Just ate there with a big group so we split up in to 3 tabs. Service was attentive and cordial but as it got busier the two servers seemed to get more agitated. Not with us but in general. It took them a long time to get us our bill, too.
Here's my recap on what we ate:
-Pork chops - was okay, a little on the dry side and slightly seasoned. I think I'm just used to Side Street's pork chops so I'm always expecting that when I order it.
-Braised Shoyu Pork - Was really good, nice and fatty in the right places, perfectly seasoned and soft but not falling apart.
-Fried soba noodles - was tasty but nothing I couldn't make myself at home
-Hapa fries - I really enjoyed the sweet potato fries in this
-The hapa chocolate kaarage curry - This to me was the best dish of the evening. Very different, the kaarage stayed exceptionally crispy and distinct in a strong curry sauce. Surprisingly the chocolate actually smoothed out the curry in a great way.
-Chocolate andagi - really good and not as sweet as it looks! Had the excellent crispness in every bite.
Overall, there were a couple of stand out dishes on the menu and the service was just okay. I don't think I'd go out of my way to come here to eat (townie ova heeya) but I'm glad I tried this place and know where it is. This restaurant is on the smaller side so be safe and make a reservation if you can.
I had a craving for sushi one night and we began searching Yelp for sushi restaurants and somehow we ended up here knowing full well we weren't going to get sushi and excited about the other menu items.
We were immediately greeted and seated and given some waters as we looked over the menus. Â Our server explained our different ordering options to us and then slowly our eyes began to get bigger than our stomachs. Â
For our appetizers we decided to try the artichoke crab wontons, pork andagi, and the curry french fries.
My friends enjoyed the wontons and the andagi, however I personally was not a fan of the andagi at all as I felt that it reminded me too much of a corn dog and it just didn't excite me.
The curry fries were another story. Â They reminded me in presentation of disco fries and were MIND BLOWING. Â They were served in a brown curry sauce which gives it a mild kick with nothing too crazy. Â Â Definitely worth ordering again.
Main dishes were as follows:
Fish Bites: Â Delish - lightly fried and seasoned. Â Not greasy and perfectly seasoned. Â Everyone in our party liked it.
Haupia-White Chocolate Spiced Curry - My friend wanted to get this dish a bit more on the spicy side and they were unable to do this so they brought her some "heat" from the kitchen. Â She liked her dish. Â I tasted her dish and thought it was spectacular.
Okinawan "Style" Yaki Soba w/ Chicken -- do you ever want to order something but the restaurant is out of it?  This is what happened to me with the  Salmon Loco Moco.  I wanted the Salmon but they were sold out and then somehow I ordered this.  I just didn't dig it.  I am sure it wasn't bad, but I just did't dig it.  It was bland, the chicken seemed fatty and it wasn't me.
My friend also ordered Chocolate Stuffed Andagi for dessert. Â HEAVENLY
Will I be back? Â YES for Salmon Loco Moco and for Thai Fries :)
Excellent! Â Good food at a reasonable price. Â Like how you can ala carte or full meal choice too. Â Love the brown rice and green salad option. Â Edamame hummus was very good with a hint of sesame oil and served with green melon and grilled flat bread. Â Cajun ahi was well seasoned but did not over-power the delicate tender ahi which hubby enjoyed with genji-mai brown rice. Â The shoyu pork did not disappoint either. Â Good flavor and not a lot if fat. Â Dessert...the "elvis": vanilla-banana ice cream with peanut butter and bacon. Â Nice! Â Service was good and friendly. Â Didn't wait long for good to come and all the dishes were delivered at about the same time. Â We will definitely be back!
Review Source:This review is for Off the Wall Restaurant and Bar's catering menu. Â We went to a shin-dig at the Porsche dealership catered by Off the Wall and were very impressed by the offerings: Â GIANT grilled shrimp, mac and cheese, melon salad, pork (?) buns and a nice selection of micro brew beers (no bud lites and coronas here). Â There was also a dessert table with tempting chocolate treats, but we didn't have any of these (because we were preoccupied with the shrimp). Â The wait staff was pleasant and helpful. Â All in all, a very elegantly catered event. Â Hopefully they'll be catering the Jaguar event as well.
Review Source:After reading so many good reviews on yelp, I went to off the wall with high hopes. Unfortunately, I was really disappointed. Â The portions are tiny, the food and service are mediocre, and the price was fairly expensive for what we got. Â For example, the pork chop plate with rice and a small salad had no more food than a standard plate lunch yet it was $17!
Also my chocolate andagi had hardly any chocolate. It had about the same amount of chocolate as 2 chocolate chip morsels.
I really wanted to like this place, but in the end, it really wasn't very good. I won't be coming back.
A great fresh alternative (besides Subway of course) at Pearl Kai Shopping Center. Off The Wall is very innovative when it comes to their dishes, which I feel really sets them a part from other restaurants in the Aiea/Pearl City region. Their food, much like their ambiance and aesthetics, is very simple and clean.
I've had their garlic pork chops, which was amazing. They gave big portions (usually two huge pieces) of pork chops, which I could appreciate because I love my pork. On top of that it was seasoned very well.
This last time I went I got the salmon loco moco, which is delicious and you don't feel so guilty eating it (as opposed to a regular loco moco). What I really like about them is that they offer brown rice mixed with quinoa.
And oh my, their andagi. I usually get the mini andagi, which is always served fresh and perfect but I finally got to samps their shoyu pork andagi.
I kid you not I closed my eyes when I took a bite of this. The shoyu pork is so tender and perfectly marinated and the sweet and salty balances out so well. If I hadn't eaten a whole meal I probably would've ordered more.
Huge Aiea staple here! I have yet to samps their beer/sake collection.
