Mud Hen Water

The 38 Essential Honolulu Restaurants

"Mud Hen Water offers Hawaiʻi-born chef Ed Kenney’s modern interpretation of Hawai‘i food. Known for his work at Town Restaurant and Mahina & Sun’s, Kenney manages to appeal to dining trends while fully respecting Hawaiian ingredients. Standouts include the porchetta rolled with lūʻau and loaded baked bananas with curry butter. Brunch includes a biscuit with mapo gravy and pork sisig, the sizzling Filipino dish, but made with pig’s head. Find cheerful outdoor seating beneath string lights in the courtyard." - Martha Cheng

The 21 Best Restaurants In Honolulu, Oahu 2024

"Mud Hen Water serves a modern Hawaiian menu for dinner, but brunch is where it really shines. That’s thanks to the airy, light-filled dining room, paved in reclaimed wood, and its patio adorned with colorful murals. Get some sourdough banana pancakes, pork sisig made with pig’s head, and fresh fish and luau, which consists of taro leaf cooked down in coconut milk until it’s almost the consistency of pudding." - martha cheng

How Hawaiʻi Farms Are Bringing Local Food to Diners’ Plates - Eater

"For chefs like Dave Caldiero and Ed Kenney of Honolulu restaurant Mud Hen Water and its now-closed but much revered sister establishment, Town, mushrooms aren’t on the menu unless they are local." - Viola Gaskell

Mud Hen Water - Review - Kaimuki - Oahu - The Infatuation

50 States, 50 Cuisines: The Food Worth Traveling For in Every State

@cntraveler

"Serves modern Hawaiian food with pa‘i‘ai glazed with soy sauce and sugar then grilled, and buttered breadfruit with Chinese-style fermented black beans."

Josh Hemmett

Google

A local recommended the restaurant and it didn’t disappoint! Amazing fusion food! Really enjoyed every dish (so much so I forgot to take a photo of the meatballs until toward the end!) We didn’t need to wait for a table, all staff members were super friendly. Jill served us and was perfectly attentive and checked in the right amount. The cocktails were delish too! Would definitely return!

Christina

Google

What a wonderful and refreshing change from the 'usual' restaurants on Oahu. As Europeans, we love creative cuisine and fusion kitchen - which we had been missing here in Honolulu so far - and luckily found it in 'Mud Hen Water'. They serve lovely creative Asian combined with local style dishes, which are meant to be shared like Tapas. Every dish we ordered tasted wonderful. We were having the Fried 'Ulu (which was replaced by a sweet potatoe that day), the Szechuan Lotus Root, Chicken Long Rice Croquettes and the Handcut Pasta and finished with the most amazing dessert: Kiawe Bean Bownie with Sesame Gelato....sooooo good. The only thing we had been missing was a choice of non-alcoholic cocktails as we usually don't drink alcohol - and the cocktail menu sounded very promising. Moreover, the service staff was very friendly and helpful. We will definitely be back for more.

Sylwia K

Google

Mud Hen Water has an interesting, delicious menu. We tried several unique dishes from the he’e roll, katsu-style chicken croquettes to the kiawe brownie which are had a fun twist. I’d recommend trying this restaurant out if you’re looking for interesting and great-tasting food!

Trevor Crown

Google

One of the best memories we have of our recent trip to Oahu was a brunch at Mud Hen Water. Everything about the place just felt good. It’s nice and bright and spacious inside, with cool, understated decor. Not touristy in the slightest, but welcoming. Our server was funny and kind about us having two kids under two years old at the table. Most importantly, the food was immaculate. All locally sourced and incredibly delicious. The burger was my favorite, but the hash and the biscuits were also amazing. The local starfruit and apple-bananas were great too. Go here.

Joshua Chan

Google

A cozy farm-to-table restaurant with a very cute interior serving Hawaiian-Asian fusion dishes that feature whole foods. We ordered the okra salad, fried 'ulu, pohole, carrots, fried chicken, he'e roll, brownie, and rice pudding. Every single dish was packed with impeccable flavors with a pleasantly surprising twist. I found my dining experience delightful and refreshing — highly recommended!

