Arden Waikiki

We stopped by Arden Waikiki on a whim, and it turned into one of those “glad we tried it” nights. We kicked things off with a bottle of Verdicchio (Marchetti 2023), which paired beautifully with just about everything we ordered. The venison tartare was a great opener - rich, balanced, and elevated by the bonito aioli and crunch from the potato chips. From there, things really took off. The tako luau was a standout - perfectly grilled octopus with deep, comforting flavors from the coconut taro leaf. Easily one of the most memorable dishes of the night. The mushroom rice was another highlight - earthy, buttery, and packed with flavor from the mix of mushrooms and brown butter. We also enjoyed the steamed Kona kanpachi in coconut curry, which was delicate and well-executed, rounding out the meal nicely. Service was great throughout - attentive without being overbearing - and the ambiance was pleasant and relaxed, making it an easy place to settle in for the evening. Overall, Arden delivers a creative, thoughtful menu with bold flavors and great execution. We’ll definitely be back.

Great food and excellent service. I particularly liked the mushrooms that the waiter recommended. The fish curry was good, but the fish could have been more tender. Even though they win a local award for their dessert and cocktails, I found both lacking. The mocktail was great on the first sip, then it was just soda from there. It was also so filled with ice that I couldn't stir it. The chocolate cake tasted good, but it was an uninspired lava cake, not worth of any award.

We had an exceptional dinner , the grilled octopus mushroom rice, Steamed Kona Kampachi , paired with the tipsy watermelon drink, our server, Chris was amazing. Highly recommend Arden

I had an incredible dining experience at Arden. The chef did a phenomenal job combining a variety of farm-to-table flavors, each dish showcasing great depth and balance of umami and texture. The venison, smoked tuna poke, fish curry, tomato salad, and steak were all superb — beautifully prepared and bursting with fresh, seasonal ingredients. The service was equally excellent. Our server was knowledgeable and spot-on with his recommendations, enhancing an already exceptional meal. The cocktails were also outstanding, perfectly complementing the dishes. Overall, an amazing dinner from start to finish — creative, delicious, and memorable. Highly recommend Arden for anyone looking for a refined yet inviting culinary experience.

We came here to celebrate my husband's birthday. I booked it thinking we might want to try the wine from the wine deals. But after a full day on an airplane, we decided not to have any alcohol. Instead, I got their non alcoholic drink with elderflower, that as really delicious! It was like a fragrant fruit juice, so tasty! Then for food, we ordered more than we needed because we really wanted to try the oxtail but also wanted veggies. The oxtail was superb, although slightly under salted but well balanced if you have it with a mouthful of the udon. We also got the sashimi appetizer which had really fresh fish and thickly sliced. We were so full afterwards, we had to pack up the food the salad and oxtail so didn't have any room for dessert. But one of the waitstaff came over bringing a slice of cheesecake for my husband's bday. That was so nice!! We had a wonderful experience here and would definitely come back. I'm even considerinng staying at the Lotus!