This is by far my favorite place to come for drinks and food. Service is always amazing, very friendly, very efficient. Highly recommend the oyster shooters (it's non alcoholic but they can add vodka if you like, phenomenal either way). My second favorite dish is the dynamite shrimp pizza. Sounds strange but tastes like Jesus! It gets pretty crowded as early as 5pm at times, so would recommend you make reservations.
(5)
Fiona L.
Via Hawaiian local recommendation we stopped by to get our oyster fix on. For 8pm, it was not bad, but the wait a bit long as we were told a 45 minute wait for a table. We weren't about that waiting time, so we sat by the bar instead. About a 10 minute waiting by the bar, my boyfriend checks back on our table wait-list. Lots of empty tables, so waitress offers us one. Pretty off on their timing, but I'll take it. Menu is extensive. Coming from Cali, we knew oysters were a must. We also decided to order the S.O.S. which was a seafood kettle bar stew. First round oysters: Oyster shots. Four pacific oysters each with its own shot glass. Filled with a good ratio of ponzu sauce and slight lemony hint. It was very easy to down with, versus a shot with vodka. Great start, on to the next. Second round of oysters: Rockerfeller. Each oyster was situated on a spoon. Less messy and great idea. I believe it was also pacific oysters they used. Lots of various tiny herbs and spices (mainly garlic though). Each spoonful packed a punch, but we were definitely ready for our entree. Entree round: S.O.S. (seafood stew). Sadly, this was a literal stew and didn't come with rice so we ordered a side of rice. Description of item read as kettlebar. I've had some delicious kettlebar stews in the past, so I had high hopes especially with a great start of oysters. Sadly, I'd rate it a 3/5 stars. Don't let the 3 mislead, because it was still delicious. But the sauce lacked a lot of the creaminess and the amount of seafood was disappointing. For the price, it was not worth it. Drinks and service was awesome so I'll give it a 5. The place feels like home with an Hawaiian twist. Location is great with other great eats nearby. But no fret, because Uncle Bo's got everything covered.
(5)
Stephanie N.
Came here 2 nights in a row while vacationing on the island... Shared between my boyfriend and I.. We did order drinks at the bar while waiting to be seated, and had a reservation the next night. Lava Flow's and Mai Tais, can't go wrong... can you? It is a pupu bar, so I recommend going in to share plates and ordering a few to try from like we did. First night: 1) Dynamite Shrimp - 4 stars! It's like an amped up honey-walnut type of shrimp. It's got a little spice kick, but isn't necessarily spicy. It was soo good! 2) BOCA ROTA - 5 stars!! Oh. my. goodness. It's basically prime rib and mushrooms cooked with heaven, served with their garlic bread. 3) S.O.S. - 5 stars!! If you enjoy a lobster bisque, this is to die for. Portion just right. I got it with mashed potatoes and am now craving it again as I write this! 4) Nachos (cant remember exact name) with avocado - 3 stars. It was good, but the portion was so huge. Paid extra for avocado, which you can do without if you prefer. I wish they came out first, they actually came out last.. Second Night: 1) BOCA ROTA - except this time, we got a HUGE portion! Not sure why that is. The first night we hardly had enough for the amount of breadsticks. But the second time, couldn't even finish it. Drools. 2) SOS - Was a bit less thick the second time around. But again. This and the boca rota alone is what makes me want to come back. 3) Spinach artichoke dip - 3 stars. Would order something less ordinary.. The chips are wonton wrappers deep fried. It could have been more cheesy, ours was sort of pasty and weird. Our servers were so kind, the bartenders and hosts as well. Around 8pm they turned down the lights, turned up the music, and brought out menus that lit up! So cool..
(5)
Mikey H.
My buddy said we were going to pick up food to go from here, and I'd never been, but had driven by many times. It doesn't look like much from the outside but once you're in, the place is great! Very modern and spacious! Tables look cozy, and they have a nice bar set up. Friendly greeting when I walked in, and they have a nice little lounge area to sit and wait. I didn't know what he ordered, but from the online menu, this is what I gathered: Dynamite shrimp...nice and crispy with just the right heat. Thai-style steamer clams...amazing! Loved the broth and the crispy crust french bread to dip into was great! And the deep fried calimari...very good! Prices are reasonable! My only regret is not coming here for dinner at least once. I would just like to experience the ambiance. That will have to wait until next year! Tanks uncle Bo! See you next year!