Tracy B

Google

We went to this restaurant based on a recommendation from a friend and wow was it ever worth it. Great local place, casual and comfortable atmosphere. We tried quite a few items on the menu and all of them were fabulous. Our waitress Remi was exceptional. This is definitely a MUST if you’re in the area.

Amy

Google

We did the family style meal for a group of 4. Some dishes were hits, some were misses, so I would do A La Carte instead. It was recommended that as our first time there, the family style was a good introduction. I liked the croquettes, sausage and clam + the bread, and the 3 family style desserts were really good. Service was also good and food came out fast.

Groucho Saidit

Google

What we especially enjoyed about Mud Hen Water was how flavorful the food is. The chef is clearly imaginative and has an excellent grasp of how to combine local produce with sauces that add real zing. The fish was lovely. Finally, the ice creams are especially good. It was just delightful to eat here. Not only was the food terrific, but the service was attentive and knowledgeable. They made every effort to answer questions and tell us about ingredients that were unfamiliar to us. This is an unpretentious spot that offers top notch dishes.

LeaDan Y.

Yelp

One of our favorite spots in Waialae and definitely our top spot when gathering friends together or celebrating. The ambience is very spacious and inviting, perfect for groups and yet upbeat enough for dates. It's hard to go wrong here, especially if you love or want to be introduced to local cuisine. The fusion style dishes are perfect for people who are new to the islands but also includes so many local favorites for those who have been living here for years. That's why we invite our friends here all the time because we know we can find something they'll love. And they always do. Additionally,the bar is just as creative as the kitchen when it comes to creating fresh new cocktails. Of course, there's beer, too.

Naomi D.

Yelp

My friends and I came here for an early brunch on a Sunday this month. We were looking for food with an interesting twist. We rsvp'd in advance online. Customer service was friendly. The ambiance was relaxing and not crowded during the time we were there. The restaurant was clean and airy. Food: We ordered a Bali banana pancakes ($13.00), veggie congee ($15.00), and a tofu dish (it was either the Peanut tofu ($13.00) or the Biscuit & Mayo Gravy ($16.00). Overall, we thought everything was good. Perhaps the food can be a little more flavorful. The Bali banana pancakes were the most delicious. I'd give Mud Hen another try of their other items on the menu.

Cody Z.

Yelp

CODY stopped by for brunch, first time here since 2015 CODY ordered the corned beef and kalo hash, with 2 eggs, kimchi, avocado, CODY food was tasty and well presented CODY server was friendly and helpful CODY dining area was clean and homey CODY will return to order more food

Rebecca T.

Yelp

I came here for a double date on a Saturday. It was to my surprise that this place was not packed because the food was good and the service and ambiance were great as well! It's the four of us so we ordered a bunch of dishes. Our favorite was the long rice croquette in curry sauce! I wish we ordered double of that! We also enjoyed the venison hand cut pasta. It's made al dente with a rich gravy type of sauce and the venison didn't taste gamey at all. We tried the sausage and clams too, but I think the sausage flavor was a bit overpowering for the clams. I would rather have just the clams. As for the Luau stuffed porchetta, I like the Luau part but not so much the pork. I guess I wasn't a big pork fan lol. Overall, the food was great and we had a great night. I would recommend it if you're looking for a place with interesting dishes and a nice atmosphere to dine in.

Rand E.

Yelp

What a wonderful first time experience at this farm to table restaurant. Decided to try out the family-style dinner for 4 to try out most of their menu and wasn't disappointed. Had a lot of delicious and different types of dishes to try and didn't go hungry. The menu is marked with a (fs) to denote all that is included in the $65/guest price. We added a few more dishes as we were a party of 5. Overall a great experience.

Brooke I.

Yelp

Great service. Great food. Felt like a "real" restaurant and not just another touristy spot. Locally inspired. Asian influence. Very yum.

Amy L.

