Recently, I took my kids over to Ko’Olina and we stopped at Monkeypod Kitchen Restaurant for lunch. We pass by all the time when we are at the lagoons and wanted to check it out and it seemed like a good day. Monkeypod Kitchen Restaurant prides themselves on using “fresh locally sourced ingredients”.. you can read up on their food-losophy on their website.
We were seated quickly at about 1:00 in the afternoon and seated inside. The restaurant is an open air dining concept with all the windows open allowing for tropical breeze circulation from one end of the establishment to the other. It was a little warm, but not bothersome. My daughters split the Vegan Portuguese Bean Soup and Waipoli Farm Organic Mixed Green Salad. Of course I had to try it all out for the sake of this blog review! The soup was a tad salty for my taste and a little watery, I would have liked it to have been a bit more robust… BUT! I also have to say in fairness, I’ve never had Portuguese Bean Soup before, so I really didn’t know what to expect or have anything to compare to.
The Waipoli Farm Organic Mixed Green Salad made with kahumana farm organic beet, applewood smoked bacon, chevre, maui onion, orange ginger dressing was fresh and tasty. I love anything with gourmet cheese and bacon.
Bella liked it!
I ordered the Seared Ahi Tuna Melt on house-baked rye bread, gruyere, thousand island, house-made quick pickle, waipoli farm bib lettuce, hau’ula farm tomato. Tasty and pretty good, but for $20.95… ummm… “price of paradise”…. however, the bread was made in house and everything was sourced locally, so I’m giving back and supporting right?
They have a little gift center up front which we checked out, but I really loved the wall decor.. I wish I had a wall big enough in my tiny house for something like that! Overall, it was a pleasant dining experience and I could check this restaurant off my to do list.
If you are staying at the Disney Aulani Resort or one of the Marriott hotels in Ko’Olina, Monkeypod Restaurant is an option to try out. It’s easy to find off the main strip but parking can be tricky as it gets crowded …. it’s an easy walk from any of the hotels, which I suggest you take advantage of. Warmest Aloha, ~j
Jennifer Brotchie Photography is based in Honolulu, Hawaii. Jennifer enjoys blogging about all things Oahu for vacationers seeking out things to do and places to eat on Oahu. She is also a professional family and wedding photographer specializing in photographing awesome people worldwide. Contact jenniferbrotchie@gmail.com to schedule your professional beach photo shoot today. Disney Aulani, Turtle Bay Resort, North Shore, Waikiki, Honolulu, Sunsets
