Arancino at The Kahala

The food and service was amazing! Ordered the carbonara and it was one of the best I have had! Great vibes in the restaurant, perfect for a date night or girls dinner.

Arancino at the Kahala is one of those restaurants where you gotta believe the hype! It seems to be a crowd favorite for a special dinner. Some of the most critical Yelp Elite and social media influencers rave about this place. And of course, this restaurant is extremely popular to tourists and located at the famous Kahala Hotel. With all the hype, I knew I had to choose this place for my recent milestone birthday dinner with my husband. I made a reservation over a month out since I didn't want to miss out on a Saturday early dinner. I've lived on Oahu for almost ten years, and yet I was surprised that the drive to Kahala feels like you're sucked into another paradise island. Let me tell you that I wish I knew right away that VALET PARKING IS COMPLIMENTARY WITH A $50 PURCHASE. It's totally worth it and I wish my husband and I didn't take the time to check for free garage self-parking, which is extremely limited. If you'll treat yourself to a fine dinner, you might as well treat yourself to valet parking! Arancino is practically right next to the valet stations that it's hard to miss. Right away, you'll see that seating is almost completely outdoor. I will add this comment for those who get turned off by little critters...our reserved table was right next to railing, so it was easier for some of those tiny, harmless ants to crawl onto your tablecloth. I personally didn't care since the ants were very tiny, but my husband was somewhat bothered. Our outgoing server was apologetic and offered to move us to a different table, but I personally wanted to sit far from the restaurant. Yes, Arancino has live accordion music most of the evening. Noise level was pretty manageable. Our incoming server who assisted us most of our dinner was equally helpful and attentive. Hubby and I ended up sharing the following:1. Affettato Misto2. Cacio e Pepe (AKA the pasta prepared table side on a cheese wheel)3. Filetto alla Rossini (+ a glass of Chianti Classico Riserva)4. Bianco Mangiare (the least sweet of the desserts according to our helpful server)5. Complimentary birthday dessert!Everything tasted so delicious, and the service and atmosphere made the meal even better. The Affetato Misto was tasty with all the cold cuts, pieces of parmigiano reggiano. I couldn't believe a seemingly simple Cacio e Pepe could be so flavorful. After a recent mediocre experience eating cheese wheel pasta in San Diego, I was very satisfied with Arancino's Cacio e Pepe and its preparation. We enjoyed the Filetto alla Rossini with our medium rare beef tenderloin and our first taste of foie gras. The wine pairing complemented the dish well. Arancino gave me a complementary birthday dessert! Thankful our server answered our questions of the sweetest dessert on the menu (the Bonet chocolate custard) and the least sweet (Bianco Mangiare which we ended up ordering). Our server was attentive all evening without making us feel rushed! I highly recommend Arancino at the Kahala for a fancy, special and delicious, but not stuffy dinner for a birthday, anniversary, or other special occasion. This is one of those places we'd love to return to, but at the same time, we'd love to explore other gourmet restaurants around the island! If we're stumped on a venue for a special occasion, we can always count on Arancino at the Kahala. I would recommend this place to locals and tourists alike.

Seeing some of the foods being made was a great experience. The lively environment dining outdoor was the perfect way to end our time in Hawai'i. It was so satisfying to watch the cheese melt.Arben listened to our requests to make changes to our dishes. Thank you.

Arancino at The Kahala offers an extraordinary culinary experience. The elegant yet relaxed atmosphere, paired with the beautiful location, sets the tone for a memorable meal.I had the Porter Ranch steak, and it was absolutely divine. Cooked to perfection, the steak was tender, flavorful, and expertly seasoned. It was accompanied by sides that complemented it beautifully, creating a well-rounded and satisfying dish.For dessert, I couldn't resist the tiramisu, which was light, creamy, and delicately balanced with just the right amount of espresso and cocoa--easily one of the best tiramisus I've ever had! I also tried another dessert, similar to shaved ice, that was refreshing and unique, but I can't recall the name. Regardless, it was a delightful addition to the meal and a great way to cap off the evening.The service was outstanding, with the staff striking the perfect balance between attentiveness and respect for our space. They were knowledgeable, friendly, and made great recommendations to enhance our meal.Whether you're visiting for a special occasion or simply indulging in a fine dining experience, Arancino at The Kahala delivers on every front. I'm already looking forward to my next visit!

We so didn't want to cook dinner tonight, luckily Arancino had a reservation for us. We loved the winter truffle arancini, the caprese was so good. My partner got the carbonara pizza and I had the cacio y Pepe. We love people watching while sitting outside and the music was fun. I like the new table lights too. Servers are always attentive and Katherine was great

We've been wanting to dine at Arancino for a long time.and finally found an occasion to do so. The ambiance was beautiful and open aired. Our server Maria was absolutely impeccable. We went on the last day of Restaurant Week so got to try the pre-fixe special menu which was perfect along with some regular menu items! Everything was fantastically delicious and works of art in presentation. The reason I scored 4 stars instead of 5 was because my experience wasn't perfect due to the extremely loud party right behind me. They spoiled my experience and made me want to leave. We'll have to go back and try again ...

