Ka Restaurant and Lounge

Tried to give Ka a second chance buy was treated horribly and will never go back there again.
Upon arrival we waited five minutes for a the employees to tell us that we needed to seat ourselves. I find that rude because the workers were just joking and laughing with each other because there were no customers at all. It took another ten minutes for the water and menus to come.
Food was mediocre but priced accordingly.

Of course Hawai’i clubs will not compare to Vegas clubs, and I don’t go clubbing very often (somewhere around 1 – 2 times a year) but when I’m in the mood to do so, I know what I like and this place didn’t give me any reason to stay as long as I did (other than the outside contributing factor that it was a friend’s birthday).
Here are the main takeaways from my first and last visit to Ka Nightclub, which was a Friday night during the hours of 10:30pm — 12:30am.
ATMOSPHERE:
— Way too many «high school-​looking kids» at the bar area makes for an immature and annoying crowd.
— Too many non-​wristband wearing patrons staggering around drunk; clearly not of age but drinking or pre-​gaming before entry, yet club staff didn’t act accordingly.
— The dance floor was overly crowded (which isn’t entirely the club’s fault), but there was a section cordoned off that could’ve and probably should’ve been utilized to offer more room and make dancing more enjoyable.
— I wasn’t annoyed by the music selection, so I guess the DJ was doing a good job that night.
BAR:
— There was NOT a full bar; what kind of bar doesn’t have Baileys?
— The AMF was a rip-​off and overpriced for the lack of ingredients mixed into a small plastic cup (I’m a bartender and know when I’m not getting what I paid for).
— Drinks weren’t very high quality; my husband (who rarely drinks alcohol) had 3 mixed drinks and 2 shots, but didn’t even get a buzz.
— However, on the plus side, the bartenders were willing to learn how to make new drinks upon request (kudos to you, bartenders).
CLEANLINESS:
— Both restrooms were out of or didn’t have any soap… GROSS! The floors and countertops were also very disgusting (toilet paper and paper towels everywhere except in a toilet or trash can).
— Also incredibly uncomfortable to have both restroom doors WIDE open when they are literally adjacent to each other and the dance floor.
— People were smoking right at the entrance; you had to walk through the smoke to get into or out of the club.
PRICES:
— Cover charge was $ 15 a head
— Drinks were $ 6 for mixed drinks (in small, clear plastic cup — not the big, red «party cups»), $ 7 for a shot (even smaller, clear plastic cup — like the ones you grab Costco samplers in)
— At least the parking’s FREE…

Unfortunately, I write this review after Ka had its last night this past weekend, which I didn’t have the chance to attend.
I’ve been to several fundraisers here for UH Manoa’s clubs and organizations. The first time I went there was actually for a Technology Mixer for Hawaii Pacific Entertainment, put together by a friend and other interns. I thought it was a great place for mixers and events. Then, going there other times for fundraisers, I started to notice some aspects I didn’t like, which are only two things. One, I didn’t like that some of their drinks were so watered down. I felt like I wasn’t getting my money’s worth. Two, I didn’t like that the music set would repeat after a while. In comparison to other clubs/​bars in downtown, the music got boring after a while.
Nonetheless, it was a great place to have fundraisers and events, to be with friends and fellow students, dancing and having a great time, after a long week at school or work. It will be definitely be missed.

DRINKS + ASIAN + GAY NIGHT!
– need to kno yo –
— cover ($ 5 i think)
— Taboo gay night every 2^nd friday (i think)
— lots of parking in garage
– oooouu yeeeah –
OMFG! went for gay night and seriously, it was one of the funnest nights it a long time. (btw i’m straight but it didn’t matter). I typically dread going to ka on saturdays, cause it’s all college kids and 20-​somethins asians as the pre-​game spot for ginza… but it was a totally different experience going for gay night…
– ugh –
there was a photographer… i’m gonna regret some pictures later
– little insights –
went with 3 of my straight girlfriends, and 2 straight dudes… and we ALL had fun!!! met some cutie-​patootie asian boys and we danced the night away. our straight guy friend was getting hit on all night, but he was a good sport about it.
it was mainly dudes, but there was a good amount of girls. DON’T GO if you’re not used to the lbgt community