We first stumbled on this place a couple of years ago and loved it, but we haven't been back since we don't live in the area. Â I was nervous about coming back last night because of a couple of recent bad reviews, but the food was as good as I remember. Â The salmon loco moco and shumai with pecans were particularly yummy. Â The service was okay, and when the kitchen was REALLY slow, the server let us know and apologized, also comped my daughter an andagi.
Review Source:After being closed for a while, my fiance and I decied to go back to Off the Wall for dinner at 7pm.  When we ordered, we were told that they didn't have a few key items on the menu...Then upon receiving our tofu/chicken salad I knew that it didn't look good from the get-go and informed my fiance to send it back to the kitchen.  Of course that didn't happen and I ended up not eating ANY of the salad.  I had some yakisoba (which was terrible) the yakisoba looked like Don Quiote bought noodles with canned reheated meat  . It's now 2:26am and my fiance is showing signs of food poisoning...throwing up and severe stomach aches.  How do I know it was because of the salad....well it's due to the fact that the salad was the last meal eaten and it's been about 6 hours.  I'm sad to say that there was nothing here to keep me interested in returning to this establishment. Â
The customer service was mediocre, the menu selection was limited and the quality of food tasted like it was purchased from Sam's Club and reheated in the microwave to be served. Â If my fiance didn't tell me to remain calm and just pay the bill, I don't think I could've let all these negative points go by. Â
My prediction....closing within 6 months.
First & Last experience we will have with the so-called "chocolate stuffed andagi"
Soooooo, NOT worth the $$.
The andagi was so dry inside & what was suppose to be stuffed in it, I have no clue. Â All we found was dough. Â Definitely NO chocolate.
We were so disappointed & so embarrassed to share this with my family. Â
Hope someone else has a much better experience then we did.
We had no trouble getting a table on a Saturday night, however that's because we got there early enough. Â Started off with the apple sake which was really good. Â Appetizers included poke and crab/artichoke won ton - poke was OK and the won ton was better. Â Entrees included fried pork chops and salmon loco moco - hubby said fried pork chops were too salty after awhile, but I really liked the salmon loco moco. Â First off, it came out of the kitchen looking like it was meant for a fine-dining restaurant - very nice presentation! Â I was worried it'd be dry, but as the waitress stated, it was VERY flavorful. Â Then of course, we just had to try their chocolate andagi - which was good, but nothing I'd go back to get special. Â
The staff was very friendly and attentive - the wait for the food was a little long, but they explained that they were busy and didn't just leave us hanging. Â I'm trying the ramen the next time I go :).
Actual Rating: 3.5 Stars
Ambiance: Boy was it cold in there! Luckily we were able to move to a table where the vents weren't torrenting down upon. Because the place is fairly popular, the seating accommodations are lacking. But the wait time wasn't bad.
Service: Friendly staff with reasonable suggestions. Filled up our waters without needing to be asked. No complaints here.
Food: Very delicious! Definitely can't find some of these items elsewhere. However, and this ties into the price, portions are small.
Price: Tying in with the food, you don't get what you paid for. The quality is great, but definitely not reflective of the price. On top of that, for the quality and price, I would have expected more. Sharing goes by very quick.
Other: Lately, due to the amount of restaurants popping up in the PK shopping center, parking is always a pain, especially during peak dining hours.
Overall -
Pros: Great food; lots of choices; definitely should try the chocolate andagi!
Cons: Proportions; parking; price
The curry fries were out of this world! I had the okinawan style soba noodles, which are a favorite, and their dashi is wonderful. So I'd totally recommend the ramen, and definitely with the soba noodles! These rant the soba you'd normally see, it's nice thick and chewy.
My husband had the special, which was a grazed ahi and he said it was heavenly, but no one told us the price when he ordered it, and ouch there was a bit of sticker shock. It was over $25, and since the majority of the menu is so reasonable I was a little surprised. We probably would have cut back on either the alcohol, or appetizer if we knew.
Also, get the curry fries! Do it! Yuzu won't regret it! Overall delicious and for the most part a great value. Just hope they can warn us on the specials next time!
I try a new dish each time I eat at Off the Wall and I haven't been disappointed yet. I'm a huge fan of pork, so it goes without saying that I have a tendency to gravitate towards their dishes with the shoyu pork.
The service here is good and the staff is friendly. The only downside of Off the Wall is the hours (wish it opened for lunch), but that doesn't affect the quality of the restaurant in any way. I definitely recommend trying Off the Wall.
Okay, so among the random restaurants here at Pearl Kai, Off The Wall is a must try! I came here with my sister and girlfriend for a GNO, and I didn't know what to expect. I mean, reading reviews for this location is one thing, but experiencing it is another. It was about 6:30 when we entered and were seated promptly. There were only 3 other parties in the restaurant, not too busy. We each order an appetizer and entrée. So here's the breakdown:
Appetizers:
Vegetable Spring Rolls: I don't usually eat my veggies, but these spring rolls were pretty good. The rolls also came with pieces of lettuce, and I liked the sauce.
Crispy "Okonomiyaki" Gyoza: The stuffing itself had a lot of flavor and it had quite a lot of it compared to other places that I've had gyoza at. I also really liked the dipping sauce that accompanied this dish as well.
"Naked" Spicy Ahi Poke Musubi: I've had my fair share of spicy ahi, and to me, this slightly lacked the "spicy" of spicy ahi. However, some people disagree, I like mine fairly spicy. But I think the dish is quite inventive and very nicely presented.
Shoyu Pork Andagi: This was by far my favorite appetizer. The combination of sweet and salty in this dish, is amazing! The andagi itself was perfectly made, and the shoyu pork inside was so darn tasty, perfectly seasoned. Nothing was overpowering. I swear, I crave from time to time. SO GOOD!