Yelp

Casual vibes and quality dishes. We came here to celebrate my sis's bday. We ordered a bunch of dishes. My top 2: Peanut tofu - peanut flavored silken tofu with shoyu and ginger sauce. It's so simple yet flavorful. Mapo rice cakes - such a homey cozy dish. The rice cake was soft yet chewy. The mapo sauce wasn't too salty or spicy.

Quinn V.

Yelp

Dinner service starts at 5pm. Happy hour before that. Can make rez for dinner. Friendly staff. Amazing food. Mostly had the pupus/appetizers that were vegan-friendly. Would come back again and bring friends and visitors. Street parking. Cute place.

Austin G.

Yelp

Mud Hen and a little bit of that Watttaaaa! Wow what a fantastic food establishment right outside of the hustle and bussle of Waikiki. This place was Fantastic with a capital F. The ambiance was chill, the service was great, and the food was delicious. I mean I tried half the darn menu and everything on it was good. I don't remember the waitress's name but her and the hostess were absolutely delightful. Definitely a must try for foodies!

Mai Y.

Yelp

I love the freshness and authenticity of their Food. They use fresh and local vegetables and ingredients. We tried a few dishes and were not disappointed at all. The server was also very attentive and helpful in recommending certain dishes.

Frank L.

Yelp

3.5 Decent but some hits and misses. Also I feel the concept was kinda all over the place. It's supposed to be Hawaiian tapas but I didn't really feel that. To be honest it just seemed like pan Asian fusion. Also you def want to come with non picky eaters. Since the concept is a bit all over the place my parents couldn't really get it. Food: Fried chicken- was expecting actual fried chicken. This was like Chinese style fried chicken. Was decent but not something I would get again. Stuffed porchetta- would have been better but feel they made the skin too crispy. It was a bit hard to eat. The rest of the pork was good though. Generally the group didn't move this dish. Chicken long rice croquette- love that there's curry with it as well. Good lil starter dish. Mapo tofu rice cakes- really unique dish. I really came here for this. The rice cakes were pretty good with the mapo tofu. The other dishes were solid but not really mind blowing. Everyone loved the black sesame ice cream as well as the sorbet. The miso butterscotch rice pudding is also very unique but obviously quite heavy so be prepared for that. Overall, they have some pretty unique dishes but I think execution kinda fell flat in some others. It's not bad but I don't think it's so good I need to make another detour to come back.

Mikey H.

Yelp

It has been a while since I've been here, but when a friend of mine was at Chamide, I told her to meet me here. They had a great little happy hour that starts early! The sliders were very good! But it was the crackers and fish spread that was delicious!!! I couldn't get enough! The fried uluu was very good too! They have some innovative cocktails and wine on the HH, something for everyone! The young woman how took care of us was really nice! I'll make sure I'll be back again soon! Mahalo Mud...er...Hen...LOL!

Lauren G.

Yelp

Really enjoyed this. Our server was sooo friendly and helpful. The small plate format allowed us to try multiple things and was still filling. The chicken long rice croquettes come with a tasty Japanese curry sauce. And the fried ulu was to die for! Definitely would come again.

Lauren R.

Yelp

We had a delicious lunch on the patio, between 2 you could share this fish sandwich, fried ulu and pickled veggies tapas. All of it was a perfect convo of flavors. Their cocktails looked creative and delicious but didn't have a chance to try this time around. We sat on the patio with my dog (dog friendly!) with was a relaxed ambiance and had good service. Can't wait to come back.

Elaine L.

Yelp

3 stars for the tight, one-way-in parking lot with 5-6 stalls (be careful backing out!). Better luck with street parking and walking. 4 stars for the food that had unique profile flavors! I'll admit that I'm basic, which is why the meatballs with polenta didn't appeal to me, but the Polohe was absolutely great! 5 stars for the customer service, especially to our server Sean/Shaun/Shawn (?) for being attentive and to Hayden, a new host who was on his second shift but absolutely welcoming and friendly! Thank you for remembering your customers :)

G R.