I confess that I do like to go out on the town on weekends, but I do prefer bars or lounges. Still, the occasional night club is always fun.
With that in mind, I will begin my review. I would say that this is an… interesting place. It is REALLY TRULY asian invasion. So, if you wanna dance with an asian girl OR guy [or both :)], then this is the place to be. The drinks are pretty good, and the dance floor is okay. It doesn’t get too crowded but the line to the girls’ bathroom is RIDICULOUS. It is always soooo long.
Also, if you know someone or have a card, then it is always better. Girls can get in easy, but I don’t know about guys (seeing as I am not one). From what I’ve heard, skirts have it WAYYY easier.
I give it a 3-​star rating because of the fact that I prefer a more diverse crowd and the bathroom lines is just tooo long. But besides that, I always see people I know. :) And, on a weekend night, that’s always a great thing.

Drinks: ⁴⁄₅
Price: ⁴⁄₅
Dance Floor: ⁵⁄₅
Layout: ⁵⁄₅
Music: ⁵⁄₅
Crowd: ⁵⁄₅
This is a review of the club and not the food. Plus it’s my first review of a club in Hawaii! I went last night, the second Friday of the month, for the gay event known as Taboo. So yay for another gay club that I can go to other than Bar 7, Fusions, and LoJaxx (previously known as Angles). Been to several gay clubs in LA and a few straight ones and to be honest, the drinks here are nothing special. I wish they would use glass cups rather than plastic ones because that’s a bit ghetto. Plus to me, there wasn’t too much kick to them; I’ve had stronger. The pricing is decent but I seriously would not mind pre-​partying in a car before heading on in.
The dance floor is definitely one of the better ones I have been to in comparison to Bar 7, Fusions, and LoJaxx. There is actually a large enough space to dance and you don’t have to worry about being too close to the DJ or up against a column while someone bumps you, your friends, or your drink. The layout of the club also isn’t too bad. Pretty spacious in my opinion after the cramped enclosures I’ve been in when I go to the other three clubs mentioned.
The music was amazing! Have to give props to that DJ. He knows how to spin. Felt like I was back in LA. A lot of house, techno, and some swag pieces I could definitely get down to. And the crowd was definitely vibing. There were several performances that night, mostly put on by the talented queens that grace the floor and by a dance crew.
Overall a truly fun experience and I can’t wait until next month! While the drinks may not be the best, I mainly go to dance and have fun at clubs.

I first heard about this place through my coworkers (all of them girls) who seem to really like it. It was always Ka-​this and Ka-​that; Apparently a place where a lot of things can happen, mostly locals go on any regular night, and where my white coworkers would feel like fish out of the water.. . lol.
But I didn’t think much of it until I went there myself, on a once-​a-​month night that they call «Taboo».
Taboo originally happened every first Friday of the month, but they moved it to the second Friday as of March, 2011 (which makes more sense since it competed with First Friday in Downtown). Ka of course, is normally a restaurant by day and regular club by night, but Taboo is when the crowd is majority men.. . well, gay-​men, that is.
I don’t know who came up with the idea of making this venue a gay club once every month, but I am so grateful that they did it. Each Taboo night has been, for better or for worse, a memorable night. The venue is spacious, has a private room, and a huge bar that I’ve never had to line up at for very long. The music has improved over the past year I’ve been going here with some pretty danceable beats that keep the floor busy. I think the best part though is that everyone who wants a change in scene comes here, so I’ve been able to see some old faces.
Ka is the kind of place that this town needs to keep it fresh and active, especially for the Ward area. If you’re local, it’s a perfect place to avoid tourists and testosterone-​high military dudes, and there’s plenty of parking. If you’re here for Taboo, check out their Facebook page for info on their themes. Occasionally, a certain attire will get you in cover-​free. It’s also a good idea to come here around midnight since it can be pretty dead before 11:30pm.
Oh yes, and «Ka» means fire, in case you were wondering.