(5)
Roxanne Lynn T.
It's been years since I've been here and this place doesn't disappoint in service and variety of unique food they offer from the last time I was here. The atmosphere is quite dim but gives it a modern casual dining type of ambiance as you enter the restaurant. Great for groups but reservations are highly recommended as it can get quite busy here for celebrations and gatherings. They offer so many different pupus, soup/salads, pastas, pizzas, fish/seafood, meat/steak choices that you can choose from. For a party of 10, it seemed more reasonable to just enjoy pupus as we drink the night away with good company. The pupu side of the menu was so extensive that we didn't know what to choose. Thankfully, the server had offered us the chef special for $27.95 a person that comes with an assortment of pupus that the Chef would pick for the night. We thought that would be a great deal considering that we were so indecisive of what to get. This way we left it up to the Chef to surprise us with what's to come for dinner. And we could order as many times as we want but the catch is that we couldn't bring any left over food home. Technically, that's like a buffet style. The more food the merrier. Seems to be like a great choice if you want to get your money's worth especially for a group 10+ and more that this special is valid for. I was pretty impressed that the food came out pretty quick! We had about 10 or so pupu plates come out one after the other. We literally almost had no space to eat because there was a lot of food. As amazing as the "all you can order" kind of special, we never made it past round 1. It was all too overly satisfying and filling to the tummies to think of ordering more. On the Chef's Specials Menu we got a couple of orders each for: -Pot Stickers with sweet chili sauce -Crispy Crab Ccakes -Uncle Bo's Oyster Shooters -Spinach Artichoke Dip with fresh won ton chips -Calamari served with choy-sum & fresh tomatoes in sweet chili sauce -Shaken Beef Steak with thai herbs and veggies Uncle Bo's Dynamite Shrimp Bo's Big Nachos Boca-Rota garlic cheesy bread Off the menu -Escargot -Uncle Bo's Oyster Rockefeller Quality and portion of food was on point. Everything was good in its own way. I love the dynamite shrimp! The nachos was a big hit. And the Boca-Rota is probably one of my top favs! Prices are a little high here but it's worth it for the unique food they offer here. The portions were a lot actually for our party but we demolished most of it. As much as we wanted to eat more, we couldn't. Drink prices are your typical prices you'd find at other bars especially for those signature cocktails. Parking is available across the street or street parking if you find any on the main road. To save the trouble, I'd pay for parking. It's waikiki so expect it to be like that at most places. Definitely will be back when we have other group gatherings.
(5)
Roxy W.
Location/Parking: The bar/grill is located off Kapahulu Avenue next to Irifune. There are paid parking lots next to to the bar/grill and a paid parking across the street. The parking across the street cost $4 for 2 hours and $6 for 10 hours. Service: The hostess were able to seat us 10 minutes early from our reservation time since our party of 10 arrived early. The waitress was friendly, calm and informative about the menu and drink specials. The food came out fast after ordering it. Our waitress constantly checked on our drinks throughout the night. Price: We had a party of 10 so our waitress suggested the $27.95 per person chef choice special. We also ordered oyster shooters, oyster Rockefeller and escargot for $10 each. Specialty drinks cost $9-$11. Our bill came out $500+. They do not add tip for large parties anymore so don't forget to add tip. They do have a tip suggestion on the bottom of the receipt that came in handy. Food: We got a wide variety of pupus from the chef choice special which included the Boca Rotan, dynamite shrimp, clams, calamari, artichoke dip, shaken beef, nachos, crab cakes and potstickers. My favorite dishes were the Boca Rotan and the dynamite shrimp. Most of the people in our party loved the nachos. They gave us a ton of food but we demolished most of it. The special allowed us to get more of a dish if we wanted but we were all full from the first round. The oyster shooters were delicious!!! It's too bad it wasn't part of the special. The oyster Rockefeller and escargot was okay nothing special. Special Occasion; We celebrated 2 birthdays and the birthday girls were sang to by the workers and got BJ shots. (The shots were on the bill so it was NOT complimentary.) There was a baby shower party across from our party. Decor/Ambiance: The vibe at this bar/grill is a modern artsy feel. I love the quirky decor in the back room. The decor dangling on the walkway is unique. Overall, I enjoyed my first time here! The food was amazing. The service was awesome. The drinks were strong and unique. The food and drinks can be on the pricey side but you just have to watch what you order.