Entrees:
Bubu Arare Karaage Chicken: My friend ordered this dish and she seemed to enjoy it. I tried a piece and it was cooked well. The bubu arare is a great spin and gives it a nice crunch! She tried the Gen-Ji Mai brown rice and was in love, she said it didn't even seam like she was eating brown rice.
Grilled Salmon Loco Moco: My sister ordered this, and she said it was like an upscale bento. The salmon was cooked nicely, and like regular loco moco, it came with chopped scrambled egg on top.
Tempura Shrimp Club Don: It was a interesting dish, it kind of reminded me of a clubhouse sandwich or California roll. There was rice on the bottom, on top of that was three shrimp tempura pieces, which were nice and crunchy, avocado, bacon, a drizzle of a mayonnaise and teriyaki based sauce. It was a very creative dish, I liked the flavors, however, my only complaint would be that the avocado was slightly brown, and not that fresh green/yellow color it usually has when you first cut into it. Other than that, it was all good
Dessert:
Chocolate Stuffed Andagi: Okay, so just like the andagi app, I DREAM ABOUT THIS DESSERT! On the menu, it has a little caution sign warning customers that it may cause you to have cravings, and it's the truth it does! Well for me anyways. I love that the chocolate is not cloyingly sweet, it's pretty much bittersweet chocolate inside the andagi, then rolled in cocoa powder. Every girls dream! What's not to love? You MUST try it!
The two servers on the floor did a good job of refilling waters and clearing dishes, especially when it got busy. When the check came, I was afraid to look at the bill (because this dinner was my treat) but it only came out to about $60 + tip. We were all happy and stuffed after our meal. Overall, we really enjoyed our dining experience at Off the Wall.
Ugh I really wanted to write a good review for this place.
Last night seemed unusually empty for a Saturday night, but I liked the laid back ambiance. Â Everything tasted good - I had the tofu salad with chicken and a side order of gyoza and the boyfriend had okinawan soba and the spicy ahi musubi. Â
However, I woke up at 6am this morning with a wicked case of what must have been food poisoning. Â My boyfriend didn't get sick, so it was probably something in the salad or gyoza, which only I ate. Â
I'm disappointed to give this place two stars. Â It was so promising. Â If I feel brave enough to go there again, hopefully I can bump up my rating.
should you fancy some fancy bar food, off the wall is your place!
I've seen this place many times as i walked by toward other food places, the simple wooden decor and bright cheery atmosphere never really drew me in. Â Wanting to try something new we went in and were plesantly surprised!
The menu is based on the notion that you will go there to share the food and taste each others. I think thats a good idea too. It feels like fancy bar food especially with a beer tap and loads of sake.
Some of our highlights are:
The gyoza was fantastic, the sauce it was in was magical.
The kim chee poke was slightly fishy tasting but what can you expect at 8pm.
The ramen, shoyu based broth was delicious! For the price, you get a lot more meat ( yummy tender pork!) and noodles than other places.
Next time i have to try the andagi and gelato.
Tonight was my first night here. There hours of operation never seemed to work out for me. So when we were planning tonight's dinner plans this was my first thought.
Getting the negatives out of the way. The dinning room was bright and cold due to a large bulkhead right in the middle of the dinning room. The food takes some prep time so we waited several minutes longer for every dish then I'd like.
The food was worth the wait. They do a great job putting their own twist on island favorites. The Spicey Ahi Musubi is a deconstructed version of a classic dish. The Shoyu Pork Andagi blends the salty and sweet to make for a great appetizer. They have some of the best Andagi I've had in awhile. Fresh, dense, perfectly sweet with a nice crisp to it. If you like Andagi these are worth a try.
I wasn't expecting a drink menu but they have a pretty good selection of beers, sake, wine and cocktails. For the size of the restaurant it's pretty extensive.
I mentioned earlier the service was a tad slow but that's not due to lack of hustle the servers part. The servers didn't have select tables so they were both checking on any table they passed. The server bring our good accidentally knocked over a beer and after promptly cleaning it up offered to buy us dessert. Great service isn't always about doing a flawless job, sometimes isn't how well you resolve a problem. Accidents happen, I wasn't upset at all but she was great about making sure we had a great dinning experience. I made sure to tip them nicely for their service.
Since I have moved to the leeward side I have been here twice for group dinners. Â This place has some unique entrees and delicious chocolate andagis!
I ordered the Kirin pitcher the last time and we ended up getting 3 pitchers for 6 people. Â My boyfriends pork chop was delicious. Â I ordered the shoyu pork but it was kind of dry.
The service was a little below average. Â The first time they were pretty busy and it seemed like there were only 2 workers. Â The second time the girl was new, so any thing we asked, she really didn't have an answer. Â She did tell us she did not try anything so was not going to be a great help, but at least she was honest.
The entertainment book does have a coupon for a free appetizer!
Off The Wall is truly "off the wall." Â With it's fusion Asian food menu and non-typical beer on the menu, I would really come back to this place. Â
Located at Pearl Kai Shopping Center, Off The Wall is open Tuesday - Saturday from 4 - 9:30pm and on Sunday from 4 - 9pm. Â They have happy hour Tuesday - Sunday from 4 - 6pm.
Me and a whole bunch of my friends came here for happy hour around 4:30, which turned into dinner, which turned into us just about shutting down the place (this was perfect since we're older and need to get to bed lol). Â Needless to say, we all had a good time and enjoyed the food. Â
With things on the menu like edamame hummus, shoyu pork andagi and shoyu pork soba pasta, some one the items aren't your run of the mill Asian restaurant items.
Check this place out!
Alright, so it's been awhile since I've reviewed some where, but I figured I'd get back into the groove of things!
