned and cooked perfectly the way we each requested for our individual preference.
Asides from the good food and service, this place has a very beautiful garden. I’m sure there have been many weddings here…
Just writing this review is making want to go back again.

One of my family’s favorite meal during our stay in Oahu. At first we wanted to find a restaurant that has a great view and where we can enjoy our meal. But then, we saw the prime rib and looked no further. We came in for an early dinner (do so or you’ll probably have to wait up to an hour) to see if we’re able to catch the sunset. We got a nice seat overlooking the lake outside. The whole restaurant is outdoors and that contributes to the serene vibe to the place.
The waitress was accommodating to us. We did not know what to order and she gave us some recommendations on what was the more popular items on their menu. We end up ordering the Emma’s poke as the starter, a fresh grilled fish of the day, and their infamous prime rib for the entrees.
My parents really enjoyed the Emma’s poke; it was light, fresh, and a great appetizer to get our mouths salivating. However, when our entrees came in, our eyes were on the prime rib. It was huge! Much bigger than I thought. It was juicy, moist, and mmmmmm; you have to try it to believe the hype.
By the end of the meal, we were beyond full. Unfortunately we were unable to try the dessert. However, if we ever make a trip back to Oahu, this will probably be one of the first place we go to.

Beautiful scenery! Definitely a must if you’re ever in Hawaii. The only negative I have is that they DO NOT take reservations, we waited over an hour & a half to be seated :(we came on a Sunday night. By the time we were seated the sun had gone down so we couldn’t admire the view. Other than that, food & service is amazing. I definitely want to be back for brunch.
xo
Naomi

I’ve dined here four times so far, and all four experiences were the same.
–service: The hostesses are always nice. I like how they allow you to sit at the tables near the main entrance and order beverages while waiting for a table. The waiters on the other hand, are amiable but not very efficient. We’ve had different waiters each time, but each one always needed reminders that we are still waiting on an appetizer or a salad that was suppose to come before the main course.
–food: Each dish I’ve ordered has always been confusing for me because one thing on the plate is superb while the other items either just fall flat or should not be there in the first place. During my most recent visit, I ordered their special which was braised boneless short rib with garlic shrimp. The short rib was tender and tasty but the mash that came with it could definitely do without that curry sauce. The garlic shrimp was just ok, definitely not worth my time peeling. Veggies also would have been appreciated.
–ambience: View is amazing! Especially during sunset, which is when I highly recommend you come. If you’re here a half hour or an hour before the sun starts setting, you can walk down to the garden and head over to the gazebo that sits above a pond. It’s also open air seating. So, the air will be much cooler while dining in after the sun sets.

Came in without a rezzo and the wait was about 40 min for three. Which honestly was not an issue on a Sunday night! We were happy to wait and the walk down into the garden was amazing!
We came back up to sit at the bar and had a couple cocktails and an app before we were sat. Watched the sunset around the mountain which was an incredible view all on on its own.
We were sat and he service was exceptional not only from the hostess’ but our server and bussers too. Which means a lot bc I am a server myself and expect nothing less then great!
My BF and I split the prime rib, after an app and cocktails plus that we barely finished it! Just what I needed on this last night on the island! GET THERE PEOPLE! It’s worth it! If you’re in Waikiki make the trek out, Dukes has nothing on this place (:

Came here for an early christmas dinner with my family and lowered my expectations incase I would be disappointed. We tried to get here before 4:30 (right at opening) but Hawaii traffic is so unpredictable and we ended up arriving closer to 5. I was worried the line would be crazy long and we wouldn’t be able to order prime rib. Fortunately for us, there was no wait and they seated us right next to the rail, which provided an amazing view.
My mom and I ordered the prime rib (~$ 36). If you told me it was prime rib from a dinosaur, I would have believed you. That thing is HUGE. By the time I was done eating, my parents thought I had barely touched it. My mom shared the prime rib with my dad along with a chicken salad and a baked potato. It was the perfect amount for two hungry adults. Mine on the other hand… left overs for days. My boyfriend got the miso salmon ($ 26), which was a special for the evening. The salmon was soft and the edamame rice was a nice touch. The sauce was good but maybe a little too rich/​buttery. We also ordered the original poke as an appetizer to share. It was around $ 13, which was a bit expensive for the portion. The fish was fresh and tasty but unless you’re REALLY craving poke, I would just wait to get a poke bowl somewhere else.
Parking was pretty convenient although when it starts to get crowded, people drive around in circles in the lot. My suggestion is to come early for the prime rib and to ensure a good parking space. Ask for a table with a view and get those photos in before the sun sets. It’s such a pretty location.