(4)
Amy Y.
The birthday girl, my friend, wanted to come here for dinner. It was busy on a Saturday night around 5:30PM. When we got in the host said there was one table available. She limited us to 2 hours to eat because there was a reservation at 8PM. The restaurant was packed with people eating and drinking. We looked through yelp reviews to see what was popular here. We got some free bread and butter for appetizer upon request. We ordered the popular boca rota $15, shrimp pasta $22, spinach and artichoke dip with wonton chips $10. The bread was soft on the inside and toasted on the outside. Sooo good. boca rota is definitely a must order for appetizer. It's a cheesy toasted bread with steak pieces. It was kinda salty though. The shrimp pasta is really good. The sauce is creamy and tasty. Spinach and artichoke dip was a big appetizer. It's chunky artichoke, not too oily, but a bit salty. Everything was really good, but so filling. A really great place to eat out. It's hard to talk though, because it gets very noisy. The servers are awesome. They are very attentive.
(4)
Jenn Y.
Get the chef special if you have a large party of 10+ for $27.95 a person it's all pupu picked by the chef kind of a random surprise, but It's perfect!!! My favorites from the special: Uncle Bo oyster shooter Uncle Bo's dynamite shrimp Bo's big nacho Boca-rota We ordered off the menu: Escargot Uncle Bo's oyster Rockefeller Just eating off the appetizers menu was good enough. Pretty big portions. Everything tasted awesome and it's worth the price!!! Drinks are good too. I got Sweet P, my BF tried the peach lemonade and Hawaiian Ice Tea. Got to meet Bo too, loation guy. He said they are opening another location in Haleiwa soon!!!
(5)
Sasha L.
Whenever tourists or friends ask me for a recommendation on a place to go for dinner during their visit, I always make sure to mention Uncle Bo's. Their drinks are always on point (I love the "nuts n berries" martini when I'm in the mood for something sweet). I've tried almost everything on the menu and everything is delicious. But my absolute favorite thing that keeps me coming back is this clam dish they have. It's clams/tomato/butter/garlic/secret deliciousness that's served..in a clam shaped dish. It's simple but if you get that and order some of their bread on the side to dip into the juices for this dish..it's the best thing ever. Very excited to hear that they're opening an Uncle Bo in North shore side!
I had booked this place for a surprise dinner for my wife's birthday. We had at least 18 people for the dinner and Uncle Bo's was able to accommodate us. Due to the popularity of the restaurant I made sure to call way in advance, I believe I called at least a month in advance. At first I wanted to book a place like Side Street Inn on Da Strip but they were already booked for the night. Uncle Bo's is not a very large restaurant, but I'm glad they were able to seat us all together. Our table was located in the back of the restaurant which was fine since it gave us our own space with surrounding smaller tables around us but that was fine. Everyone seemed to have loved the food and the service from the waiters and waitresses that helped us which is always a plus for me when I write reviews because customer service is tops on my list for a nice experience at a restaurant. I'll definitely be back with my wife so we can try all the different dishes and be fatties with each other :)
(5)
Sebastian M.
