Hau Tree Lanai

Such a beautiful sunset! The food was delicious, and the service was great. A very lovely evening all around. Do yourself a favor and make your dinner reservations. Truly a wonderful experience!

A quaint restaurant nestled in along Waikiki beach and a part of Otani Hotel. It was packed when we got there and even with reservations we had to wait for a couple of minutes before we were seated. The wait wasn’t too long and when we were seated I was in awe the open lanai was right along the beach covered with the interwoven branches of the Hau tree.
Our seats were a table away from the gate that separated lanai and Waikiki beach. I was impressed with the view it was breath taking. I love being in the fresh open area. This place is know for their benedicts but I had my heart settle on the berry loaded waffle.
It’s a pricey restaurant but worth it. Portions were more than enough and the service is spot on. Our waiter constantly check on up to make sure we we were okay and say once sorry for the wait but the kitchen is trying their best to got out everyone’s order.
My friends enjoyed their benedicts and poi pancakes.
My order load berry waffles consisted of strawberry, blueberries and blackberries. I tried two of the tropical syrups guava and coconut. They both complimented my waffle it was so delightful.
Will I go there again? Yes more than likely I will try this place again next time for the benedicts.

Food is always delicious. Service is superb. The view… Depends on how many people are sun bathing Can’t complain! If you’re looking for a local, chill brunch spot, hau tree is a great go to. Be sure to make reservations!

My husband and I like to come here for special occasions because it’s pretty pricey. It’s quant, quiet and romantic and the food is excellent!

So as my husband and I attempted to have «brunch» at this establishment we arrived at 1106am. We were informed by the hostess the restaurant closes at 11 and reopens at 1145. So we wait for 30 minutes. As we get in line at 1140 to enter, the hostess starts to tell the people in front of us there is an hour wait!. We decided to leave. However we tried to get the ticketed validated before we left. The hostess said «no, don’t leave! We can seat you now». So she did. However as we looked over the menu it was not as appealing as the pictures we saw online, and there was no brunch options. Nor was the silverware clean at all! It is a beautiful view but we passed on the opportunity to eat.

I came here for lunch with my family in Tuesday and was seated promptly, attended to like royalty .
Beautiful surroundings, beach view under a hibiscus tree as old as the 1800s just incredible !
I had the papaya chicken salad, oh it was amazing ! So fresh and light but so much flavor, parents had Rubens that they raved over, brother cheeseburger same thing he raved ! Pricing so reasonable it’s hard to believe for this location and the incredible service !
Mia Tia’s all around were spot on !!
We rented a house 5 min walk away and I craved the salad so much I walked down for dinner stag, dat in the bar had a cafetini, espresso martini. So good again fabulous service. The papaya salad I came for is not on the dinner menu so I had chicken and steak skewers with teriyaki sauce. Thank you baby Jesus !!
This place is beautiful romantic as can be and service is amazing. Food is on a whole nother level !!

The location is very peaceful and enjoyable. There is seating down by the beach or in the bar upstairs on the main floor of the Kaimana Beach Hotel. Since we didn’t have a reservation and the lanai was full, we sat in the bar where we could order from the same menu. The menu has a variety and a lot of brunch items. I had the crab cakes benedict. There were 2 crab cakes on a toasted English muffin with bacon, a poached egg and hollandaise sauce. There were also breakfast potatoes. The mix of flavors with the crab cakes were really tasty. The potatoes were a bit greasy and not as enjoyable. The service was fine. The prices are on the slightly high side with brunch/​lunch items around $ 20.00. They have some interesting non-​alcohol fruit drinks. I had the plantation iced tea which was good. There is a view of the beach and ocean from the bar but better if you sit at the high seats.