I dined solo on Monday evening, opting for the Degustazione, a six-course tasting menu ($130) and the wine pairing ($60). I like tasting menus because the portions aren't too large and one gets to sample a variety of dishes. Some still water (Acqua Panna, $7) and Arancino's focaccia and olive oil kicked off the evening.The first course was Tartare di Gamberetti con Caviale; a fancy name for caviar over pieces of ama ebi with a light yuzu vinaigrette. It was served with Devaux "Grand Reserve Brut" Champagne. I was somewhat puzzled by the dish because it was presented like caviar, but without any blini or toast points. I used the pearloid spoon to eat the caviar / ama ebi.Course two was Zuppa di Aragosta, AKA lobster bisque. The soup was rich and there was a small piece of toasted brioche with claw meat floating on top. The wine was a Pinot Grigio Rose from Scarbolo "Ramato", Friuli Venezia Giulia. I found the wine refreshing and a good counterpoint to the rich soup.An Insalata Caprese (Cherry tomato halves with fresh Mozzarella and basil) followed; paired with a Il Borro "Lamelle" Chardonnary from Toscana. There was nothing special about this dish or the wine.There were two choices for the pasta course; I opted for my favorite dish at Arancino, the Tagliatelle ai Ricci di Mare. To me this dish is misnamed because a Ricci di Mare is made with garlic, parsley, salt, lemon and olive oil. Arancino "improves" it by making the sauce with white wine, tomatoes and cream. Whatever the name, I prefer Anancino's version, and this is a "must have" anytime I visit. The pasta was paired with a Sauvignon Blanc from Cullen Margaret River Valley in Australia. The slight sweetness of the wine complemented the sweetness of the uni.Course five was the highlight of the evening for me ... Filetto alla Rossini, a 5oz sous vide piece of beef tenderloin, topped with seared foie gras, sitting on a bed of mashed potatoes, surrounded by a Truffle Rossini reduction. I call this Périgueux sauce, one that I use with Beef Wellington. Everything about this dish was sheer perfection ... I wanted another serving! The wine was a Chianti Classico Riserva, Tenuta di Arceno from Toscana. The wine was fine, but it was the beef! Wow!A special version of Arancino's deconstructed Tiramisu topped off a superlative meal. It was made special because the pastry chef wrote Happy Birthday on the plate. Alas, a day early, but the thought was there.This was arguably the finest meal I've had at Arancino ... I can't wait to return!

First of all food is good not great. Location is beautiful. So why do I give it a one star. They are very snobby. I always stay at the Kāhala and it is my favorite hotel, but my experience with this restaurant is always the same. Also it is not cheap.

A small piece of Italy in Hawaii! Outstanding food, service, ambiance --checked off all my boxes for a great celebration! What makes Aracino stand out from the rest was the exceptional service provided by Christoper (manager) and Maria (server) throughout our anniversary. We appreciated the care, attention to detail, suggestions, and professionalism. Reservations recommended on OpenTable. We were seated at nice outdoor table that gave us the refreshing ocean breeze as the sunset came in. Food: Spaghetti ai Ricci di Mare 40(uni, white wine garlic tomato cream sauce) --My personal favorite of the night --the uni from Japan brings extra umami flavor that pulls the dish perfectly together. Excellent all around. Cacio e Pepe 31(classic roman dish - pecorino romano, parmigiano reggiano, toasted black peppercorn & spaghetti prepared tableside in our imported pecorino romano cheese wheel)--This was the most entertaining dish since our server actually makes this dish in front of you. The cheese wheel is massive. Good flavor overall. I've had this dish in Italy and it satisfied my expectations. Pizza Carbonara 33(local waimana tkg poached egg, guanciale, parmigiano reggiano, mozzarella, croccante, truffle)--I could see why this is one of the more popular pizzas. The local egg provided extra flavor. The guanciale (pork cheek) added a nice touch, similar to bacon but even fattier/tender. The truffle oil makes everything better. Pizza of the Month 30 (parmigiano reggiano, mozzarella, gorgonzola, pear, walnut & honey)--Sweet-Savory goodness. We were given a fresh bottle of honey from Austria that was opened in front of us by the manager, to ensure freshness for our pizza. Honey really brings the flavors altogether. Beer:My partner enjoyed pairing the meals with an Italian beer that is difficult to find, Menebrea. Dessert:At the end of our meal, they surprised us with a beautifully made dessert. One of the prettiest ones I've seen. Creamy and moist sponge cake topped with blueberry and strawberry. The sugar "ice" globe and flowers were also edible. Everything was amazing and we can't wait to come back again. We'll keep Aracino in mind for future celebrations. Highly recommend!

We just spent an evening at Arancino for dinner on our last night in Hawaii. Unfortunately we were seated (2 of us) next to a large group. Sadly this group had 2 people who must think their dinner companions are deaf or they think they are at a sports bar. Very loud and ruined our evening. The restaurant response was "We are sorry". Don't think we will come back.