This place never disappoints...although it's not a cheap place to eat, the ambiance and food selection is amazing! I always recommend this place to visitors and always make sure it's a place to go to when family and friends come from out of town! We decided to celebrate my brother's late birthday here and my dad's last day before traveling to the mainland for school and this place did not disappoint! For PuPu's we had to have the Clams!! We also ordered a cheesy bread with steak and mushrooms, Korean fried chicken and my Hubby's favorite, AHI POKE! I also was able to order the delicious Lichee Martini and was feeling great after the 4th one! My parents had the Ali'i special, Mike had the rack of Lamb, my sister in law had the fish and brother Jeff and niece Chloe shared the Alfredo pasta! Me and my hubby got the red sauce pasta and Marlon snacked on all the PuPu's that we had ordered prior to our diner choices! We made sure to wrap up what we couldn't finish and made sure that we had room for their amazing fried ice cream and we also ordered two of the brownie ice creams!! It's defiantly a great place to spend time with great company!!! This place has yet to disappoint! Even for my family, who haven't been there...couldn't stop raving about the great good and amazing service! Maybe next time we'll split the bill with them instead of fronting the total cost lol, but joking aside...this is definitely a place I would give 5 stars to!!! Service was exceptional, and we never had to ask for any drink refills or ask to remove any empty places. The waitress had a few other tables with large parties, like ours, but she never skipped a beat with the service! Our tab was a whopping $400 (including the tip) but totally worth every penny! It's nice to spend quality time with family, and especially at a place that serves family sized portions!
(5)
Stacia S.
I love it here. I hadn't been here in over a year due to moving off island for 10 months. We came tonight and the food is exactly how we remember it. The Thai style steamer clams are so good, we tried the Shaken Beef tonight as well, and that was delicious. We heart Uncle Bo's.
(5)
Lena V.
LOVE this place! What to order: Boca Rota Hamachi Sashimi Bo's Big Nachos Calamari Fettuccine Alfredo Tongue Thai'd Skewers ALLL so delicious!!! You MUST get the boca rota. Its amazing. Everyone is so friendly, service is great, food is delicious, drinks are strong. The menus even light up! How cool is that!
Great service, great food! Must try their specialty pear cocktail!!! We tried everything, highly recommend!
(5)
Jenna T.
Reservations were booked for a Friday night but they still accept walk ins. For a party of 2, without reservations, we were seated in 20 min. The establishment is very modern and chic. There were some people dressed up and others very casual. Although the decor makes the place look fancy, it doesn't require semi formal attire. Staff are professional and very pleasant. The menu is overwhelming, but use the yelp pictures to help guide you to what to order. We started with the Boca Rota which is pictured countless times already. The sauce itself was mouth watering. But to have soft garlic bread with slices of prime rib is truly exceptional. The shrimp pasta was alright. The garlic rib eye was juicy and tender. The taro beignets are beignets. I couldn't taste the taro at all. Although it wasn't horrible, it would've been more irresistible if it was served with coconut ice cream. I've also had fluffier beignets. Their molokai mule was refreshing and the best mule I've had! The coconut soju balances well with the ginger beer! This is definitely a worthwhile place to visit whenever in oahu. Make reservations or walk in early. Can't wait to visit again to try more! Mahalo!
(5)
Trung L.
One of my Local friend took my GF & I here while we were vacationing, the atmosphere was very busy, seems like a nice trendy place with alot of Locals. My friend ordered 4 Pupus (what the locals call appetizer) for us to share. UNCLE BO'S DYNAMITE SHRIMP - Was good, not great. They did put too much aoili on the shrimp making it a little soggy with the fried batter. SEAFOOD CEVICHE - My GF wanted this, I had a few bites, but it didnt stick out much to me, so I dont quite remember if I liked it or not. BOCA-ROTA - This was my favorite Pupus that I tried, the prime-rib strips were seasoned and cooked nicely, the garlic cheese bread was merely extras that came with the delicious meat. AHI POKE - This was good, nicely cut big portion of Ahi. Now the reason why I'm giving this place a 2/5 was because of the server/waitress. While it was clear that there were people still eating at the table (ME), she came back a few times to clear the dishes of the people that were done. I just felt like she was rushing to bus the table. The thing that irked me the most though was when she came back the 3rd time, she actually took the utensil that came with the AHI dish, and was looking around on the plate to see if there was any left before taking it. Seriously, you can wait til we're done to take our dishes, but dont poking around. Maybe I'll come back and try this place if i'm ever back, and if the service is nosey and rush again, I might be incline to request to speak with management.
(2)
Jessica C.