Love egg benedict, view and service~ cute and tasty place~
Service was great. I was lucky enough to see seal while i was dining at Hau Tree

Got brunch downstairs while staycationing at the New Otani Kaimana Beach Hotel. One would imagine breakfast beneath a hau tree, relaxing on the lanai with a view of 50 shades of blue– a refreshing first breath start for the day. Somehow my goose bumping arms and popsicle fingers begged to pardon, as I gasped for any breath of warmth through my luke warm morning coffee. Of course I would forget to pack a jacket while on staycation. Local girl 808 didn’t consider 67 degree windchilling mornings. How shady… pun slightly intended. Don’t forget a jacket or cardigan or sweater or shawl or maybe a hand warmer or two!
The GOOD:
~Beautiful beachfront scenery beneath an aesthetically tasteful tree.
~Poi pancakes plus coconut cream syrup.
~Pineapple boat.
The Not So Good:
~Service. Was seated for about 10 minutes until a waiter finally helped us/​could pour me a glass of water. Waiter seemed to be in a rush and all over the place, nearly dripping coffee refills on my boyfriend’s shoulder. Restaurant workers were friendly and courteous, but venue overall seemed understaffed.
~The cold (long pants and tank top did not suffice, it was my badness I didn’t dress warmer).

Had a very lovely and romantic dinner at the Hau Tree Lanai restaurant with my husband last weekend. The ocean front table we sat at was absolutely perfect and provided a fabulous view of the beautiful sunset. The food, wine and service was excellent. We enjoyed it so much that we returned the next morning for breakfast and were treated to an experience that was just as perfect as the night before. We are local kama’aina and will definitely be returning. Thank you!

From the reviews breakfast and lunch is good. Unfortunately I did not eat breakfast or lunch. I ate dinner. Which is… bad. We were seated quickly, that was about the only thing that was quick. It 25 min just to get a menu. The service was so slow. I spotted my waiter on her cell phone. The appetizer and salad were good then the food went down hill.
I will not recommend this place to anyone for dinner!

Located in the Kaimana Beach Hotel, this is one of the most romantic settings in Honolulu. The dining room sits on the sands of San Souci (Kaimana) Beach. Rivals Michel’s at Colony Surf but not as pricy. Best time to go is right before sunset. Menu is a combination of pastas, seafood dishes, steak and lamb.
We started with Ahi Sashimi, Oysters Rockefeller and Escargot. The Ahi Sashimi was fresh sushi grade sashimi. Served with shoyu & wasabi. The escargot was excellent in garlic butter and served with garlic bread. The Oysters Rockefeller was good with really big oysters. A bit on the saucy side for my taste but I understand that’s how they normally come. Next time I would ask them to leave it under the broiler a bit longer to brown the sauce.
For dinner I had the NY steak (medium rare). It came out more on the medium side but still had a slight red center. Although not my ideal temperature I didn’t return it. The steak was tender and well seasoned. My brother had the Seafood Combo (shrimp, lobster, fish and scallops). Excellent dish. Seafoods were fresh and individually cooked perfectly. My nephew had the Osso Bucco on a bed of pasta. Good flavor but the meat slightly on the tougher side.
We were full from dinner but my nephew wanted to try the tiramisu. Pretty average but it satisfied our sweet tooth.
Our waiter William was excellent. He was attentive but not obtrusive. Although the Oysters Rockefeller was only available on the «set menu» with 2 oysters/​order, William worked his magic to get us a ½ dozen as an appetizer. Great to see a place that doesn’t blink at a customer’s special request. When I wasn’t ready to order with the rest of the table, William politely offered to come back in a few minutes. Although these sign room was full, he came back back in a timely manner and took my order.
Best time to go is right before sunset. If you have a special occasion, friends from out of town or just want to chill with a good meal in a beautiful setting them definitely give this place a try.
You can baker park or park at the metered parking on the street.

I get it, people come to Hawaii to see the beautiful beaches, soak up the sun, etc. Whatevs, I live here. I’m fortunate enough to live in a place where I can walk a few blocks to the beach and soak up the sun every single day when I get off of work at 3. Come to Hau Tree Lanai for the awesome view of Kaimanas beach. Kaimanas is one of my favorite beaches, and I’m proud to say I’ve been coming to this beach for more than 20 years (I have pictures to prove it!). It is absolutely the loveliest thing to sit on this beautiful Lanai, complete with Hau trees as the name suggests and sip on cocktails, be waited on and have some lunch.
The food isn’t the most lovely. There are so many other places to try for good food. But definitely come here for everything else. Maybe I ordered the wrong thing. I had the clubhouse sandwich from their relatively small menu. I mean, the fries were great, but that’s about it. The menu is small and random and the prices are high. Ehhh, just remember that the food is not what you’re here for, its the view and experience and IG pics.
The service is great and the waiters/​waitresses seem to enjoy what they do here. There doesn’t seem to be a lot of turnover which makes me think that management here treats their workers well.
There is a small bar area and the restaurant is kind of small. The hau trees kind of block the beach view from the bar area, so ask to be seated as close to the beach as possible. It is definitely a place I would consider taking friends and family visiting Hawaii for the views and experience. I’d then drive down Kapahulu for a culinary journey.

