Monkeypod Kitchen has locations on the Hawaiian islands of Maui and Oahu. Luckily, all 3 (soon to be 4) locations serve their signature honey-lilikoi foam Mai Tai (one of my all-time favorites) in addition to fantastic food in a laid-back setting.
About the location:
Oahu’s Monkeypod Kitchen is located in Kapolei on the Leeward (or west) side of Oahu in the Ko Olina Station center. There is often a wait to be seated at this popular restaurant, but there are a bunch of great shops that you can browse in while you wait for your table. You could also make a reservation to skip the wait or go a bit earlier to take advantage of their happy hour specials. They also have live music twice daily! Check out the live music schedule here.
Exterior of Monkeypod Kitchen in Ko Olina (via Opentable)
The two-story space is vibrant and warm, with an airy indoor dining space plus some outdoor seating options. The leeward location is near the well-known Ko Olina Lagoons and Disney’s Aulani Resort. I highly suggest coming here if you’re spending the day on Oahu’s west side or if you’re staying nearby in Ko Olina during your trip. The last time I dined here, a friend and I had spent the day at Makaha Beach and stopped here for an early dinner before catching the sunset at one of the four lagoons.
As hinted earlier, Monkeypod Kitchen is planning to open a fourth location (their second Oahu location) in bustling Waikiki! The restaurant will occupy a space inside the Outrigger Reef Waikiki Beach hotel, which boasts waterfront views of the city’s stunning volcanic crater, Diamond Head. The Waikiki location will be the first Monkeypod Kitchen to serve breakfast, so fans of the restaurant are eager to see what breakfast dishes Chef Merriman cooks up when the south Oahu restaurant opens this fall.
I have also been to the Monkeypod Kitchen in Kaanapali on Maui, where I tried their unique Mai Tai for the first time!
Food & Drinks
Monkeypod’s head chef, Peter Merriman, pioneered farm-to-table fine dining on the Big Island in the 1980s and continues to maintain a steadfast commitment to showcasing Hawaii’s breadth of local offerings. Diners can expect fresh entrees, including salads, fresh caught island fish, burgers, and more. The menu also features delicious hand-tossed pizza made in their kiawe wood oven. (Kiawe is a species of the mesquite tree that grows in abundance on the leeward side of each Hawaiian island. The unique smoky-sweet flavor is a local favorite and creates a one-of-a-kind Hawaiian dining experience!)
Monkeypod Kitchen offers the island’s best selection of microbrews with 36 craft beers on tap, each served perfectly chilled at 29 degrees. Their culinary cocktails feature unique ingredients such as acai spirit, coconut water, and Kula lavender. They also make a cayenne-ginger beer for their popular Maui Mule. However, I think their signature Mai Tai steals the show!
(via @Monkeypodkitchen on Instagram)
The Monkeypod Mai Tai is crafted with house-made macadamia nut orgeat and a unique honey-lilikoi foam. It is unlike any other Mai Tai you’ll find in Hawaii!
The grass is greener under the monkeypod
The restaurant’s name comes from the intriguing monkeypod tree that thrives in Hawaii’s tropical environment. Monkeypod trees are known for their stunning canopies that can grow up to 200 feet wide.
Monkeypod tree on the North Shore of Oahu, Hawaii
What makes this tree so special is that the grass is always greener under a monkeypod! That’s because the tree’s seed pod droppings add a lot of nitrogen to the surrounding soil, resulting in lush green grass!
Like the tree it was named after, Monkeypod Kitchen thrives on the spirit of the Hawaiian Islands. The aloha spirit nurtures everyone that acts under its canopy.
My favorites:
- Monkeypod Mai Tai
- Fresh Caught Fish Tacos
- Fresh Island Fish Sandwich
- Homemade pie for dessert
Monkeypod Kitchen website | Insta: @monkeypodkitchen
Located in Ko Olina Service Center
92-1048 Olani Street, Kapolei, HI 96707
Hours: 12:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Lunch: 12:00 PM – 3:30 PM
Happy Hour: 3:30 PM – 5:00 PM
Parking Info:
Public parking is available in the Ko Olina Service center where Monkeypod Kitchen is located. They also run a shuttle to and from the center for Ko Olina resort guests. View more info on Ko Olina parking and shuttle »
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