When I lived in the Kapahulu area, this was our go-to late night restaurant, any night of the week, but especially Sundays because that was my boyfriend's day off. The food is always absolutely delicious, and it is brought out to you as it is ready, rather than waiting for everything to come up. The result is that you can eat constantly, and everything is piping hot and/or fresh. The Sunday night bartender is on point. Super friendly, always remembers my drink order, and is very prompt with every step of service. He is also friendly without being obtrusive, which is so important in a server or bartender.
(5)
Linda S.
Uncle Bo's was recommended to me through one of the tour guides as one of the restaurants I should definitely check out. I made reservations and I am glad I did! It was packed in the evening and there was a long waiting line. As I entered the restaurant, I noticed that it was really loud. I told the hostess that my family and I would like to be seated in an area where we don't have to raise our voices to talk to each other. If that was going to be the case, I will give up my reservation to another party and go elsewhere. The hostess was very accommodating and was able to move other parties around to make sure I was seated in an area that works for my family. I am pleased by the great service from this restaurant. The entire staff was very friendly throughout dinner and my waitress was tentative. Every dish I had was flavorful and the portion was huge! For seafood lovers, I highly recommend the thai steamer clams for an appetizer (manila clams simmered in garlic chili oyster sauce) and the citrus butter lobster tail for dinner. The lobster tail was cooked to perfection! I had an awesome time. :) Thanks Uncle Bo!
(5)
Tori K.
Been here a couple times and I love it. My girlfriend and I just order a few pupus and it's a lot for us! We love getting the boca rota and the mini Kalua pork sandwiches. We got the shrimp once too and it was so good! We love coming here on dates but if you want somewhere quieter make sure you make a reservation for the back tables or you'll be sitting near the bar where it is very loud. The service is great, good comes fast, and tastes great We are going to try the Haleiwa location next since it is closer to where we live
It's pupus for dinner! Definitely excited to try Uncle Bo's for dinner during my stay in Hawaii. I've booked marked this place for the longest time and finally had the opportunity to try it! During peak days and hours, reservations seem to be a must. Thankfully, we had reservations for the night so right when we arrived, we got seated to our table right away. The Food: They have a large menu which includes pupus or tapas/small plate style, or entrees ranging from seafood, pasta, and pizza. The menu was almost like a book! But, we decided to get all pupus for dinner so that way we can try a little bit of everything. Some things we ordered that night was the boca rota, chicken wings, Thai clams, dynamite shrimp, and ceviche. Everything was quite delicious! Definitely my faves were the boca rota and Thai clams!! The clams had such a great flavorful Thai style broth that you just want to slurp it down with a spoon! Boca rota was also a great selection as well. It was a mixture of steak and cheese with cheese bread. Super delicious. The Service: our waitress was awesome! She's the one who suggested a lot of the food we ordered and definitely didn't disappoint. She was super attentive with our drinks and had no problems with anything throughout the night. If you're in the Honolulu area, Uncle Bo's is a must try especially with pupus. A great little restaurant for your drinking and eating pleasure!
I had really high hopes for the food here based on the majority of the yelp reviews. But here are some things to note. -the place may not look like much from the outside but it is beautifully decorated and upscale on the inside - we did not get there until 7:30 and it was packed on a Wednesday. A real local joint. We were able to score a seat at the bar and our bartender Reina was awesome!!!! The cocktails were great and they have a good selection of beer and wine. -they DO tow at the lot across the street I witnessed a guy walking out and having his car gone. The tow trucks are sitting in the lot waiting for your time to expire. We just walked the almost mile to get there. -now to the food. Hmmm. Like I said I had high hopes but I think I ordered the wrong dish. Everyone raved about the boca-rota and on paper it seemed great, but after 2 bites I could not eat any more. It was sooo rich! Reina was nice enough to take it off our bill. I think it a dish better shared. And it was good but there is no way I could tolerate the richness. My husband got the clams and enjoyed them. He said the best part was dunking the bread with butter in the broth afterwards. Try it! I will for sure go back and try a seafood dish. They had many great things to choose from.
(3)
Tara F.