Yelp

I don't give out too many 5 star ratings but this Waiʻalae spot deserves it. Been coming here for years--the menu is a pilgrimage to Hawaii's diverse influences and a nod to local farm to table. From the beat poke to the Portuguese Sausage and Clams this place delivers. The staff are the cherry on top. Warm, friendly and welcoming--love this spot.

Neal I.

Yelp

We met some friends here for a Saturday lunch. Parking is limited so I usually look for street parking. I've never had problems finding a space although sometimes you might have to walk a couple blocks. Nevertheless, it's a nice walk through a peaceful neighborhood that reminds me of old Kaimuki. The menu here is interesting, some things look familiar and others are unique. I shared The BIG 5, a sampler of 5 vegetable dishes and the grilled cheese sandwich. The BIG 5 was good! It had their beet poke, pohole (fern), roasted 'n raw carrots, shaved veggies, and a little bowl of crunchy breadfruit on the side with a creamy dip that had a slight kick to it. All of the dishes were good and complemented each other nicely. The beets were seasoned like poke, fern was crunchy and tasty, shaved veggies were cabbage with a soy chili flavor and carrots were carrots. Its hard to get excited about a raw carrot dish. The crunchy breadfruit was like a healthy bowl of baked potatoes. It was slightly salted with a really nice crunch. The grilled cheese sandwich was good, made with three cheeses. However, the $16 price seemed a little high for me. The service was excellent! Very attentive and my water was never less than half full. All in all a nice lunch but pricey.

Lesle S.

Yelp

Local ingredients right at the forefront, don't miss the Buttered Uala, Szechuan Lotus Roots, Peanut Tofu, Long Rice Croquettes with Curry, and the Ma Po Tofu. For dessert, the Keawe Bean Brownie with Black Sesame Ice Cream with that brittle I couldn't get enough of. Service is great. It's not too loud to have a conversation, and the vibe is chill. Nothing is bad in this menu, try everything, even if you don't know what it is.

Ngan S.

Yelp

My brother was in town visiting and I've been wanting to try Mud Hen Water for a while. We decided to go for brunch. The parking is very limited, street parking was non existent and they have a really small back lot which I'm unsure is even allowable parking. We were seated pretty quickly near the bar and quickly realized why the place was empty for lunch. I think people come for their dinner and we were 1 hour too soon for their lunch menu. Their breakfast menu was very small and limited. Maybe less than 5 items. The food was okay but to be honest something you can make yourself at home. We ordered the breakfast burrito, does not come with any type of sauce or salsa so it was kind of dry. The breakfast sandwich was good but bread was a bit large & over whelming. I may plan on returning for a dinner service to see what everyone has been talking about.

Julie U.

Yelp

The menu looked intriguing (Hawaiian) and the ambiance of the place looked casual so we thought we'd give it a try. Our dinner was a surprising mix of new flavors and concepts. Our favorite was the beet poke. We also had peanut tofu, butter ulu with cilantro, and the hand cut pasta with Molokai venison. For dessert we had to try the chocolate kiawe bean brownie (delicious!) and the Miso-butterscotch rice pudding. I'd come back for the beet poke and the brownie. Lunch and Sunday brunch look interesting too.

Lauren M.

Yelp

We've always wanted to try this place out, but wasn't sure how the food was. The place was bigger than I thought! We went during brunch time, so it wasn't packed which is always nice. We still reserved online just in case lol. The workers there are really nice and said we could move tables if we wanted to since the hot sun was coming in where we were. There is only a few main dishes for brunch and no photos on the menu, so just letting you know. That's why yelp and google are helpful! We really enjoyed the food options we chose! We had the Pork sisig, Fish & Luau, and Corned beef & Kalo. The pork sisig pan is hot! Be careful! The peppers that cane with the pork is hot too but compliments the pork well! The pig was really good with the rice and lime! The lime and rice cut down the fatty taste of the pork. The corned beef & kalo was surprisingly good. The rye bread was delicious and the kalo has was a little sweet but my mom really enjoyed it! The egg was runny and the kimchi wasn't too spicy. It tasted homemade as well. My favorite was the fish & luau! The fish was sword fish that day and it wasn't fishy tasting. The luau was not salty at all and complimented the salty seasoning on the fish! The eggs were runny and delicious! The carrots and other root veggies were really good as well! Will definitely order all these dishes again!