So this past week my boyfriend and I saw this swanky place as we were checking out Pearl Kai Shopping Center. As we were walking passed our eyes and our stomachs stopped us in front of this small restaurant's menus conveniently placed on their windows. What caught my boyfriend's eye was the Spicy Ahi Musubi and for me, the Shoyu Pork Andagi.
We were hungry for a snack but not hungry enough for a meal so we decided to order three things.
1) Spicy Ahi Musubi
2) Shoyu Pork Andagi
3) Ton Ton Dashi Ramen
Now, as you may have noticed my rating is much lower than I usually give restaurants. I've been MIA for the past year BUT my boyfriend has a love for food and my tastebuds are suddenly picker.
So, first let's review the ambiance of the restaurant.
2 stars - It's a small place with nice little bar. The back of the restaurant is a bit messy and it really threw me off because I couldn't stand looking at boxes, chairs and what looked like a misplaced refrigerator. The furniture and decor was alright, I just didn't feel the fact that we were sitting on cheap plastic chairs.
Now for food.
2 stars - overall
Spicy Ahi Musubi, was a miss for the both of us. First the Ahi was not Sushi grade, it was almost the lowest grade of fish ever and you can really tell by it's taste and color. The aioli (sauce) tasted too much like mayo, so that also threw off it's flavor. The saving factor of this musubi was it's rice.
Shoyu Pork Andagi was a hit for me and a miss for my boyfriend. I liked the sweet and salty concept of the dish. The Shoyu Pork by it's self was obviously WAAAY too salty and we had ordered it as an entree both me and by boyfriend would've sent it back. Personally, it was not worth it's price. $3 for ONE small andagi... never again...
Ton Ton Dashi Ramen, 4 stars. Both by boyfriend and I loved it. The Shoyu Pork really complemented the broth and the noodles nicely (but do eat it in shreds). The broth and noodles were also very flavorful. So we both recommend this.
I'm honestly not sure if I would come back here again... not even for their happy hour. Honestly, you're better off going to Don Quijote and buying sake and cooking at home than coming here. You'll save money.
Damn good food. DAMN good food.
Shoyu pork andagi -- Definitely on the pricey side ($3 a pop and they're not that big) but they're done right. Uchinanchu ancestors would be proud. They're not oily (even though they're deep fried) and the shoyu pork is winnaz. Perfect combination of flavors. I could eat these all day.
"Naked" Spicy Ahi Poke Musubi - I dunno if I'd ever want to pay $8 for a musubi again (super overpriced if you ask me) but was good. The components work well together but again...don't think it's worth the $8...
Bubu Arare Karaage Chicken - Delicious. Good size for the price but still a bit on the pricey side. The chicken was well seasoned, flavors worked well together, and the chicken was MOIST. THUMBS UP!
Petite Petite Braised Short Ribs - I got this as a meal but didn't get the soup with it...I wonder if that's still a part of the additional $5 they charge to add rice, salad, and soup to the entree. *shrug* The meat was delicious -- tender and very flavorful. The flavor profile itself wasn't very unique though. And if you do get this as the meal, it basically comes out to $17 and you'll definitely still be hungry afterwards....
Mochiko Style Fish Bites - These were the pleasant surprise of the evening. Super moist, and not too oily. The fish was fresh and the batter light. I would definitely get this again.
My friends also go the okinawan soba and spicy ramen. I didn't get a chance to try these (except for the super spicey ramen broth) but they both looked delicious. Again, pretty small serving size for the price but we were expecting that after seeing the other dishes.
Overall...the food was winnaz. Even though it was a bit overpriced you can't argue with the quality. My biggest pet peeve of the night was the service. I like that the servers aren't pushy -- you definitely feel like you can enjoy your time there -- but you should still be prompt about taking our orders. I think we waited a good 15-20 mintues before someone took our order and we had to wait a good while (too long) for the food to come out.
Our waitress was also really confused after taking our order and had to come back to double check if she got our order correct...TWICE. And there were 3 times during the night when the other server mistakenly came to our table with another party's order...there were only 3 other parties there so I thought that was a bit odd.
Definitely give it a shot though. Hopefully the service will improve to justify the cost of the food a bit more...
My boyfriend was raving about this place so he took me to try it. Â We came during dinner time, yes it was quite busy at around 7pm. Â While he looked for parking, I ran in to get us a table. Â Nope, that wasn't gonna happen.. there was another group standing around inside waiting to get seated, and there is no wait list so you have to just stand there. Â After 15 min (and my bf still not being able to find parking) I dig out. Â So I recommend coming at an off hour if possible!
The next day we tried again, went early and were the 2nd customers in. Â We ordered the shoyu pork yakisoba, pork andagi, ahi poke musubi, crab and artichoke wontons, and chicken karaage. Â The yakisoba and wontons were the best. Â I think they really stood out over the others which were quite ordinary. Â The yakisoba was well flavored with chunks of shredded pork. Â The wontons tasted like a spinach artichoke dip (and crab) stuffed in crispy wontons. Â NOM! Â I would get those again for sure.
Today was my 3rd time there. I went there today with my boyfriend (his 2nd time) and I brought along my best friend to try it out with us for her first time.
My friend and I both opted for the Garlic Fried Pork Chops, side of rice and fries, which I usually get everytime I go there. My boyfriend got the Tokyo Style Ramen with the Ton Ton Dashi soup. The server asked my boyfriend from 1-10, how spicy would he like it and he said 10. We also shared the Crab & Artichoke Won Tons, which we enjoyed. We did notice that the male server was training a new female waitress, and she was just observing as he took our orders.