I am a fan of happy hour! And I want the world to know!
More specifically, I’m a fan of Ka’s happy hour. Ordered the herbivore pizza, kim chee fries and garlic-​yaki edamame.
Herbivore pizza was good, but not the best I’ve ever had. Oh, by the way, if you’re planning on ordering jalapenos on your dish they are fresh jalapenos– not canned or jarred; they are very hot. Jala at me if you know what I mean.
The garlic-​yaki edamame is good, but I have to admit it’s a little strong. It’s nice to cool your tongue down after the jalapeño onslaught, though.
However, the best thing I had that night was the kim chee fries. Sometimes you love two flavors and know that they should be together, while other times you know that they should not. In the case of kim chee fries it sounds so wrong, but oh it is SO right.
Service seemed a little slow, but everyone there is really nice. Will be back to try some new things.

The food here has been pretty good. Different kind of dishes than the typical pupus.
I went to the MDA event last week and heard that Ka donated the food and space for the event. That was very generous of them and for that and the great food they get 4 stars!
Oh and I enjoyed their Christmas sangria special.

WEAK.
As my friend puts it, they play «music to commit suicide by after a few drinks».
The ambiance actually gets in the way of what is decent food. Common, during happy hour one LCD’s showing ESPN (good), the other showing how they harvest blueberries (huh). The tables arranged in a way that makes you feel you are on display. Finally, drinks are made in the kitchen. I guess the cooks get thirsty too.
Cannot imagine this place as a nite club. Poor layout, weak VIP section. Not a LA or Vegas club or ultra lounge by any measure.
The food is good. Mochi and bacon and blue cheese hmmm sounds weird but was good.
Drinks are small (no over pours) but the prices are very low with most drinks below $ 10.
Still though, with good company, you actually overlook the shortcomings and have a great time!

This review is strictly for the club…
I’ve been here just ONE time! One single, solitary time and I wish I could give you a better review… but truth be told… I was… uh… weelllll… lemme just say that it was the 3^rd place that i’d been having drinks at that night.
I am, however, giving this place 4 stars because my friend, the awesome Doc Rock is the deejay there and I know he don’t party at no whack places! LOL good times…

Bar tenders freidnly and ready to serve you, open air feeling.
Great pupus– nori style french fries were a twist that I had never thought of. Great taste– definately ASIAN twist to an American Staple.
Meaty spring rolls/​egg rolls., I didn’t use the side sause as I liked it just fresh the way it was.
Good chicken skewers. Light, tender, jucie still and soft.
Great live music.
ALOHA!

NOTE: This review is strictly for their happy hour, not for the club scene or club events. (Good grief I have no idea why I waited so long to write this review either).
In need of some «happy» after a challenging days at work recently, my friend and I decided to try their happy hour. Gathering different opinions from fellow Unilocalers, we decided to go on Wednesday night since there are $ 5 specials on pizzas. Happy hour on this day, via their website, was listed to be 5−7pm.
My friend and I walked through the doors at about 530 and looked upon a very peculiar site: There was absolutely NO ONE inside the restaurant besides the workers. I guess this wouldn’t be so strange for the fact that the restaurant was OPEN for business and for happy hour no less. We finally decide on a table, and for the life of me I have no idea why we took so long to decide since there was no other customers in the place. I thought the service would have been faster since we were the only customers, but it took a few minutes after we sat down for the staff to notice that «oh, someone’s here».
As far as the happy hour specials are concerned, there were far more specials on food than drinks. I’ll just make it clear that we were here mainly for the $ 5 pizza deals. In the happy hour menu, there’s actually 2 pages or sections you can choose from. One section is the create your own pizza with selected toppings for $ 5, and the second selection is a variety of pizzas made to order for $ 6 each.
NOTE: For the $ 5 pizzas, 3 toppings of your choice is just a starting point, you are free to add more toppings at an additional cost.
After looking over the menus, we decide to order the BBQ chicken ranch pizza (sans jalapenos), bacon wrapped mochi skewers, kim chee fries, and we created our own pizza with toppings of spinach, roasted garlic, and mushrooms.
The first dish (and one of the best of the evening!) to arrive are kimchee fries. Now I know this may sound strange, it actually did to me at first, but trust me once you put that first fry in your mouth you won’t be able to stop! The fries are topped with a kimchee-​garlic mayo, BBQ kimchee sauce, and mozzarella cheese (add bacon for $ 1). For all you french fry lovers out there, I highly recommend this… please please trust me! The garlic mayo, bbq sauce, and cheeses combine to make one of the most savory flavor combinations you will ever have the pleasure of tasting! Next came the bacon-​wrapped mochi skewers. Now, this is a dish that, once more, sounded strange at first, but ended up being devoured quickly once we got a taste of that bacon! Since there are only 2 pieces, you may want order your own so you can enjoy every bite of this delicious dish.
Of the 2 pizzas that we ordered, I would say my favorite hands down was the custom pizza with 3 toppings. Although the toppings were simple enough, uniting those toppings on that pizza was just flavor heaven. Just wonderful! The BBQ chicken pizza was alright, my least favorite dish of the evening. It was ok. Just alright.
SERVICE: It was alright, and again I just thought it would be just a wee bit faster since the place wasn’t packed. There was actually
just one server for the entire floor while we were there, albeitt he only had to help 3 tables total. He was nice, friendly, and polite, and made sure to check up on us in a timely manner for most of the evening. I guess I just didn’t expect the service to be so slow.
I considered giving my review 3 stars, but I liked most of the food so much I decided to add another star =)
Bottom Line: Reasonable prices. Slow service. Great food.

