Monkeypod Kitchen

This place is killer! We are here a couple of times. Burger was BOMB!!! Good drinks and a great happy hour! At night, they have a live band down stairs and they will play almost anything you’d like. Before coming home, we were sure to grab our souvenir pint glasses from this place. They for sure will be getting another visit from us next year!

Really good place for brunch. The menu had a variety of dishes to choose from. The presentation and quality of food was good and the customer service was great! Parking can be a bit tight. The prices we’re reasonable.

Sunday brunch done well! Started with a bottle of Gondolino processco, which is half off on Sunday’s, only $ 20! Ordered side pog for mimosa. Had the loco moco, beef well done with over hard eggs… yum! Beef is from the big island… totally supporting locals;) Also tried the cinnamon roll and it was delish. They also have live music during brunch which makes my Sunday an even more relaxing!

Great food. They use organic, local and sustainable ingredients. Our faves were the kale salad and snapper. Great wine list and very accommodating. They even made my 5 year old an off menu grilled cheese with mushrooms and pizza sauce that was to die for. We kept taking bites of it until he got mad.

I had lunch here the other day. We were day outside. The day was beautiful, as was the view. However with there being no wind there was a lot of flies and birds. So if you don’t mind having to brush them away, outside is a nice place to dine.
We started with drinks, I had a vodka, lilikoi purée, lime, and basil drink. It was delicious! Tart drink with just the right amount of basil and lilikoi flavor.
Then we shared the Babagnoush, the veggies were very fresh and the dip was perfectly seasoned. We also ordered the gnoochi with sausage and kale. The gnoochi was crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. It was very delicious, and the sausage was spiced to perfection.
The décor was very nice and resort looking. The staff were all friendly and helpful. I would definitely recommended eating here.

Pumpkin ravioli? Does that sound tasty to you? It didn’t appeal to me at all, but after tonight… I understand what the pumpkin ravioli is about.
I’ve heard good things and bad things about monkey pod. I know that there is supposed to be an awesome happy hour. Unfortunately, it wasn’t HH for us. I have also heard that the food was «okay, meh… Alright»… And everyone has their own perspective, so I thought I’d go ahead and try it anyways.
Monkey pod is located across the Disney Aulani hotel in Ko Olina. Very beautiful view, near the beach. I can see why Monkey pod was a little busy when we got there. It’s a perfect tourist attraction.
We decided to start off with a couple of drinks. I had the monkey pod Mai tai? Omg it is yummy, very delish! I could tell that it was dangerous tho. It had this very yummy foam at the top of the drink with a slice of sweet pineapple. yum yummy yumm.
As for the appetizer, we had to try that pumpkin ravioli (as mentioned earlier) and I have to say, that ravioli is something else. You will not be upset. It was so delicious ! I encourage you to do so, especially if it is your first time! Nothing like a great appetizer to start off your meal :)
I decided to go with the fried mahi as my main dish, and it as absolutely yummy! I love how I didn’t have to ask for brown rice, they already had brown rice come with the meal. How awesome is that?! So healthy and I love it.
As for the dessert, we had the strawberry cream pie? It was one of the best strawberry pies I have ever tasted. The pie was huge btw, enough to feed two or even three. The strawberries served on top were so sweet. It’s one of those pies that when you take a bite into it, you literally feel that you are walking on a rainbow… Haha!
Absolutely enjoyed my first time here, and I also enjoyed the band very much! They sounded Awesome!

Never again… it was about my 5^th time and something went terribly WRONG. Went there with 10 people for my daughter’s birthday dinner during our Aulani stay.
If service is lackluster but the food is on point… fine. If the food is so-​so but the customer service is glorious… you’ll do fine. But when both are bad… NEVER AGAIN.
Understandably our large party needed an adequate area to fit 10 seats, but I made a reservation and checked in 15 minutes early. When 30 minutes go by and I have to still check in with you (they took my cell and the table had been ready for awhile) and then have my party wait on the side while they continue to seat 2-​tops with no reservations, it’s annoying. When you do get sat and there’s no «hello!» or «sorry for the wait» or «are you celebrating anything special today?» — it’s annoying. When the waitress comes by and treats you like she’d rather by getting her back waxed, IT’S JUST BAD.
Then when you order your food and the saimin is not saimin or anything that is remotely flavorful, the pizza couldn’t stand up to a Pizza Hut personal pan, the Brussels Sprouts are soggy, and the rest of the food is not memorable enough to list here… IT’S JUST BAD.
Thanks for the great memories prior to this dinner. But NEVER AGAIN.
Local customers matter. Don’t just be good to tourists, Monkeypod.