Roya J.

Yelp

We came here after finding out the chicken long rice croquettes were mentioned in the New York Times as one of the best dishes of 2023. I thought the croquettes were very good while hubby thought they were exceptional. Both of us agreed the kama (fish collar) and miso-butterscotch rice pudding were excellent. I really liked the buttered ulu while hubby thought they were okay. We agreed the fried chicken had great flavor, it was juicy, but lacked a crispy skin. Loved the friendly yet homestyle service! Also liked the decor and feel of the place. This may sound like an oxymoron, but I felt the decor was a mix between classy and grungy. It was definitely island with the plyboard wall coverings, indoor/outdoor seating, and street art. Overall, we enjoyed the meal and found the prices to be comparable to the quality of the food and service.

Jeanette E.

Yelp

Came for lunch. Ordered the 1/2 chicken, avocado salad, fried rice, some local green salad and a brownie ala mode for dessert. Everything was tasty. I was expecting more chicken, but maybe it was a small size chicken. The salad was basic. The fried rice was very tasty. The local green vegetables were very good. The dessert was a nice treat. Service was good. I made reservations, but wasn't asked if I did or not. I figured they were slow, but turned out the restaurant was full by the time I left. Interior is low key trendy and very clean. You can opt to sit outside. I might do that in the "winter" lol. Oh... almost forgot! The coffee is amazing!

James A.

Yelp

Been to Mud Hen Water a few times over the years but this was the first time since Kaimuki Superette closed and they combined the menus. Loved the Superette and was disappointed it was closed but happy to see some of our favorites move to the Mud Hen Water location (Like the he'e sandwich). My wife had the he'e sandwich, I had the catch of the day BALT and we split a side of the beet poke. Everything was excellent as it always is at Mud Hen Water but I do have to say that the fresh catch BALT was incredible. Two days later and I am still thinking about that sandwich. Every time we come here, we love the ambiance, the incredibly friendly staff and the super delicous food. Had to update my review just to remind how great this place is.

Ronald G.

Yelp

Wow this place used to be so good but todays experience 10/2024 was bad. We ordered our usual favorites sour dough banana pancakes and a side of scrambled eggs. The eggs were fine but who can't cook scrambled eggs right. The pancakes were terrible! First they served them flat, burnt on the outside and uncooked inside. We used to get these several years ago and they were fluffy, tasty and absolutely full of local apple banana. We asked if they should be so wet inside even know we knew they shouldn't and the server said yes but we can remake them for you, so we accepted a remake. The second batch were less burnt outside but still uncooked inside. We tasted them and there was no point in asking for them to be redone again because they were bland and we had to hunt for the two slices of banana. These pancakes are huge and only two slices of banana is ridiculous. The servers must know the food is bad now because they brought the check without even asking and took away the pancakes that remained without asking if there was an issue. We got the check, tipped the servers well because the bad food isn't their fault and left probably never to return. Sorry I forgot to take photos of the uncooked pancakes but I am sure you can imagine what they looked like. Too bad we used to love this place and we were planning on bringing family that is planning to visit soon but now we need to find a better spot. The place was empty on Saturday morning which should have been our first clue. Recommend you stay away.

Lauren A.

Yelp

Mud hen water was delish! I went with my family for my mom's birthday and we got the family style menu so we could try a lot of different items. The staff was friendly and attentive, and it was an upscale but casual vibe. Great for my mom's bday! The only thing I didn't love about the restaurant was that parking was tough. There's a small lot but mostly it's street parking. If you go, I'd be sure to go a little early so you're able to find parking.

Kiyomi M.

Yelp

This place was unexpected. It was cozy and the food was farm to table. We ordered the garden sample and were surprised by how delicious the non-meat dish was. The breadfruit tasted like air-fried yucca and was soooo good. The service is friendly and efficient. Would love to go back for dinner and try their cocktails. The desserts were so good, I felt guilty for shoveling it down my throat, I didn't leave my husband a bite to try

George S.