This was my second visit to Haleiwa Joe’s since I’ve been on island and I left just as satisfied.
We arrived about twenty minutes after they opened and they were already busy! I really love everything Haleiwa Joes has to offer from the relaxing atmosphere that is suited for a romantic date, business dinner, or just a night out with friends, the food (presentation, quality, and taste), and the great service provided by the staff.
On this trip we had the calamari which was perfectly cooked and seasoned well, the kal-​bi (off of the small plates), and the prime rib with a side of mushrooms.
I had never been a huge fan of prime rib because I always found after eating the edges (where the fat and seasoning usually are), there was no more taste to it. Well, Haleiwa Joes has made me a fan. They have perfected the technique in preparing such a large cut of meat to have both taste and tenderness. Mmmmm, just thinking of it makes my mouth water. This was the most delicious prime rib I’ve ever tasted served with au jus and a deliciously creamy horseradish sauce.
I will definitely be returning to Haleiwa Joes!

I’m a fan of Haleiwa Joe’s!
Positives:
— Food is great! Big or small portions of most items are available, there’s lots of variety, and what I have ate there is delicious. I have only been twice but I have enjoyed the fish of the day special, coconut shrimp, and Caesar salad on my past visits. Prices are not too high and I feel like you get what you pay for in terms of portions.
–Service is friendly, attentive and accommodating even with large groups and multiple checks.
Negatives:
— Open air dining: I’ve only been for dinner so it’s too dark for me to view their pretty gardens/​view. My experience with the open air dining here is just tons of mosquitoes biting me as a I eat… Lunch might be a better time to go.
— No Reservations: For large groups, it’s best to arrive early and put your name down. There’s lots of places like this all over the island, but for a special occasion, it would be nice to be able to reserve a table.

Had business meeting last night and encountered the usual weekend onslaught of customers. Such a popular place with great food and service it is always packed. Rarely will you get right in unless there when they open the doors. Interesting front entrance area expanded to accommodate more customers and now tables where it used to be waiting area. Super smart move on their part.
They usually sell out of prime rib and I thought I would ask as I knew the portion size would last me 5 – 6 meals so I asked and the server said slow night for prime rib and they had like 50 servings left so I ordered it. OMG check out picture of small cow delivered to my table. Food and service always excellent as usual. Good is so fresh, piping hot and seasoned deliciously.
One person had a sizzling steak they did final prep at the table and she said was delicious. Other person had her old favorite of salmon and we tried the appetizer special of a fried Ahi bite size. Delicious all around. I have so much leftovers of prime rib in my refrig that it moos when I open the door.

My husband and I decided to come here for one of our last date nights before our daughter arrives. I picked this place because I heard it had prime rib (my fave), it’s pretty close to our house, and we’d never been there before. I’d been to the one up in Haleiwa, and I had no complaints about my food from that location.
We arrive at 4:33PM on a Saturday night. Seems early, right? Not really. We still had a 20 min wait because of house packed they already were. Once seated we had this AMAZING view of the garden. I also didn’t feel like I was sitting asses to elbows with anyone else, which is a good thing, cause I’m huge at this point and I need a lot of sitting/​moving room.
Our waitress was fantastic. I don’t remember her name, but she was lovely.
Our food was SO good. I, of course, got the prime rib. It was a massive, massive hunk of meat and came with sides that I didn’t really touch because I was FULL of meat.
My husband had the Peppercorn NY Strip and he LOVED it. I tried his, and it was definitely savory and enjoyable.
For starters we had the Thai calamari, which I liked as well.
I’d say this place is a solid spot. I’m glad it’s not in Waikiki, I’m impressed with the ambiance that makes it seem old school Hawaiian yet classy. I really liked my food and I think this was an excellent choice for a date night.
If you’re wondering if you should come, YES! But get there early, and be prepared to take your time.