This is my first 5-star review! My friends and I walked in on a Friday around 5:45. We had 5 in our group and were not able to make a reservation because their phone system was down for the past couple of days. Three of us were waiting on two more to join our party. They were able to seat us but informed us that they would need the table back at 7:30. While we waited for our friends we ordered the Boca Rota. LET ME TELL YOU, if you eat here, you NEED to order this. NEED TO. It is so delicious I can't even explain! Two of the people in our party loved the Boca Rota so much, they got the Boca Rota Pizza for their entree, I got the SOS which was freaking delicious, pretty spicy, and FILLED with generous amounts of seafood. I think I had at least three large shrimp, theree large scallops and four or five clams, and there were lumps of lobster throughout my dish. It was SO good. Yes, I only tried two dishes but they were so delicious. I also tried the calamari which I thought was alright. the dipping sauce/soup that they gave with it was alright. Overall I def recommend the Boca Rota and the SOS. So delicious. Service was nice and friendly, even though they were crazy busy. The food took a little while to come out, but thats to be expected given how packed the place was. If you can, make a reservation.
(5)
Jonathan C.
So I was there is February for the first time ever and it was freaking awesome!!! We ordered the braised beef cheeks, the rack of lamb, the fish of the day with shrimp, the thai style steamer clams, boca-rota garlic cheesy-bread and the wok fried calamari. So... they were all delicious!!! It was pretty busy as it was dinner time, but the service was great and I really liked the atmosphere. it was upbeat which I liked. It made me happy just being there. Probably because the food was so awesome. Definitely going back when I visit later this year.
(5)
Johanna M.
I have been to Uncle Bo's on several occasions, mostly for birthdays and other events that require large groups. It's been a love/hate relationship with the service, but in terms of the food, everything is good. I've had a lot of different items from pasta to seafood to beef....they really have something for everyone. A lot of times, I notice the food is heavy and can knock you out for the rest of the night. Some of my favorite options: Boca rota is ono. Make sure to share this....it can be a heavy meal for just one person. Thai-style clams are delicious with their amazing sauce. Make sure to get some bread to soak up the sauce. Dynamite shrimp are crispy and salted deliciously. Nachos are bomb...seriously. They are heavy, but oh so ono. SOS is probably one of my faves. It is super rich...again, get some bread to soak up the sauce....so yummy! You really can't go wring with this menu. I actually have not tried any desserts because I am always so full from the pupus, but they look pretty good. They have a full bar, so no BYOB opportunities here, but their drinks are pretty good. I can attest to their lychee martinis...sometimes they have forgotten to put a lychee in there, but they'll bring some out in a cup if you remind them you're missing your lychee. Remember that this is a pupu bar...that means the dishes are meant for sharing...bring some friends and share some awesome pupus.
(4)
Daniel Q.
Best place for pupus, dinner, drinks & service! Our favorite place in Hawaii!!! Their opening another location on the north shore soon.
(5)
Bubba S.
The food here is great!!! It's very popular so it can be a wait to get seated. Parking can be tough but but its all good....I'll be going back here again soon
(4)
Zaneth Y.
This place hands down has the best foods ever! If you're looking for a great chill spot for food and drinks! You might want to consider this place. Parking: usually have to pay and park across the street in the public parking section or if you don't want to pay there's always street parking. Atmosphere: there's a front bar and restaurant side and a back entree with more of the dining sides Outside of restaurant might not seem like much but inside is pretty nice. You can come in dressing casual to dressing up. I wouldn't recommend formal attire hahah Food: Hands down amazing!!! You pretty much can order EVERYTHING OFF THE MENU! But stick to the food items that have the heart icons. You will not be disappointed. Customer service: depending on your waitresses . Some of the girls can look stuck up and be no help at all and some are actually nice and very helpful. Overall I would always come back again! If you haven't tried this place already, you better put it on your list of places to eat!!
(4)
Rob G.