Finally got to go to Ka during their restaurant hours thanks to a great deal I got from PlayHawaii. It was a last minute decision of my roomie’s and mine and decided that we’d see what it’s all about.
Walked in on a thursday night and questions started entering our minds:
«Where IS every one?»
«Are they open?»
«Is this where we go in?»
Then we realize it’s JAZZ night and there’s an older crowd grouped in front of the band, about a handful of people. We were then approached by an older lady who told us how much of a chill place this restaurant is and if you feel like dancing to JUST DO IT! «I do,» she says. More power to you woman!
I saw my friend who works there and since there were no other people we weren’t sure if we could sit on the couches. Got the okay and started making ourselves comfortable. Our waiter, Mike, came quickly and was very friendly and got us our waters. (We decided not to order drinks, since we just came to enjoy the foodies) It took us awhile but we decided on three things. All Asian inspired with a twist.
1) Got the Kim Chee fries: BROKE DA MOUT! This dish was SO good. Kim chee & cheese? who does that??? Ka does! It was a great balance of spicy kim chee flavor along with the cheese that helped tame the spiciness. It came with a side of ketchup, which just acted as decoration since the fries had wonderful flavors going on already.
2) Char siu bao. Comes with two. You know how at some of those Chinese restaurants the bread for their manapuas or for the Peking duck, is kinda hard and old? Well the breads at Ka are perfectly soft! Comes with a few sprigs of alfalfa (?) sprouts, onions and I’m not sure what else on top the yummy pork, it was all good though! The pork was tender & juicy and sauce was divine. This mini dish went well with our Asian inspired fries!
3) We got the «Chinatown» pizza which I requested truffle oil on top (the twist!) I politely asked the waiter what pizza they had truffle oil on top and he made it happen for the pizza we ordered. Thanks Mike! As soon as I picked up a slice of pizza you could SMELL the truffle oil, took a bite and «WHOAH!» It went surprisingly well with our Asian pizza topped with char siu pork, onions, cheese, and honestly I don’t know what else. THAT’S how good it was, I was just eating and enjoying every bite of the pizza, fries, and the char siu bao!
Dessert: We were fortunate to try out these mini fried ice creams with green tea powder on top with some kind of light syrup. This was a first time for me and fried ice cream and I honestly feel like I was drugged! Cuz I seriously was on cloud 9 and so was my roomie. Delicious!
Along with loving our wondrous food we really enjoyed listening to the jazz music and watching the older lady dance around all over the restaurant. Being the only other patrons there (until later when a couple came on a date we presume) it was nice & fun. We were able to talk story with our waiter and my friend, and even talk with the Jazz singer (who was REALLY good by the way, he sang Sway for me and Fly Away for my roomie who is a flight attendant) So cute and fun to talk story with them!
We will for sure come back for a food night maybe try out the their happy hour or come on another night. But, really, as strange as it was to see a lady dancing all over Ka and having a couple of old guys chatting with us, it was FUN and endearing! Love you Ka!

