Genius Lounge

We came here to celebrate my best friend's birthday, and the experience was amazing! The food was absolutely delicious, and I was pleasantly surprised by how affordable it was, especially for Waikiki, where dining out can be pricey. My favorite dish was the kalua pork gyoza--the fusion was so creative and unexpected, but it worked perfectly! The sauce that came with it elevated the flavors even more.Our server was incredible! She surprised my best friend with a birthday brownie and a heartfelt birthday wish, without us even asking. It was such a thoughtful gesture.We sat on the rooftop/outdoor porch, and the ambiance made the experience even better. If you visit, I highly recommend sitting there for the best vibes, especially if you're drinking :D This place exceeded all expectations, and I'll definitely be back!

We can to genius lounge back in December, I have been debating to review it as I was waiting for so long to go. I had heard about it and seen it on social media. Maybe we just hit an off night. IDK but I was thinking it would be so much more. Good but nothing amazing. Food was ok, ambience felt a little dingy, maybe due to sitting right next to kitchen Window, and entrance door. Service was great. They were fast and kind.

Had a really enjoyable time at Genius Lounge! The old-fashioneds were on point--definitely one of the highlights of the night. And the mochiko chicken? Absolutely delicious, paired perfectly with their house-made tartar sauce. The balcony seating was a nice touch.However, not everything was to my taste. I tried the kimchi octopus, and while I can see why some might like it, I just wasn't a fan of the raw octopus. It's more of a personal preference, but it was definitely a bit off-putting for me.

Have eaten here several times. It is a good place for happy hour drinks or for a few dishes of your favorite appetizers. The interior hosts the bar, kitchen 2 restrooms and the several tables. There is a front and back patio. The restaurant is on the third floor, only accessible via a long stair case. The ambiance is reminiscent of a Spanish or Italian 3 floor villa that was seemingly converted from a house to a trio of restaurants. It is tucked away and hidden between hotel and apartment buildings, but is easy to find on street, with a menu at street level as well. Highlights of the food menu were as follows: Spam Katsu, 16 pieces cut into rectangular strips with macadamia nut sauce. Black Mochiko Chicken Nanban which was perfectly crispy with just the right balance between savory and sweet. It is a personal favorite of mine for fired chicken when in town or Waikiki area. Kalua pork nachos are a very generous serving. If ordering many food items or if your party is small, I recommend getting the smaller portion as the full size portion is a lot of food. Chips were not overly fried like some other establishments, which was a nice touch. This allowed the chip to retain structure for scooping and dipping and not fall apart, but also avoided being overly crunchy, oily and chewy. Service is friendly and efficient. Just be aware that since it is a place for alcohol and there are many tourists, it can sometimes get a bit loud if the place is very busy.

Quick, friendly service in a nice little restaurant on the third floor with outdoor seating. The food came out quickly and I was satisfied with the taste & quality. They also offer happy hour which is always a plus. If you're a flight crew looking for a chill spot to eat & drink, genius is it.

Came in Thursday close to 8pm. Got sat at the bar immediately, they told us no tables for walk in. The back patio looked packed and a few tables were being used Lemon drop very strong which I'll always give more stars for.Avocado rolls huge and filling for one person with half the plate! I didn't think they tasted amazing but definitely filling Nachos were really good just wish there was more chip to scoop up all that cheese and pork!Poke bowl appetizer was definitely big enough to be on the entree list. I was pretty stuffed after the bowl and the rolls honestly Top40 artists on the stereo was a good vibe in my time there. Very fast and attentive service by the host and bartender

We loved our meal and experience from here. Friendly staff. Amazing vibe. Quick service. It was nice to get away from the tourist spots. Great happy hour selections. I've heard about their loco moco but after our tour, I felt like it would be too heavy so I had their sushi specials. It was huge! The tuna was so fresh and the flavors were on point. Karaage chicken was delicious. Love the different sauces. For cocktails, I should've got a regular mojito but I got the coconut mojito. It was sweet and I thought it would include coconut water but I think it was made with coconut cream. They have great sake selections. We had one called the kubata senjyu ginjo and I was in love! So fragrant and crisp. If we have any time during this trip we would love to come back.

Excellent busy place to grab some great drinks, food, and island hospitality.Made a reservation for a table but settled for bar seating due to the delay (busy).Bar seating worked out well - we were well taken care of by the bartender and server.Best Loco Moco, Asian salad, and black garlic chicken!Must go to place for anyone looking for a happy vibe joint.Location is a bit hard to find - 3rd floor - above a oyster restaurant...

OMG! What an amazing gem hidden in Waikiki! The service was phenomenal! Atmosphere so cute. The karage chicken and hot pot loco moco. DAMN!!! Sooooo good! Will definitely come back again and I live on the west side!

This place is amazing. My girlfriend and I were only in Honolulu for a week but decided to come here twice. The restaurant itself looks very unique and I loved the look of all the tables. For food, we had the oysters, the loco moco, the yuzu chicken, the ahi steak, and the loco moco pizza, and all were incredible. The servers were also very nice and super helpful when we had questions. Overall this place was great and we will definitely be returning in the future.