I love Uncle Bo's. If I could give you a single piece of advice about this place, it would be to just go there. You can stop reading now and head on over. I know you will leave there full and happy. So if you are still reading, then that means you didn't believe me, or you just want more info we here you go... First let's start with parking. There is a pay lot right across the street or you can find ample street parking (free after 6pm on weeknights) Next I would always suggest putting in a reservation. You can usually call the same day and leave message on their machine and they will call you back around 4pm when they start to get ready to open at 5pm. If you are looking for a Friday or weekend reservation you should call a few days ahead. They take walk ins but that could lead to a bit of a wait. The loser to 5PM you get there the better your chances. Initially Uncle Bo's looks like a hole in the wall from the outside but once you enter, it is another story. There are a lot of tables in the front and back sections and a large bar with a display wall of alcohol bottles. Guinness, Stella, Bud Light, and Widmer are all on tap. They have a good mix of wines and cocktails as well. Now as far as food goes I can say that I have never been disappointed with any of the food I have ordered. Favorite appetizers: Thai-Style Steamer Clams, Dynamite Shrimp, Boca-Rota, , and the won ton Big Nachos. Main dishes: Baked Opah Mauna Kea, Crab Salad with Avocado, Rack of Lamb, S.O.S., and the Shrimp Pasta. Dessert: First and foremost the Warmed Fudge Brownie Ala Mode!!! The Green Tea Jubilee is also good if you are looking for something less sweet. If you have a group of 8 or more then you can ask for the all you can eat appetizer menu. For about $30 per person you get about 8 different appetizers like the ones mentioned above and a pizza or two. Its all bottomless. Once you run out of one you can ask for another. This is great if you have a gathering, holiday party, birthday, etc. You get to try a lot of the best apps on the menu and will leave full and beyond happy. Bottom line: Go eat here.
(5)
Lucy R.
I usually always struggle with ordering food because of a garlic allergy BUT this place was able to accommodate SO AMAZINGLY! Lovely food! Went in a group of 5 which it gets a little busy. Wasn't waiting too long. Enjoyed the dim lighting and had good service.
(4)
Zen Y.
I am writing this after my 7th time getting up from out of bed to vomit from food poisoning received from Uncle Bo's. After 4 hours of stomach pain, sweating, and vomiting, I am finally able to reflect on the destruction that Uncle Bo has caused my innerself (literally). But get this, back in 2014, I came to Uncle Bo's with my wife. I had the Sea Bass back then, and I got food poisoning that night too! 1 year later, thinking it was a fluke, we went to dinner there tonight... boom! It happened again, FOOD POISONING, from Shrimp Tacos... Yelp has 4 stars for this place, but if you look at other review sites, it is 1 star, and other patrons claim food poisoning too. So, its a cool atmosphere, but the product is unclean. Beware...
(1)
Anthony C.
I can't speak about the food because we never actually ate there. I know that in restaurants when your a walk in your usually put at the bottom of the list behind the people that actually made reservations. This was certainly the case at this places. My biggest complaint would certainly have to be the hostesses that work the front. We were told it would be about 30 minutes at 6:45 but by 7:45 it was going to be another 30 to 45 minutes. The response from the girls at the front was for lack of a better word not polite. Besides the eye rolling and and total lack of professionalism they certainly did not really care whether I stayed or left. My recommendation is if you do not make a reservation for this place find somewhere else to go. I would not give my money to a place that employs staff like that. Especially he people who are the ones that set the tone for the whole evening.
(1)
Vera B.
We drove by this place several times and wondered if it was any good. After reading the Yelp reviews and salivating over the food pictures we decided to try it out. This place has a great ambiance, delicious hand crafted drinks and food to satisfy any taste palate. We left full and satisfied. Will definitely come back if ever in Hawaii again.
(5)
Everett H.
First off I want to say they "squeezed" us (party of 6) in at 730pm. Second the food was awesome and the portions was much bigger than anticipated so order accordingly! I got 3 appetizers and ended up taking half of two of them home. Third, the waitress was very friendly and attentive to our table. The noise level was a little high but you'd expect that in a bar and grill. I would highly recommend this place and would go back!
(5)
Kelly S.