As much as this place is known for their clubbing, I’m here to write about what is lesser known about this place… their food.
However, if you’re here to indulge in a little club spot research, I’ll help sum it up for you in a couple of words…
THOSE NOT INTERESTED IN FINDING OUT ABOUT THE CLUB ASPECT OF THIS REVIEW… PLEASE SKIP TO NEXT PARAGRAPH. So to sum up the place as a club: Asians. Decent club priced alcohol. Great staff — both promoters, bartenders, and security. Asians. Lounge Area = VIP. Decently big dance floor. Asians. Not too crowded before 11. Free parking. Asians!
Ok onto the REAL review… the FOOD! Let’s start with the:
Bacon Wrapped Mochi Skewers. $ 4. Topped w/​Bonito & Chopped Green Onions. It’s unique to say the least. You get 2 pieces that will quickly disappear, the flavor might not jump up and punch you in the face. But the novelty of having mochi infused with man’s greatest creation — bacon — will leave you with words of «oh that’s interesting» on the tip of your toungue.
Korean BBQ Chicken Pizza. $ 6 on Wed. $ 10 every other day. I was expecting something that tasted somewhere along the lines of Zippy’s Korean BBQ Chicken — totally un-​authentically Korean and un-​authentically BBQ… well… it didn’t taste like that. It tasted like a BBQ sauced down pizza with grilled chicken… BUT here’s where the Korean comes in… the flavor will sizzle in your mouth after a while. It’s not hot to begin with, but like a well flavored Kim Chee; if you give it enough time, you’ll definitely notice the spice.
Thai Peanut Pizza. $ 6 Wed. $ 10 every other day. I’m not a fan of peanuts. And I’m not a fan of Thai. But I am a fan of pizza. The flavor of the pizza wasn’t overwhelming, and I enjoyed that. But it certainly had the attributes mentioned in it’s name. It’s worth a try if you fancy that Thai peanut flavor and always wondered how it would taste on pizza… you’re answer awaits.
Cream Puffs. $ 6. Plate of 9. I don’t mean to offend the chef. But I doubt that the cream puffs are made in house. They didn’t seem generic, but they didn’t have that… super fresh taste. They were nicely dressed in Matcha and the flavor had a relaxing, non-​filling vibe, after downing the 8″ pizzas. A good choice if you’re not into the heavy Lactose Diet that includes PIzza + Ice Cream.
Service. Slow. Sorry, but despite this place being top notch in service on club nights. The service here was a little slow. 1 waiter for the whole restaurant. A couple of cooks. And 1 person to run the register (maybe). They were however, professional about their slow service and super courteous despite being busy.
Ingredients. People tend to rave over boutique pizza ingredients & the tools to create them… 10 000% all organic super duper mozzarella, super limited edition sausage flown from the Swiss Alps, Chimney brick Chuck Norris Oven… whatever. Honestly… it’s pizza! Well priced (especially on Wed!) and unique PIZZA! Pizza wasn’t meant to be a SNOB food. I doubt Ka uses all that those high end ingredients, but the fact of the matter, is it tastes good. Period.
Check it out! Hesitant? Check it out on Wednesdays then, less money to lose if you think it sucks. Enjoy it with someone who can hold a conversation, or else the long wait might make things… AWK-​WARD!

Came here on Friday night to meet up with some friends. It was nice club, nice atmosphere, good crowd. The only complaint I have is that the drinks are soooooo weak! I mean if you’re shelling out $ 7 a drink at least make a good pour. And they serve their liquor out of plastic cups? I mean the club looks really classy inside, and then you have a plastic cup.
I would have given 3 stars because of the weak drinks but since I had such an awesome time with friends I’ll give them an extra star.

Ka is one of those establishments where I wish Unilocal would let us give half stars. Seriously… I am very torn. Ka offers a comfortable environment, good drinks, decent food, and most importantly good service.
The environment itself is still very reminiscent of the old E&O Trading Company, yet it is still very cool. If you go on a nightclub night, seats are practically non-​existent since they are for bottle service which knocks a star for me.
The drinks are poured well and the food is certainly different, but very good. Pricing is good, especially when you go for the happy hour!
Service is always good. The servers are generally good and the bartenders are quick, efficient, and my personal favorite, friendly!