Been coming here for a few years now and figure id give these guys a little feedback.
Ive had almost every single thing on the menu to eat. So i’ll only be brief on the review.
My top 3 dishes
Butternut Squash Ravioli
Fish and Chips
Curry
There are other things that I do like also but for my pallet this has been the best tasting items to me over the past few years. I chose this because of the consistency and freshness of the food each time Id eat there.
Sometimes you order steak its over seasoned, under/​over cooked, etc. The 3 top dishes I chose are always consistent with taste, temp, satisfaction.
Having mixologists onsite is great for you guys who want to enjoy happy hour or have some kind of drinks with your meal. I myself ordered a custom drink that was «citrus» «dry» «sweet» «strong». The mixologist gave me a great tasting coffee drink with my breakfast that went well with my meal.
Service is always great. The employees are always greeting you with smiles, and are always willing to answer questions or assist you in most any way you will need.
The only thing I can knock the place for is not having AC but because I usually go there early in the morning or late for dinner Its not too hot. However the last visit the weather got us a little wet upstairs but the food was still great and the little splash was worth it.

in this area (kapolei) you don’t have many restaurants to choose from to dine in. If you’re staying in one of the hotels across the way, Monkeypod is an alternative casual sit down restaurant with decent price and portion (compared to the restaurants at the resorts). Food was average (not the best, not the worst as well. but it surely tastes better than some of the other restaurants around the area).
they do have happy hour and it gets crowded. I suggest you go in for happy hour, order their pizza and get full.
service is friendly and good. i like they have a live band outside the patio area.
do try their strawberry cheesecake dessert, it’s good!

3.5 stars
My friends and I had dinner here after swimming in the lagoon nearby. We ordered the garlic truffle fries, pumpkin patch ravioli, beer, and the kale salad. While the taste is present in each of the dishes, I think the prices are a bit too steep for the kinds of food they offered.
Service is pretty good here. The front desk works hard to make sure you’re seated, though they do prefer most of your party be present to be seated.

Eh…
Honestly, I think Monkey pod is fine for many people. I’m not really a seafood lover, so there’s not much on the menu for me besides pizza and burgers. Their pizza and burgers are good, but not necessarily worth the high price tag (which kind of expresses my thoughts on all the food I’ve tried here). It is always busy, so reservations help and I’m sure if they have a happy hour (I’ve heard they do), that it would be more worth it then. This isn’t a restaurant I ever pick but will go to when friends want to meet up here, which luckily for me is pretty rare seeing as how I’ve only gone a handful of times over the years. The staff are nice, but don’t ever seem to be 100% on their game each time I’ve dined here, but hard to say that’s a constant with how often I’m here. The live music at night and sitting outside while enjoying a cocktail makes it a little more worthwhile.

Delicious food and extremely friendly staff in an area where I would expect the opposite.
Thank you!

My parents took me to Monkeypod for a birthday dinner. We went for happy hour and i’m glad we did because the regular prices seemed really expensive to me. This was also kind of expected, given that it’s in a touristy area.
Happy hour takes place daily from 3 – 5:30pm. The pizzas are all $ 9 with the exception of the lobster one. We tried the Mushroom w/​Truffle Oil and it was really flavorful. Also, the Margherita pizza was tasty. During happy hour, the appetizers are also 50% off (excluding the poke tacos and the poke sampler, I believe). My family LOVED the Pumpkin Ravioli!!! So tasty!!! The garlic truffle fries and the lobster deviled eggs were great as well. For happy hour though, drinks were still expensive. The cocktails were about $ 8 and I had the ACE Pineapple Cider which was around $ 7.
Because we were celebrating my birthday, I was able to enjoy a complimentary Cream pie. I had the choice of Banana, coconut, strawberry, chocolate, and Orange Cream. I got the strawberry pie and it was awesome!!! And it wad big enough to share.
What I really enjoyed though, was the atmosphere of the restaurant. It’s very laid back and you get to enjoy your meal with nice live music.
So if you want to try this restaurant without breaking a major budget, go for happy hour!