After ordering, within a couple of minutes one order of the Garlic Fried Pork Chops with rice and the fries came out. The server told us the rest of the food will be out shortly. My friend told me she could wait for hers and said I could have the first order. I began to eat and I would say atleast 15 minutes passed, when the server came by our table and told us again the rest of the food will be out shortly and that he wanted to bring one order out so we would have something to eat while we wait. That got me to think, that if my friend and I ordered the same thing, how come mines came out so quickly and hers was taking so long.
A little over 25 minutes passed from when we first ordered, when my friend and boyfriend got their food. I was practically done with mine. My boyfriend's ramen was NOT even spicy, it was plain. He was so hungry already that he didn't even wanna bother having to wait even longer for them to fix his order. My friend did enjoy her Garlic Fried Pork Chops, but just didn't like how long the wait was.
For my first two visits at Off The Wall, I always had good service. I went there during lunch time today, and there was only 2 other tables aside from us, and one of them already had their food and was eating. If it was the new waitress that took our order and it got messed up, it probably wouldn't have bothered us as much since we know she's still learning.
Lets see... Â Deep fried starch... Â Whats not to like?! Â The fries were fantastic. Â Crunchy and soft with great seasoning. Â We had the chocolate andagi, shoyu pork andagi, and the shoyu pork pasta?! Â Yes. Â The pasta was good. Â Andagi was andagi. Â Lots of bread. Â Not much inside. Â But its to be expected. Â Although the chocolate one had loads of cocoa on the outside. Â
The service was great. Â It was Sunday so there was practically no one there. Â Only had a couple of SN IPA's. Â
For the record... Â I had previously eaten a late lunch before I came out... So I wasn't hungry... Â But you know me... Â NOM NOM NOM
Pretty decent... Â I'd like to come back when I'm hungry hungry hippo. Â This time was only hippo.
I've been dying to try Off The Wall, especially after I saw all the pictures of foie gras, and after a leisurely Sunday of food adventures and hanging out with Ms. Tze M. I decided that I wasn't going to cook myself dinner, I was going to order out. I really should have read my friend Lai T.'s review before ordering my take out, I probably would have been far less surprised by what I had actually ordered when I got home!
I called and asked if I could place an order to go, to which the guy on the other end said hold on. I could hear him talking to someone more senior who did say they were taking phone to go orders, but it took another couple of minutes of static and waiting before he got back on the phone to take my order. I guess they must have been busy when I called.
I ordered the garlic fried porkchops. I wish they had cut vent holes in at least the box for the porkchops because when I got them home (about 10 min later) the chops were soggy. In spite of that, the porkchops were incredibly flavorful and juicy. I was expecting that they would come with rice and salad, but I guess I didn't order it as a meal so I just got porkchops on a bed of shredded cabbage.
I definitely have to come back to try the adagi and the shoyu pork, next time I will def have to eat in instead of taking out.
I'm torn. Â I find that I'm torn a lot with restaurants like these because there are good, and they balance out the bad quite equally. Â I also find that I have a guilty conscience for giving 3-star ratings, in which case I suspect that I am inclined to give 4. Â I'm sticking to my guns!
3 stars: here's why.
If you call yourself a bar, you should have wine (just my feeling).  Not just House White and House Red, but  a selection would be nice.  At least three of each.  I see that you have sake and Japanese beer.  For my bf, you have Orion.  Definite plus. I also like that you have Awamori.  +++
Our complete meal came with soup of the day, which was tomato bisque. Â It had a great taste and great texture. Â It was a little strange that it came in a miso soup bowl with no spoon. Â It also had large chunks of tomato in it. Â Slurping tomato bisque straight out of the bowl is a little interesting. Â Do not recommend.
I HATE MUSHROOMS. Â LIKE,... HATE. Â HATE HATE HATE. Â I am very careful of what I order and very meticulous in reading and dissecting descriptions of dishes. Â I avoid mushrooms like a fungus (haha) and cannot stand when they mysteriously arrive on my plate. Â I ordered the braised shortribs. Â The first thing I see? Â MUSHROOM. Â Oh, throw down my chopsticks and glare at my bf. Â I point. Â He rolls eyes. Â I poke. Â I groan. Â He smiles. Â I glare. Â He munches gleefully on his pork chop. Â I pick out every single piece of mushroom I can find (and this was EXTREMELY hard due to the glasses of wine that I had already had). Â The menu does not state that there are mushrooms in this dish, this is why I ordered it.
BF ordered the pork chops, which he said were excellent. Â So excellent that he didn't even share. Â :( Â To be fair, after I found the first mushroom, he asked me if I wanted to eat his dish, but I declined since he was already halfway into the first one and didn't show any signs of stopping.
We definitely will go again. Â The atmosphere is relaxing and great to have a few with dinner.
A co-worker suggest this place, and although I rarely go to Pearl Kai (the parking spaces are soooo small), I was in the area and figured I would check it out. Â We were really early, about 5 pm so the place was empty. Â The floor looked really dirty and old. Â The rest of the place was "clean enough." Â I was happily surprised to see sake on the menu so I order a daiginjo sampler. Â The sake glasses were obviously warm prior to pouring and quickly warmed the cold sake. Â Not good. Â The sake tasted like the kind my wife brought home from Japan that comes in a 3 pack of cans. Â I wondered, had I ordered Kubota Manjyu, would it be served the same way. Â I don't think I will find out. Â
The service was average. Â Nothing special and nothing bad, which... really, is good. Â The food menu is interesting. Â Lots of different things. Â Everything has a kind-of local twist on Japanese food. Â Everything on the menu sounded delicious.