I hate being the bearer of bad news. It makes me feel funny in my tummy and it keeps me up at night. However, what keeps me up even later is giving second chances and still being bummed out. Oh Ka, I had had such high hopes for you…
Located in the former E & O Trading Company space Ka is known more for their weekend festivities than their restaurant capabilities. Ka caters to a much younger generation (What’s a Thundercat?) as evidenced by the patrons on the weekend.
The location itself is more sparse and looks a little half-​done. When I attended a birthday party here a few weeks ago I was shocked at how long it took to got our bill. I could have had dinner, drinks and come back to pay. :(
So it’s a Wednesday night and my fiancé and I are going through the usual selections (CPK, Sistina, Gyu Kaku) and decide on Ka after seeing something in the paper about the pizza specials ($ 5 for an 8 inch pizza on Wednesdays, $ 6 specialty pizzas). We sat ourselves and put in an order immediately since my stomach was about to eat my intestines. Bao and two pizzas.
20 minutes later, no sign of food life. At 30 minutes we were in the debate of just throwing in the towel and heading to Genki downstairs. Were they growing the yeast?! We caught our server’s eye and she apologized, saying they were really busy. Hmmmm… Ok, there was a party in the back room and a few tables, but busy?
Shortly after my hunger/​pain chat, the bao came out. Flavorful, interesting, nothing to write home about. The pork belly would be the string winner in my mind, but my fiancé’s vote goes to the buttermilk friend chicken.
10 minutes later the pizza finally arrived. Great crust, great flavor, great blend, just 45 minutes too long in the wait. We finished quickly, and immediately asked for the check (we had already experienced check lag time on our last visit). Our server explained there was only one machine and only one person who knew how to run a bill. Really?! It’s a busy night, you have a private party in the back, and only one person doping things?
Our check arrived 15 minutes later.
I wanted to like you Ka, I really did.
On the plus side, our servers were very sweet and apologetic, the food was decent but not something I would nom nom nom, hence the 2 stars rather than one. There are some redeeming qualities.
I hope they can get their logistics down as this place has potential. Great location, good prices, decent food. I’m hoping if I ever end up here again I can cut them a mulligan for these last fiascos.

I think I wanna give this place 3.5 stars. I like the décor of the place and the layout is really nice but I absolutely hate how there are no places to sit inside unless you have bottle service. The patio area is a nice escape with a few tables and chairs if you wanna get away from the noise.
I had a much enjoyable time tonight than I did on the grand opening because it wasn’t as crowded! Total sausagefest tonight but it was okay, I had fun with my girls and met some interesting people. Example, an American Carpet One salesman who randomly decided to sit next to my friends and I on a bench.
As for those who complain that Ka is filled with young people, they should understand that it is promoted towards people my age. The promoters are mostly in their early 20’s. If you want to go somewhere with an older crowd, try Pearl or Rumors.

I attended the soft opening for Ka last Saturday nite — it’s in the Ward Center next to another new club, Paparazzi. Ka is in the space that was formerly the E&O Trading Co.
The soft opening was a success in my opinion — the place was crowded after midnight and the fabulous DJ K-​Smooth was spinning. When the lights went on for the 2am closing, everyone looked dissapointed, but eager to run to the next club, Ginza, which just opened up ¹²⁄₅ (separate review will be written). Everyone looked great — u can see pics from Ka here:
Ka has a smart layout — you walk in and the bar stands in the center of the main room so that you can order drinks from 2 sides. This is key for me because it makes ordering drinks faster and less cranky people. Then, the dance floor is further back behind the bar with lounge seats located to the right side. There are 2 smaller rooms also with sofas that are a bit tucked away from the dance floor so that you can mingle w/​friends w/​o the music blasting in your ear or having to watch people make out on the dance floor. Also, the bathrooms are really nice… I know this because like most girls do, we took the classic «girls bathroom picture.» And I remember thinking dang this is a nice bathroom what a great backdrop haha. dumb i know.
The kanji for Ka means fire… it’s actually a clever logo because the kanji is made to look like a «k.» Inside, the place is dark (good for ppl who get asian red! haha) with red lanterns hung throughout giving it a cool vibe. The lanterns remind me a lot of a club in New York called Hiro… similar Asian theme going on. I think this place has more potential than its neighboring club Paparazzi… would definitely recommend this place over the other.