Sorry MonkeyPod, I would have given you three stars based on average everything each time I’ve been there, but my last visit dropped you down to two.
I like the place overall, totally made for tourists, like everything else in Ko Olina. Décor is nice, and the place is always clean. Two levels with multiple bars gives you a lot of space if needed. It’s usually loud, especially during live music nights.
The prices are stupid-​high. Over $ 40 for a 22oz specialty beer?! Does someone give me a foot rub when I’m done drinking said beer? Food is average, but better than any restaurant at the Disney resort.
My issue on my last visit, was the bartender put my friends drink on my tab. I have no problem buying a friend a drink, but let’s look at the situation: She ate at the restaurant with her family, the kids left, and she made her way to the bar for a drink. By the time I got there, she was almost done with her drink. We sat and talked as I had two drinks total, and she finished hers. When we asked for our bills, (I was going to offer to pay for hers) the bartender said he put her drink on my bill.
Not very professional bud. If it were to happen again, I will speak with management. Don’t plan on going back due to average or below-​average experiences each time I’ve been.

The bourgeois pizza was quite delicious (lobster, wild mushroom, thyme and garlic white sauce), the raw mixed plate was good as well however, the coconut ceviche had a big piece of bone in it.
Live music and outside seating is a nice touch.

This is my favorite restaurant in Ko Olina. The Strawberry pie is incredible. I also enjoy the Butternut Squash Pizza. The fries are very good as well. Be sure to share them as the portion size is large.
The environment is like that of True Food. The awesome smell of pork smoking is always around this place.
I also had a fresh squeezed Watermelon juice that was great was well.
Overall the only disappointment I had is with the service. The waitress was way too slow and forgot simple details.
I would go back because the food is that good.

1^st time: AMAZING; 2^nd time: Meh
After a long hike and sitting in hours of traffic (literally), my friend and I were STARVING (literally). We ended up around Koolina and decided to try Monkeypod Kitchen. Parking is limited, but we were lucky to find a stall right by the restaurant.
The restaurant interior is really inviting and there isn’t a strict dress code, so we could eat a nice meal in bodos. YEEESS. We were both very impressed by the food– she really enjoyed her margherita pizza, and I am a huge fan of the frittata I ordered. We agreed that this place was definitely worth returning to!
One to two months later when my sister’s birthday came around, suggested that we have her dinner at Monkeypod. Was so excited that everyone was receptive to the idea. Yummy, wholesome fresh food once again! This time, however, the restaurant failed to impress.
While we were seated relatively quickly, the hostesses weren’t very friendly at all. Our server, Kui (not sure how to spell her name), however, was so sweet, happy and friendly!!! Although she got my drink order wrong, her friendliness totally made up for it. And after asking if she could choose a good light beer, she chose the perfect one! But, When my first drink (mai tai. Not bad) finally came, we waited for a while more until our food finally arrived. No bueno.
We ordered a whole bunch of different items– pizza, burgers, turkey burger, fries, etc., and everything was just alright. Nothing to rave about.
Very disappointed with our second visit. The food tasted only ok and took awhile to come out, and the restaurant was SO HOT (worst part of the whole experience). At least the pies were delicious and my sister received a complimentary pie?

What a nice relaxing place to eat in the middle of a touristy oasis. If you are not in a hurry and don’t mind waiting a bit, this place is awesome. I’m told that this place is pretty busy all the time. We went on the weekend for brunch and there were people there, but it was not too packed.
Off the lunch menu, I ordered the MACADAMIA NUT CRUSTED FISH OF THE DAY, which happened to be Mahimahi. Unlike other mac-​nut crusted fish, this had actual macadamia nuts and not just panko bread crumbs. Add a lemon beurre blanc sauce and I was very happy.
But the real star of the meal was the birthday pie. My friend and I shared two slices of strawberry and banana. The STRAWBERRY was a yummy cream-​cheese pie beautifully layered with thin slices of strawberries which were brushed with sugar. The BANANA was the ultimate banana cream pie with fresh bananas. HEAVENLY. I hear there are other variations to try, so I want to go back for that soon!
Again, very touristy location, but so yummy you can’t skip it.