Yelp

Wonderful food and fast service over lunch. Pork sisig (sizzling pig head) was our favorite but all of the food was excellent. Highly recommended.

Wendy S.

Yelp

Loved the vibes here! We sat outside and had cute group picnic table setting. The food had such good flavors with mixes of different cuisines. Drinks were unique mixes especially the chai one. The workers were extremely friendly and wanted to help make our experience perfect for my friend's birthday.

Eric J.

Yelp

Maybe the dinner menu here is better, but we heard a lot about this place and only had time to go for brunch. We ordered the banana pancakes and smoked meat carbonara. The banana pancake was quite bland and looked unappetizing, while the carbonara was tough to chew - more undercooked than al dente. When my pancakes arrived, they mentioned the whipped brown butter would take another 5-10 minutes. So, was I just supposed to sit and stare at my pancakes until my condiments arrived?

Cheryl U.

Yelp

I love this space, the workers are always accommodating and the food is perfection. I wish the happy hour had more selections but that's more of a wish than complaint I've been back numerous times and the food has been consistently good.

Michelle H.

Yelp

Came to Mud Hen Water for an anniversary dinner after finally remembering to make reservations! I had heard so many good things about this restaurant and was really excited! It has a casual laid back, farm-to-table rustic vibe inside. We were welcomed warmly and the server gave us suggestions of her menu favorites. Meant to be enjoyed as shared small plates, we decided on the beet poke, handcut pasta Ragu, sausage and clams, and the Chocolate-Kiawe Bean Brownie with black sesame ice cream to finish! The meal started with a small complimentary cucumber amuse-bouche which was a nice touch. The beet poke came out next, and it was stunning how it was able to achieve the poke flavor and texture (mostly)! It was delicious, but because it came out so much earlier than the other dishes, we had to take a break on the beets. The hand-cut pasta was savory and meaty with a pleasant chew. The sausage and clams was served in a rich comforting lemongrass broth and crusty dipping bread on the side. But my favorite dish of the night may have been dessert! The chocolate Kiawe bean brownie was dense and chewy but not too sweet. It paired so well with the smooth black sesame ice cream scoop! On the menu, it also mentions a family-style menu for 4, which sounds intriguing! Will be back to try!

Trevor C.

Yelp

One of the best memories we have of our recent trip to Oahu was a brunch at Mud Hen Water. Everything about the place just felt good. It's nice and bright and spacious inside, with cool, understated decor. Not touristy in the slightest, but welcoming. Our server was funny and kind about us having two kids under two years old at the table. Most importantly, the food was immaculate. All locally sourced and incredibly delicious. The burger was my favorite, but the hash and the biscuits were also amazing. The local starfruit and apple-bananas were great too. Go here.

Mark C.

Yelp

Love finding great bites outside of the Waikiki area when I'm in town. Nice inviting space with an option of outdoor dining. The menu is a nice blend of Asian (Japanese, Korean and Chinese influences) and western flavors without becoming fusion! Would def recommend and go back.

Sherene H.

Yelp

Absolutely delicious!! I haven't had the desire to eat here, but I have no idea why because everything was amazing!! Park on the street in the neighborhood and walk to the restaurant is the best bet because the tiny lot behind is difficult. My friends and I ordered basically half the menu: pohole, peanut tofu, long rice croquette, mapo tofu with teokbokki, veal meatball with polenta, lemongrass sausage with clams, and hand cut pasta. I loved literally every dish. The 2 that were not as good were the sausage and clams only because it's a broth with bread. It was still good but the other dishes were phenomenal. Also the polenta and meatballs were ok. The sauce was tasty with the meatballs though. My absolute repeats are the pohole salad, mapo tofu, hand cut pasta, and the croquette. The dessert was a kiawe bean brownie with black sesame gelato! I that the brownie had some salt in it and the black sesame was rich. We sat at the bar and the bartender was friendly and service was quick. The food came out fairly quickly and they paced the main dishes to come later. I can't wait to come back and eat here again!!