We ordered one ramen with ton ton broth and and the shrimp tempura club don. Â The ramen noodles were overcooked. Â The broth was ok. Â I wish we ordered the miso. Â The shrimp tempura don was interesting/different, which is why I ordered it. Â It had 3 shrimp tempura on furikake rice with avocado, bacon and garlic wasabi aioli. Â Instead of being a great melody of flavors, it ended up tasting like the separate ingredients, put into a bowl. Â Which, taste good, but not fantastic. Â
Overall, an average experience, minus one star for the sake faux pas. Â I might be back to try the andagi dessert thing since that is what I was told was the "must try."
I go here with friends every other week or so, so I've gone more than 10 times. Usually we are there for after-dinner drinks, but we've also gone for the grub -- and let me say, they're awesome!
Overall
Tasty food, decently priced drinks, and USUALLY fantastic service... except that one time. Read below.
Where is it?
Pearl Kai Shopping Center.
Parking
There is a pretty big lot available, but sometimes it's super packed and there is no parking to be found. Prepare to go early or circle around for a while looking for parking.
Atmosphere
The place is pretty chill -- nothing fancy. I've seen groups of all ages in there, enjoying themselves, so it can get a bit lively (loud). It is clean, with tables and chairs that seat 4 each, which they are willing to move around to accommodate larger parties. The bathroom is located in the back, past the kitchen, which is cool if you like to see all the cooking action.
Service
Usually, Laura is our server. She is absolutely fantastic -- great customer service! The chefs in the kitchen are also awesome -- usually, they're busy in the back, but they have great personalities and make good conversation when they have the chance. There is also another gentleman who has served us and we've always had a good experience with him -- unfortunately can't remember his name.
Unfortunately, there has been one time that almost made us never return. We had shown up, as usual, for our biweekly visit and the place was crowded and our usual girl wasn't there. No problem. Except that when we inquired about how long the wait was going to be, we didn't receive an answer for that question but were met with a very negative tone and attitude. The girl who was working that night COULD have said: "I'm sorry we can't seat you at the moment, but we are very busy. The wait might be 45 minutes or more. Would you like us to take your name down? In the future, please try to make a reservation so we can be sure to have tables open when you come in." Instead, she said, "We're busy. Did you make a reservation? No? Well, you didn't make a reservation so you gotta wait. Next time make a reservation."
Now, it's fine to recommend calling in a reservation, so in the future this doesn't happen, but to her intonation and attitude were unacceptable. And we still didn't know how long the wait was! So we waited 20 minutes and tried again, to figure out how long the wait was. We sent in someone different to inquire and were met with the same attitude: "You guys didn't make a reservation, so..." rather than "I'm sorry, we're still very busy, but we'll be sure to call you as soon as a table opens up."
We have gone back once since and it was the same ole awesomeness without that girl there, but as a group, we have decided that if we have to experience that again, we won't be going back.
Food
It's delicious. I quite enjoy their Okinawan Shoyu Pork Andagi. It's shoyu pork INSIDE an andagi and as long as there's lots of sauce to be had, the andagi soaks it up and becomes exceptionally delicious.
Their chocolate andagi is also quite tasty.
There also are some secret menu items that are not listed, but they will make if you are a regular customer. Ask the chefs -- maybe they'll share!
Drink
We almost always go for beer and sake -- they have decent drink prices and they have Sapporo on tap, which is unusual for a lot of Japanese restaurants here. They also try to carry some kind of seasonal brew, which is nice.
Again, there are secret drink items that are not listed, but they will make if you are a regular customer. Ask the chefs -- maybe they'll share!
Good food. Good service- the waitress did not use a notepad-- whoa! I can't even remember 3 things when I'm ordering at a McDonald's Drive Thru. Â Anyway, we went here tonight with my husband's family. Â
Okinawan food with a modern twist.  Family style- portions are on the small side (more like tapas).  We tried Spring Rolls, Green Papaya Jalapeño Dip (served with crackers), French Fries, Miso Chicken, Mochiko Fish, Spicy Ahi Poke Musubi, and of course Shoyu Pork.
Everything we tried was good, nothing tasted bad, but nothing was outstandingly spectacular. Though I must say I was pleasantly surprised by the Mochiko Fish- it was my favorite dish tonight. And the Andagi for dessert was okay-- I recommend going for the Chocolate filled Andagi.
Overall though, it was a good experience. By the way if you have kids, don't be put off by the word "bar" in their name. Although people were drinking (looked like mostly wine) all around us, It was very kid friendly-- with a Keiki Menu (daughter had Andagi-dog) and booster/high chairs.
We made reservations for 6pm and had no problems. Around 6:30- a crowd arrived and there were several people having glasses of wine while standing around for a table...waiting. Â Reservations definitely recommended.
Another win for following Yelp!
Decided to come here for a family dinner. Â Made reservations, but when we got there the place was empty. Â
Everything we ate here was very good and well priced. Â We normally go to Stuart Anderson's for birthday dinner but we though we'd change it up for my Niece. Â You could get 2 meals for the price of one person at Stuart Andersons.
The Mochiko Fish bites were delicious. Â Really flakey, almost like butterfish texture.
The Salmon Loco moco was like a Salmon  Fish Patty over rice, it was okay
The Ramen was well seasoned and came with a huge piece of Shoyu Pork.
The Shoyu Pork Pasta, like everyone said that recommended it, is delicious. Â Like a Yakisoba, with Ramen tasting, Udon sized noodles mixes with shredded shoyu pork.
The shoyu pork dish was very good and my dad loved the Garlic Pork Chops.
For dessert, you have to get the Chocolate Andagi. Â Its a regular Andagi, covered in powdered chocolate with chocolate morsels inside. Â Really sweet, but a nice treat after all the salty Shoyu Pork. (Order it early, it takes 15-30 Minutes to get it)
The only thing the Chocolate Andagi needs with is is a scoop of Vanilla Ice Cream!