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Hau Tree Lanai is such a beautiful spot. I wouldn’t know it until one day I tried to meet up with my friends at the Outrigger Canoe Club next door and they were closed on a Monday night on the Pearl Harbor’s day.
So we came here, walked through the main lobby of the New Otani Kaimana Beach Hotel, in the Diamond Head. To a nice surprise of a beautiful outdoor to the ocean front view, I then realized I’ve been sunbathing here before but never readied the outdoor restaurant was Hau Tree Lanai.
Just like the name, they have this beautiful gigantic tree in the middle of the outdoor dining area. Pink table clothes, old school plating, banquet style setting, candle light and white chair. It’s quite a cute spot, vintage, charming, and romantic.
The food was OK, banquet style, nothing new or innovative. The wine list is limited. The service was good. Our server was attentive to us.
I would come back for brunch next time, but not dinner

Service at table terrible, asked bus person for most of needed service, waitress inattentive, ordered Scallop seared, atrocious, 2pcs size of 50cent coin, loads of veggies, I have dinned there many times before, but, haven’t been backfire a while because of loss in family.
Very Dissatisfied. Will Not go back.

Went there Christmas Eve for the set menu. I have been here before and wanted to come back. I called 2 times to confirm that my reservation was intact for 5 people. They should have allowed for the full menu and not such a limiting set menu. Knowing this we decided to go anyways.
We get there and they only had us down for 4 people. I stated I called 2 times & even when the
restaurant called to confirm I told them 4 plus a toddler. The old man maître d tells me it’s only written down for 4 and rambles on and on about it. If it was for 5 they would have the correct table prepared etc. etc. We were the first round of reservations at 5:30pm and I was not in the mood to argue on a holiday, just let it go but don’t blame me for the miscommunications.
Anyways, after that we felt like we were being rushed. The eat and get the heck out vibe was very apparent. We took our sweet time of course. Was not too impressed with the $ 100 prix fix but the $ 80 prix fix menu was too much food. Go figure. Maybe this place is better for lunch or breakfast but for dinner, skip it. There are better places out there for the price you pay.

I had a friend visiting from Oregon and I wanted to take him someplace with a view for lunch. I did a search on Unilocal for good brunch places in Honolulu and finally decided to go with Hau Tree Lanai. I didn’t know too much about this place beforehand. We arrived and were greeted immediately. We were asked if we would like to be seated at that moment at a table right in the middle of their dining area or wait a couple minutes until the table for 2 along the beach became available. Well, of course we wanted to wait for the more scenic table and I’m happy we did. It sat underneath an awesome hau tree with its tons of tangling branches as we looked out over the beach along the ocean.
The food was delicious. My friend who manages a more high-​end restaurant in Oregon said great things to say about the Reuben sandwich he ordered and my eggs Benedict was excellent, especially with the potatoes it came with. A couple days later, we went on a hike and he asked if we could go to Hau Tree Lanai again, but unfortunately it was 3:00pm and their lunch closes 2:00 :(But I will definitely be going back again!

The Hau Tree Lanai provides such a nice dining environment; a beautiful view of the beach… plus you can catch the fire works show on Friday night! The sounds of the beach waters provide a nice serene dining experience.
The food and service were great. I was surprised by the size of their mud pie dessert. I also liked the tiny pinch of sweetness (I believe it was guava syrup?) That they added to some of their appetizer and salad dishes. It was a nice fusion of flavors.