Jill O.

Yelp

One of our favorite Sunday Brunch spots! Wish they opened for Brunch on Saturday's too but I totally understand staffing struggles! My fave is the Mabo Tofu n Biscuits! So damn delish!!! My daughter LOVES the Sisig and the Banana Pancakes! We love their 'U'ala doughnuts but unfortunately those are a thing of the past. Maybe one day they will make a glorious return! Staff is always friendly and welcoming. Mahalo Mud Hen Water for the great food and wonderful memories!

Alexander M.

Yelp

Amazing food! Recommended by a local and can confirm, it's amazing! Delicious modern, Asian fusion paired with creative cocktails. Jill, our server, also provided excellent service! Would recommend!

Andrew C.

Yelp

This was our 2nd time here and it never disappoints. I've honestly have not had so many different types of flavors awaken my taste buds. My favorite dish was the beet poke, what a creative twist. Curry croquette was not far behind. Bonus points for being attentive to the kids needs too! We were given drawing activities to keep them busy.

Ry T.

Yelp

We met our friends here for dinner. It was interesting food but very tasty. I'd recommend it if you're willing to explore food and tastes not served in traditional restaurants. We ordered the family style meal at $65 per person, there was plenty to eat. It included multiple entrees in smaller portions and 3 of the desserts. The restaurant picks the dishes for you. It was my first time to try breadfruit, a firm, starchy, potato-texture dish. I really liked it. The chicken serving was small, a tad on the drier side. The veggies were good. Of the desserts, the brownie was our fav. I personally don't care for rice pudding, the other dish. And the sorbet like dish was tart. The entrees are better than the desserts we had.

Alice Y.

Yelp

First place we stopped when we landed from the mainland. Chill laid back island vibes and easily Sat our table of 6 on Sunday afternoon with reservations made on Open Table. Ordered a couple of bloody Mary's (both good, a bit watered down), the parsley lemonade was a bit too healthy tasting for my 12 year old. But the server easily switched it out for a regular one without the green. The donuts were so fluffy and delicious. Mapo biscuits were amazing (biscuits really yummy) and the sisig was also very tasty. Overall good vibes. Enjoyed eating where the locals go and getting out of Waikiki.

Stacy S.

Yelp

Met up with a friend for drinks and small bites at Mud Hen Water. I was excited to try this place, as I had heard that the food was creative and delicious. Any restaurant with Ed Kenney behind it is gonna be good IMO! They're located on Waialae Ave in Kaimuki, which means parking can be a challenge. I was lucky to score one of the few spots in the back of their restaurant, but otherwise get ready for a good walk as you'll likely need to find street parking. Upon arrival, I loved the open air concept. It was much more spacious than it appears to be on the outside. They have a full bar area, along with tables inside and a patio outside. Service was friendly and attentive throughout our entire meal. My friend and I decided to share a couple of dishes: Turnip Cake $11 smoke meat. MA'O frisée, pickled mustard seeds, pickled mushrooms Chicken Long Rice Croquettes $11 japanese curry Loaded Baked Banana $11 Curry butter, bacon, chives Their food is farm-to-table using fresh, seasonal ingredients. All of the dishes were unique and so tasty! My favorite was the loaded baked banana. My friend got the drink special, which I believe was a Golden Sour. I just got a red glass of wine. All drink and food items are reasonably priced. They're open for breakfast, lunch, Sunday brunch and dinner. I look forward to returning one day soon!

Kristen S.

Yelp

Mud hen water is a fabulous, farm to table restaurant/bar that provides such a cool upscale experience with local flare. Cocktails are well balanced and delicious, and the menu highlights include ulu fries, mussels, and a sesame ice cream brownie sundae. We're right in the valley and love to crawl down to waialae on a whim to treat ourselves every now and then!

Ellen K.