Overall, my whole family was well satisfied with this place. Â Normally when we go out (9 of us including 2 Children) our bills are well over $300 for an average dinner. Â The bill for this place was just over $100, a nice surprise from all we ordered. Â
The service was excellent and the atmosphere was like a more restaurant version of Side Street Inn if that makes sense.
I would definitely recommend this place to anyone down this side. Â They are only open for dinner for now, but be sure tho check them out. Â
**Since this bill is so cheap, you can hit up Baskin and Robins next door for some extra dessert. **
I hate driving.
I don't think any of us really enjoy the travelling lifestyle, unless, of course, you're flying off to some far off, adventerous spot. Travelling in Hawaii... that's like an adventure all on it's own. And for the person searching for some top notch nom noms, you resign yourself to the fact that you need to travel into town to find it.
That's why I was excited to hear about a spot in AIEA that could be a regular spot to hit up. So, I went with a couple co-workers and tried out the place.
As I followed the directions and got there, I realized that it's just around the corner from Curry House and Kuru Kuru Sushi. It's the type of non-descript place that you walk past in order to get to a) curry; b) sushi; or c) Powerhouse Gym on the other end of the parking lot.
Stepping inside, I was greeted with a sports bar/pub vibe and a feeling of "man, if only I knew it looked like THIS in here..."
That's just the exterior. The real mark of the place is the food. So, we dived right in. We started off with the Crispy "Okonomiyaki" Gyoza, which was crisp, flavorful and quite awesome. It definitely set the stage for everything else to come.
Our server, Jon, suggested to try the Crab and Artichoke Wontons, which was quite the revelation. The wonton was fried beautifully without the strong vinegary taste that other reviews have mentioned. The flavor could be described as artichoke dip shacking up with crab and making sweet, sweet business time. These ARE the business and I'm kind of bummed you only get 4 per order. I would easily mop an order or two of these. By myself. They're that good.
Jon also suggested to mix things up and get one crazy thing off the menu. Well, one crazy thing we ended up with was the Shoyu Pork Andagi.
Yikes, this was dangerous. The mix of subtle sweet andagi and shoyu pork was great, similar to what you would get by drizzling syrup over bacon. It was a great blend of flavor and a nice touch of sweet and savory.
Edamame Hummus was next and that tastes exactly as it sounds. Delicious. Sadly, I think I was the only one that fully appreciated the awesomeness of hummus, so I might have enjoyed it a lot more than the rest of the party.
One thing you HAVE to get is the Okinawan Shoyu Pork Pasta. The pork was top notch, the noodles weren't too greasy, and the tapas/pupu size was perfect to share amongst the group.
The thing that did it for me and what put this place over the top was the Petite Petite Brasied Short Ribs. Fork tender, savory, great sauce, and mashed potatoes on the side made this the plate that got cleared the fastest. Three meaty pieces of heaven, really. Along with the crab and artichoke wontons, I would totally destroy an order by myself.
We wrapped it up with a Banana Bread Pudding Duet, which featured a coconut caramel flambe reduction on one side and a nutella spread on the other. Read that sentence again and wipe the drool off your face. It was quite good.
Now, time for some talking points:
- if you're familiar with the Pearl Kai shopping center, you already know about the parking situation. Be prepared to battle with patrons from Kuru Kuru, Curry House, Cuu Long, Ricado's and Powerhouse Gym for parking. Just hit the first spot you see and walk, you'll be better off in the long run.
- the rest of the group wasn't drinking, so I didn't get a chance to sample the extensive drink menu there. I did notice they had my favorite Japanese beer from Shokudo there (Echigo), so I'm happy I don't have to travel far for one now.
- the vibe and feel that I got from the place was similar to what you would get from Salt... if Salt had TVs on the wall showing Food Network and ESPN. Small plates that you share with others and have a good time enjoying each other's company and some tasty nom noms.
- this place is best enjoyed with a couple of people. I made a comment during dinner that I would just look like a fatty trying to order all this stuff by myself. Because, honestly, I would.
So, what's the takeaway? Great spot on the West side of the island that you would just walk past if you were on the way to somewhere else. Salt-like vibe with slightly cheaper prices. Our server was attentive, knowledgeable, and very engaging. Top notch on the service here.
I have to give this place a 4.41/5 only because I haven't sampled the drinks menu (critical to putting this place above or near Shokudo as an after work food spot). So, I'll be back with some peoples that want to sample the drinks menu and get a better feel of the place as a whole.
I still hate driving. But, at least I don't have to drive too far for nom noms now.
Too bad they're no longer open for lunch, but dinner sure has improved since they opened. Â Food is arranged similar as plate lunch servings are, only they're better here in every way. Â And, they have sake (but "happy hour" discounts don't extend to the best sakes).
I was happy with our choices: Â Okinawan Shoyu Pork Soba Pasta, and the Garlic Fried Pork Chops. Â
While the andagi dessert seems to be a popular experience here, it doesn't do anything for me. Â Plus, you have to wait.. so order it ahead of time.
My wife and I have been here quite a few times and have experienced almost every dish on the menu from the original incarnation to the current line-up of delectable dishes.
The great thing about Off the Wall is that you can get quality food with an evolving menu without having to drive into town. Â The owner is constantly improving on the dishes and the menu, listening to feedback and keeping us coming back for more.
I would suggest if you haven't been here in 6+ months you should definitely come back and give it another shot. Â There are many delicious dishes, the "Naked" Spicy Ahi Musubi is one of my must have's here, the Miso Eggplant and Tofu is also a favorite along with any of the Okinawan pork dishes (noodles, etc.).
Mmm... must go back soon. Â Speaking about all of this is making me hungry!