I do NOT like to give one-​star ratings. But here it goes:
Very disappointed. I never even had the chance to dine here.
When friends asked me the other week where I wanted to go to celebrate my birthday I chose Haleiwa Joe’s because I heard so many good things, read some great reviews and saw mouth-​watering pictures.
My fellow Unilocal friend arranged the dinner by rounding up a group of 15 Yeeps and last week contacted the restaurant directly but was informed reservations are not taken. Patrons are handled first-​come first-​serve and won’t be seated until all guests are present.
With people still in the work force it was agreed we’d show up at 630pm and the coordinator would show up about 30 mins earlier to sign-​up. When she arrived she was advised approximately 1.5 hr wait. So many of us decided to walk around the gardens and take photos to kill time.
After 7pm we checked with the hostess for an update and was advised about another hour wait and at that time some voiced they had to wake up the next morning at 4am and 5am so they wouldn’t be able to stay. Trying to accommodate everyone as people traveled far just to have dinner with me on my birthday I took control and asked the staff what could be done. When the tall Caucasian male (supervisor or manager?) heard that we couldn’t wait that long and was considering going to L&L for my birthday dinner our waiting time was suddenly chopped to only 30 mins.
I had to meet someone to pick up some perishables (also in Kaneohe) that needed refrigeration so we asked that Caucasian male staff if my package could be refrigerated if we were to stay for dinner. Being that one of my friends baked me a cake and the restaurant had already refrigerated the cake, I was expecting them to do so. How wrong I was. That male staff was very hesitant and a «Yes» didn’t come out right away so I knew his answer. At that time I decided it was time to change venue and all but 3 relocated to nearby L&L for my birthday dinner.
I walked away so disappointed that I decided to call the restaurant after they closed and spoke with perhaps the same male staff. When I told him many people in our group of 15 traveled far just to celebrate my birthday and I couldn’t understand why they wouldn’t take reservations.
I was floored when he advised me «Reservations are handled case-​by-​case.» He also added that very day he had a group of 25 made a reservation at 4pm. He also advised me next time to consider making reservations either 4pm or 830pm. I advised him many people are still working so 4pm is NOT feasible and 830pm is too late as people work early the next day.
Will there be a next time for me to come here? After this experience I highly doubt it. Customer service lacking and no compassion of this situation.
I settled with fast food for my birthday dinner. Very disappointed Haleiwa Joe’s was not accommodating to our circumstance and some members of our party decided to stay behind for drinks and dinner here as they chose to not join us.
There are so many great places to dine in Honolulu. If you have a large party and thinking about dining here save yourself the disappointment. Choose another place to eat. Haleiwa Joe’s was not eager to accommodate our dining situation of 15 people. There are other eateries that will be glad to welcome your business.

Came here the other evening to dine with some friends. However, we were told that Haleiwa Joe’s doesn’t take reservations and we were a group of at least 15. Our group’s organizer had arrived about an half hour earlier to put in our name on the wait list and was told there would be an hour wait. In the meantime, we wandered about the property to enjoy the lush scenery, pond and gazebo below the restaurant.
We never got to dine here because our guest of honor had to leave early and the host told us that there was an additional 45 minute wait before they could clear an area for our group. The wait would have been near 2 hours! Talk about disappointment for our guest of honor AND the group. I just found out more background to our failed dinner plans at this site and have revised my rating. This situation was BAD customer service and I think arrogant of management to be willing to lose patronage of a group of 15.
I hope that I’ll get to return to actually dine here because if the food and service is as good as its other location near Hale’iwa Boat Harbor, I’d be more willing to give this place a higher rating. This is my FIRST one-​star rated review and hope that it’ll be the only one.
#377

Aloha,
From the land of ferries and magic lol, no but close.
The setting is outstanding the views are really breathtaking and over all the place is a hidden gem.
The problem, well apparently it’s not hidden well enough because the wait is so very long, if I brought a good book I would probably finish it before being seated. (however if in good company the time slips by almost without notice)
The food is very good, the chefs are on point. We ordered one appetizer the tuna, this was just beautiful to look at and tasted better. Three meals, Ahi for me and it was spectacular, the sear was perfect and the body was delicious and untouched almost perfection. The sauce on the side was a perfect compliment to the flavor offered by the almost raw tuna. Not sure what the other two ate lol, I think it was the special, Marlin with a crab paste baked and served over some of the best mash I had the privilege of stealing from my company when they weren’t looking ;)
The bar is fun and their drink selection is nice and will keep you trying ok maybe tempting ! If you find parking (maybe in the bushes) still worth the trek, especially when celebrating or meeting good friends.
Happy Eats !