Yelp

I came here with a couple of friends. First, finding parking was difficult. We were all coming separately so that caused a bit of a delay. Second, the cocktails we ordered were terrible. Mine had apple cider vinegar in it and I almost gagged. My friend told the server how to fix her drink so she could actually drink it. Third, most of the food items we ordered were not good at all. All of us kept saying, "This is interesting." The peanut tofu was like pudding with sweet sauce on it. The chicken was dry and bland. The beet poke was interesting. The only thing good were the clams. The service was okay. Part of the restaurant was indoors and part was outdoor. We saw many younger adults there and it seemed like a good place to hang out. However, my friends and I won't be going back again.

Yagmur E.

Yelp

This became easily my favorite place in Oahu! The menu is so broad and delicious. We got the big 5 sampler, all the vegetables were so good, and yummy! The brownie was beyond! Black sesame ice cream and the brittles had such good flavor combo! Definitely recommend!! Good friendly service.

Tea C.

Yelp

Rhonda is so sweet! She's very kind and helpful when choosing dishes enough for our hunger. And when Chef Kenny saw us eating the Preserved Opelu (Mackerel Scad), he came over to give us more insight into the dish. With such a rich history, this dish is worth so much more than the time and price. There's a very human connection the dishes have with us. The Chicken Long Rice Croquettes were SUCH a delight and the curry was so on point too! We rounded off our meal with the hand cut pasta, Molokai Venison Raghu had meat that melted in your mouth! What a pure delight this spot truly is! The open air seating is intimate, friendly, and highlight of this area! Truly a cozy spot for a nice meal, and new drinks. We had the Kiawe Bean Brownie with Sesame Gelato and we were in bliss! What a way to end the night! Absolutely no regrets! Only happy vibes here!!

Trudy A.

Yelp

Mud Hen Water has been a favorite for years. I can't believe I've never reviewed it before. We usually get a few dishes and share with the table, and we've loved everything we've had. Ulu is always a favorite. This visit there were four of us and we decided to try the tasting menu. It was perfect!! So many delicious options to try and we were stuffed, to just the right level!! We always enjoy fantastic cocktails here as well.

Daniel W.

Yelp

Came here for brunch and was seated right away. Ordered the pork sisig and sourdough banana pancake. The pork sisig was a bit on the fatty and greasy side. There wasn't too much of the actual pork meat in the dish. It seemed like this dish was just a hodgepodge of ingredients put together. I would give it an A for creativity attempt however. The sourdough banana pancakes were good but were too thin for my liking. It was honestly more of a crepe than a pancake. Both outdoor and indoor seating are available at this establishment. Atmosphere is good for families or dates.

Kathy T.

Yelp

Came here for dinner and had the family menu. Wow! The food was so good. Farm to table and based on being good for the land in the spirit of Hawaii and creation care, the food was astoundingly good. Service was super friendly and helpful. A nice atmosphere, and such a surprising menu. Feels good to enjoy a meal that's good for the land and good for Hawaii.

Koko M.

Yelp

Have now been here a few times and hands down my favorite food spot on the island (so far discovered). Service is pleasant and warm, although I do wish the host stayed by the front. You can wait a few minutes a bit lost especially if it's your first time. Make sure you make a reservation or you could be turned away! Yes, they are THAT good. The food is creative, flavorful, clean and surprising. It is rare for me to find a restaurant with so many things I had never heard of or tried in the menu so I'm looking forward to more exploring of their menus. Brunch and dinner are both yum yum yummy and both are worth taking for a spin. I'm partial to brunch myself for my new favorite pohole with fern shoots (only offered with fern at brunch). I would have a hard time choosing a least favorite dish, so I'm not even going to try. The miso butterscotch rice pudding... gale changer for sure and easy to share. I love that they source local and collaborate with quite a few vendors to create the magic. The libations are pretty delightful as well. If you need a drink recommendation or food check with Matt he knows the place in and out and tell him Koko sent you! They are also expanding their hours so increased chances of getting seating haha stoked to see them doing so well so they can continue to grow and expand. Keep rocking it!

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"Serves modern Hawaiian food with pa‘i‘ai glazed with soy sauce and sugar then grilled, and buttered breadfruit with Chinese-style fermented black beans."