I’ve had Chef Peter Merriman’s Monkeypod Kitchen at Ko’Olina on my bookmark list after reading reviews and seeing photos from fellow Unilocal friends although, I had heard about its opening in December 2012. I was excited to see Chef Merriman’s expansion to Oahu as my husband and I have been loyal diners at his original restaurant, Merriman’s at Waimea on the Big Island of Hawaii. We have often dined at his namesake restaurant in Kapalua, Maui in past years post-​golf club play. For those who aren’t familiar with Chef Merriman, he is one of the Founding Chefs of Hawaii Regional Cuisine and is a «lightning rod» for the local farm-​to-​table movement.
We met with my sister and brother-​in-​law on Saturday and took an excursion out to the Ko’Olina Resort. It was a breeze driving out West from Honolulu to the resort and we had no problem finding a parking space in the little shopping area located across from the Aulani Disney resort.
It was around noon when we arrived and the place wasn’t as busy as I thought that it would have been. We were greeted immediately by the hostess who told us that there would be a 15 – 20 minute wait for a table but we could either wait or eat at the bar. We decided on ordering some cold brews to cool us on this sunny hot day. The bar countertop is made from organically shaped monkeypod wood and surrounded by flat screen televisions for viewing sports events. The kitchen was behind a glass wall which made it fun to watch the cooking action. There were lots of seating areas on the ground floor with additional seating above. The bartender was friendly, funny and witty. I would have liked to have stayed seated at the bar to dine but my sister and brother-​in-​law wanted to be seated at a table which came open after a few minutes after ordering our brews.
Our friendly and attentive server was Josephine (Jo, for short). She seamlessly and unobtrusively kept our water glasses refilled, provided great descriptions of the food preparations, brought out our food at optimum service temperatures and presented our bill on time. Jo was patient as my brother-​in-​law is sort of a finicky eater and orders his food with detail.
THE FOOD:
— Pumpkin Patch Ravioli (appetizer portion): Kiawe (Mesquite) roasted squash, chevre, organic spinach and toasted walnut sage pesto. We received 5– 3″ pillows of pumpkin-​ey goodness. The chevre brought a bit of twang to the subtle smoky sweetness of the squash. But, I was a bit dismayed with the pasta as it seemed a bit thick and heavy. It held the filling well. It was tasty but I doubt if I’d order a full order as an entrée.
$ 13.95
— Wood Roasted Free Range Chicken Wings: Kiawe (Mesquite) roasted free range chicken wings, garlic, Kula Farm rosemary and tzatziki sauce. The flavor was good and had a good spicy kick. When this dish arrived, I felt the drummettes were so tiny and looked like they came from Cornish game hens. I shouldn’t complain as these wings were tasty and filling. If you’re wondering… I DID share this dish! $ 16.95
— Pete’s Fresh Fish & Chips: Day boat, troll-​line caught mahimahi tempura-​style served with malt vinegar aioli. We upgraded our fries to garlic fries which turned out to be a great move because of the nice punch of garlic and Parmesan cheese. There were 3 good-​sized pieces of tempura-​style mahimahi served atop the garlic fries. I’m not really a fan of mahimahi because it’s usually dry and firm-​fleshed but, this fish wasn’t dry nor was it moist like cod. The tempura batter was light and not greasy. It was good, tasty, and served fresh out of the fryer hot… it really didn’t need that malt vinegar aioli. There was an additional accompaniment of house made Kimchi that cut any hint of oiliness. Both my sister and brother-​in-​law ordered this dish. $ 23.95
— Big Island Cheese Burger: Big Island beef, Dijon aioli, sautéed onions, Fontina, vine-​ripened tomatoes, Kunia Country Farm butter lettuce and house-​made quick pickle. My husband ordered this thick or Big Mouth burger. I don’t remember if he was asked for his preference of doneness but, the burger arrived medium-​well. He said it was flavorful but just a touch overdone. Still, he felt that it wasn’t that bad to complain. The vegetable condiments to this burger were fresh and crisp. There was a side dish of the house made Kimchi but, he still dug into my sister’s garlic fries and some of my chicken wings. The portion was satisfying but I know that he was very hungry. $ 13.95
We happily drank our Mirror Pond ales, Ace pineapple cider and Kona Lager while dining. Our table was within the restaurant but near the Ewa Train Railway and in between Ko’Olina’s Golf Course’s 10^th and 11^th holes. It was a beautiful sunny day with cool breezes to enjoy the company of my sister and brother-​in-​law over these yummy bites.
We’re already looking forward to stopping by again for more…
#411

Spot on appetizers, entrees and desserts.
Their squash ravioli was special to try and order up. Truffle fries were yummy. Chicken wings and pizza was of the norm.
Piña colada for the drink for the win!
Service was great and they gave the banana cream pie for dessert as a complimentary birthday treat!