Great view, good food, drinks were tasty, and service was pretty good. Had the shrimp salad that was yummy but for $ 18 would have been better to get more than 4 shrimps in a salad

Pink table cloths? I’m in love. Ancient Hau trees where author Robert Louis Stevenson lounged and wrote? Inspiring. Table side view of the beach? I’m in paradise. Rain?! Uh oh. Let’s just hope it doesn’t pour too hard.
Hau Tree Lanai came highly recommended by my friend from Japan! Yep. She always makes it a point to visit for breakfast to order their Eggs Benedict. So, when the restaurant appeared on the list for Thanksgiving, we ditched our initial plans and made reservations for brunch.
First impressions: nice breeze, busy, cute! I mean, c’mon, look at the pink table cloth setting. It’s adorable. Makes me want to schedule a tea party! It was quite busy at 10:00am on Thanksgiving Day. The buffet line moved a little slow in the lobby area, but the food was divine.
My meal consisted of fresh water oysters, Alaskan crab legs, eggs Benedict, turkey & gravy, cranberry relish, pasta salad, California roll, shrimp tempura, grilled & steamed vegetables, garlic mashed potatoes, and a slice of pumpkin pie. There was plenty more of a selection, but I just couldn’t find anymore tummy space! Coffee and iced tea with a pineapple wedge, too! Everything was delicious!
So, it rained. Luckily, our table was positioned to stay dry as soon as they flipped the switch for the overhead awning. The tables at the edge were drenched and so those parties had to move. Bummer!
Valet parking was $ 3.00 with validation. Our Thanksgiving breakfast buffet was $ 59/​Adult. Yikes! But, totally worth the not-​having-​to-​cook-​or-​clean kind of meal, on the beach, with great service! Two thumbs up!

The lanai seating near the beach offers a nice view. But I’m not sure it’s worth a wait, so if you’re going for brunch, make a reservation. There was about a 30-​minute wait in the line they had for people with «no reservations.» If you’re a hotel guest you get to wait in the other, faster line. I was in a hurry, so being able to get seated immediately at the bar saved my bacon, if you will.
The sweet bread French toast was covered with macadamia nuts, blueberries, strawberries and blackberries. Very good, but a little pricey at $ 15. The five-​dollar coffee wasn’t even worth half of that. Unfortunate to drink that coffee anytime, anyplace.

Came to the in for breakfast with friends per their suggestion. You absolutely can not beat the view and we sat on the patio at the rail with unobstructed views of the beach and ocean, stunning. Breakfast was ok but pricey. Service was ok but nothing exceptional considering the price. I had the croissant sandwich no cheese, the croissant was lovely having been toasted just right however they forgot the bacon so it was a bit lacking in flavor. My husband and friend ordered the Kaimana Breakfast which comes with coffee and our server never asked if they wanted their coffee until ²⁄₃ through our meal when I mentioned it to him at which time he offered other suggestions and my husband opted for iced tea. They both enjoyed their meals and our other friend got a Benedict which he enjoyed as well.

Great place to take a Lady for lunch,
Seat 1 & 10 are what’s up

Never knew this place existed until recently. I had dinner earlier this week in this hotel restaurant.
Atmosphere: located near waikiki right off the water. The restaurant is open with lanai seating right near the beach. Valet parking is available. Felt like a mix of tourists and locals.
Service: waiters are on the older side and very attentive. They seemed very well seasoned. Accepts credit cards.
Food: The food here is similar to the restaurants in Waikiki such as Duke’s. We ordered various fish and steaks. The steak was very well prepared exactly as I had ordered it, medium rare. I was very impressed. We also tried the lava cake, pineapple cheesecake and mud pie. They were all mediocre, the lava cake was very disappointing with no lava, tasted like a chocolate birthday cake…
Intangibles: Great view right off the water and romantic atmosphere with decent food. Excellent date restaurant.

Wow!!! Sitting next to the beach under a shady tree watching the sun set over the ocean while drinking a cold beer — I died and went to Hawaii!!! All this while excitingly anticipating a plate of grilled seafood with a side of citrus. This place is impressive and the price points are right on. Had a great dining experience.

Reservation is a must.
The location and view was awesome.
The breakfast menu initially looked pricey but the quantity and quality of food was well worth the price. Did not want to valet my car so we parked along the street– meter parking. Our waiter was very friendly and thoughtful– but the maître d’ and the other staff working at the hotel where the restaurant is located at was not friendly at all.
Overall excellent experience.
Looking forward to going back soon.