Perhaps one of the best Christmas gifts ever. Â The BFF made it her mission to find me something delicious to eat as a gift and she did an AMAZING job. Â The host there is so kind and friendly and the food is amazing. Â Hands down. Â I was tempted to suggest the place to my family the day after I had just dined there. Â
Anyway! Â We ordered 5 different dishes: andadog, naked sushi, braised pork, pork with soba pasta and edamame hummus. Â DELICIOUS. Â I went from dish to dish trying to figure out what to eat. Â The rice + poke + furikake was gone first, then the andagi corndog, then the edamame hummus. Â Finally we split (though I believe it was unfairly split...I ATE SO MUCH!) the braised prok. Â The pasta was the leftovers which the BFF took for her lunch.
Albeit, the prices were a little higher but the yumminess was worth it. Â I'll definitely be back here! Â Great food, great service, great date. Â Perfect night out.
Now that I've had time to digest my food-I think the thing which makes Off The Wall so great is the service. Â Don't get me wrong-the food is good, but the service is wonderful :)
My bf wanted to try this place out because he is looking for a good catering option for his work's holiday lunch. Â We came by around 6 PM last night and the restaurant was not busy. Â Our server was attentive, patient, and very approachable! Â Since it was our first time there, we ordered quite a bit of food.
Pork adagi-slightly sweet, perfectly crispy outside. Perfectly seasoned shoyu pork inside. Leaves you wanting more! Â This was my favorite of the night which is surprising because I've had adagi before and I didn't think that I liked them. Â One bummer though is that there really is not a lot of shoyu pork in the adagi...
Hapa fries-crispy and seasoned nicely. Dipping sauce of honey mustard?
Naked ahi musubi-LOL, when I first heard the term "naked musubi," I asked my bff-is that just a piece of fried Spam? Â :P Â It turns out, it is pretty much a deconstructed musubi (from the bottom to top: rice, ahi, slivers of seaweed, drizzled with spicy sauce). Â Hmmm...I give it a 5 of of 10. Â Not bad, but I would not be able to eat this entire thing solo. Â
Karaage Chicken-lightly battered with an oniony-garlic taste. Â It was surprisingly juicy and I liked the fact that it was not overwhelming caked on with batter so I didn't feel guilty eating it.
Shoyu pork soba-the shredded pork is good. Â However, the soba noodles are a bit oily. Â I think I would like this dish more if there were more veggies.
Bottom line? Â I would come here again. Â They have happy hour beer specials from 4-6 PM. Â The place is clean, the service is quick and friendly. Â The portions are alright, think tapa sized (unless you make it a meal and add a salad/rice). Â I'm curious to see the price differences between lunch and dinner. Â After factoring in tip, we spent about $60 for our meal (this also included a sake sampler). Â So it wasn't necessarily a cheap eats...but I think once in a while, you should indulge and we really did enjoy our meal here at Off the Wall!
I am convinced that Yelp is in need of its own batman signal. Whenever a good meal strikes the stomach of a hungry yelper, we should shine a bright "Y" in the night sky as a call to get fat and write reviews. There are just some restaurants that deserve that type of superhero announcement and Off the Wall is one of them.
Based in the Pearl Kai Shopping Center, this Ilima Award winning restaurant has home style roots with a modern vibe. The atmosphere is very warm with earthy orange colors sweeping around the small room, making it an easy place to wind down.
Food here is fantastic. I ordered a hot tokyo-style ramen with a ton ton base. The soup was chock full of flavor and had a creamy texture to it, like a fluid version of silk. Inside this reservoir of ton ton and floating noodles was some fresh garnishes, soft fish cakes, and shoyu pork so tender, it shredded easier than tissue paper. The ingredients were well balanced and I liked the fact that the bowl wasn't drowning in bean sprouts the way Ramen-Ya does it in their ramen.
To wash the main course down, I ordered a glass of Saporro which in hindsight, might have been a mistake. Off the Wall has an interesting list of different sakes, beers, and mixed drinks. Midway through my meal, I saw that they were carrying specialty beers such as Red Hook ESB and Shock Top Raspberry Wheat beer. My biggest tip to you when enjoying Off the Wall is to try something you wouldn't normally get off their drink menu. It will likely enhance your meal.
If you're unsure about what to order, don't hesitate to ask your server for a recommendation. The service here is sociable and so laid back you'd think they were trained by watching Ted Danson's acting in the TV show, "Cheers." I had a discussion with one of the servers about how my week kind of sucked and right before I left, he called out and said, "I hope your holiday is AWESOME!" His genuine remark certainly matched the type of people who run this joint.
Off the Wall is a prime place to get to know a first date, relax after a stressful day at work, or try dishes with unique ideas behind them. This restaurant is a manifest of cool and if you're going to yelp about any hole-in-the-wall, make it this one.
My first time I came here with a high school classmate right after work at around 3:30PM. Â I was looking forward to trying the happy hour special which is from 2:30-5:30PM. Â Unfortunately when we entered the door at 3:45PM, the server inside informed us that they don't open until 4:00. Â Thankfully, she let us relax in the cool AC until then, instead of outside in the muggy hotness.
Looking over the menu, I was a little confused because I couldn't find the happy hour special. Â My heart sank. Â They don't have the happy hour special anymore . . . Â At the recommendation of Grant "Chuggy Bear" I ordered the spicy ahi poke musubi which is $8 and can be split between two people. Â It's basically a two-inch high, naked musubi with ahi poke layered on the rice, thinly sliced nori flakes, and spicy sauce drizzled on the plate. Â The tempura shrimp club handrolls were also very yummy.
On my second visit I ordered the karaage chicken meal instead of only ala carte. Â The rice and salad definitely made the experience more enjoyable and my stomach more full. Â If you don't want the full meal, you can just order a side of rice.
Main things to take away:
1) Â They do not open until 4:00PM
2) Â They don't have the happy hour special anymore. :(
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