I went here for breakfast with my wife to try out the eggs benedict that everybody seems to be posting pics of.
The service was pretty slow, food was even slower to come out which I wouldn’t have minded as much if the servers would pay attention to us more. I know it was only 10:30am but if I have the day off and am going out to breakfast, I’m gonna enjoy some beers, cocktails or whatever and if the servers know the food comes out slowly, it would have been appreciated if they would at least keep their eyes on who’s thirsty. Especially if they know you’re local and every other table but 1 or 2 at that time are Japanese tourists. Now I’m not saying Japanese don’t know how to tip (its not in their culture so its understandable to a point) but if you have a local guy drinking at a decent pace then it’s best to assume he be a better tipper than tourists from backgrounds that know nothing of the tipping culture.
That being said the food was super delicious though which is always pleasant. Maybe one of the better eggs benedict around Waikiki. If only the servers were a bit more attentive my 15% would have turned into the usual 20% –25% for my brothers who were serving us… I’m not trying to say the service there is bad or terrible, just they have room for improvement.

Great way to start my morning :)
Had breakfast here and it was great. The seating area is very beautiful underneath a gorgeous tree. My dish was good, had scrambled eggs, Portuguese sausage and toast. With some fresh guava juice and delicious Kona coffee.

I’m local and wanted to have a breakfast last Sunday with my friend who lives in town. We wanted some ambiance and a great view. Most Waikiki breakfast haunts are either take out diners or buffets at hotels. The problem with buffets, is who really needs «that» much food in one sitting. Lol!
I frequent Kaimana Beach and suddenly I remembered Hau Tree Lanai! I quickly made a reservation through Unilocal but the Hostess informed me I accidentally put in 8 PM (hello!). Regardless, the she graciously sat us at a great table in the corner for two. We didn’t even wait two minutes and the restaurant was packed. The view was perfect. Just what we needed for a «Whoo-​sa» morning. This was my first Wow!
The busboy was so friendly, bringing us water and coffee (quickly, noticing my friend was in dire need and moving slow) and made small talk about the upcoming Honolulu Marathon and streets being closed off the following weekend.
The waiter took our order quickly as my friend and I were in deep conversation (I hate when waiters don’t clue in to when to talk a lot and when «not» to. This waiter knew and I loved him for that! We ordered the basic Eggs Benedict… OMG! Fabulous ! Perfect yokes, perfect sauce, beautiful presentation and temperature. Broke da mouth! Probably could have shared it, but it was so delish, it was gone!
This is now my go to restaurant for ambiance, service, great food and prices. Out of the way of crazy Waikiki at the base of Diamond Head. In and out!

The Hau Tree Lanai is a nice place for breakfast with a view of Kaimani Beach in Waikiki. Their menu is extensive and it seemed that everybody was ordering the Eggs Bennedict and so did we and it was quite tasty. The Belgian Waffle however sucked as it was chewy and not crisp. The view is nice but it’s better at Barefoot Beach Café and Hula’s Grill.

Super short cliff notes version:
View = 5+ stars
Service = 4 stars
Food = 3.5 stars
Price = 2 stars
Expanded version:
This used to be one of my favorite spots a decade or so ago. We’d always get there at the first dinner seating and sit under the tree, along the rail. It’s really nice to relax, have a cocktail before the meal, and people watch. That part is still the same and easily gets 5 stars.
I haven’t been here in a few years so was looking forward to having dinner here again. This last visit I was a bit disappointed. The food, which I always remembered as really good, was just mediocre this time. It wasn’t due to the preparation or the offerings but mainly because it just tasted so-​so. Not bad but not great either, just OK. The prices also were quite steep. I understand that you’re paying for the ambiance as well, but $ 48 dollars for a ribeye is pretty high for a steak that’s just OK. They had quite a few entrée options that were in the $ 40 dollar range. Apps, soups and salads, and desserts were also quite steep.
Sad to say, I’m not really sure when I’ll be back… unless I have out of town guests that want a good ambiance to go along with dinner.
A couple things to add…
If you want to sit along the rail (which to me is the best seats) to see the sunset and people watch, then it’s best to get there at first seating; those seats go fast. If you go here during first seating, know that the sun is right at an angle that it shines directly in your eyes so bring sunglasses and clothes that won’t be hot.
If you eat a bit later, then you can park along Kapiolani park after 6 for free.