My favorite bar in Oahu!! One of my friends that recently moved to Oahu took us here for some drinks. It's a cute little place with good food and great atmosphere. We came around 9:30 on a Saturday night and there was a little bit of a wait. Luckily we made reservations and were seated right Coolest thing about this bar is their LED menus. My friends and I were so fascinated by it we almost thought It was a touch screen. Haha anyway, the first drink I ordered was two in the pink. Our server suggested it and it was a little too strong for my taste. Other drinks I tried were Sweet P and lycheetini and they were sooooo good. I hate the taste of alcohol but these drinks were on point!! As for the food, we only ordered the boca rota which was pretty good. I wanted to try other appetizers but everyone ate dinner before we got there. I'll have to try more food next time I visit Hawaii. Overall great place with tasty drinks and food. I'll definitely be visiting when I go to Hawaii!
(5)
Dom A.
Love love love this place! Came here last minute before the rush & they were kind enough to sneak us in! Food was amazing as always! Love the dynamite shrimp, S.O.S., Boca Rota!
(5)
Myrna H.
I would give them 5 but they didn't have enough space everything else was very nice .
(4)
Jonathan Y.
Great food, nice and professional staff and out of their way service to come run my leftovers out to me outside after I forgot them on table. Thank for your aloha and ono grindz! I live on another island but will make it a point to go here again when I'm back on island!
(5)
Maruel U.
The food was average - had the BBQ Kalua pig sliders on taro bun, the crab cakes and the greasy noodles. Just ordered pupus throughout the night but had tried the pasta's as well. The BBQ sliders weren't memorable. The crab cakes I enjoyed. And the greasy noodles weren't great. The pasta was also a bit dry. But I enjoyed the service and the work of our waiter and waitress who served a big party of 30.
(3)
David F.
The first time I came here was in 2012. One of my friends that live out here took us to this place to eat. Parking is a bit of an issue because of where it's located. Luckily there's a parking lot across the street and we found a spot. The boca rota was good! The clams the were good as well. They provided bread that we dipped in the clam sauce and it was super good. My girl got a lychee martini that was nice and strong. This is one of the places I will make sure I hit up when I'm visiting hawaii.
(4)
Alviesan T.
There was 10 of us and we got full just overs a variety of appetizers. We didn't even get to order main courses. The food is definitely worth the drive from the west side. I gave them a 5 star because in addition to the quality of the food, service was excellent. Our male server made sure we were comfortable and served everything in a timely manner- very accommodating and kind. I recommend making reservations ahead of time. The ten of us just walked right in to our big table, no wait:)
(5)
Mike A.
Definitely worth the wait. Amazing cocktail and beer selection, phenomenal appetizers, and the fish tacos are kickass. Try the Beef Tongue skewers and their Mai Tai!
(5)
sam c.
We love this place, they have a great sea food and great customer service, We were in vacation for one week and we had dinner twice in this place we just love it. make sure you make reservation before you go there, or if you have time at least one hour wait.
(5)
Natalie S.
Uncle Bo's Never Disappoints!! I get the Dynamite Shrimp and Lichee Martini every time- every time it's amazing!!! Service is always fantastic and it's always a great start to a fun night out!!!
(5)
Jacqueline T.
So far, one of my favorite places to eat in Oahu! :D YAY FOR PUPU!!! What is Pupu? it means small dishes/appies :D Was lucky enough to be invited for a wedding rehearsal gathering at Bo's. And what did they order? Just endless amounts of Pupu dishes! and NONEEEEE of them disappointed me. Each dish, each bite, was just bursting with flavors. Cooked well, and was super juicy. There were two items that were similar to each other.. but no complaints. Everything else.. was very different. I was so glad I was able to try an array of dishes. Will definitely be coming back. For more pupus!! and probably some main courses too this time XD Sorry no picutres. Didn't want to disrupt the flow of the wedding rehearsal gathering! My only fall back was.. parking was just a whee bit difficult to find. But you can park across the street for $2 an hour :)
(4)
Lori E.
We were referred to Uncle Bo's by our Uber driver as we drove by. He said it was local favorite not to be missed. Though the outside left us wondering if we would want to eat there. However we decided to try it after reading the yelp reviews. We walked from the Hyatt Regency to Uncle Bos, about a 25 minute walk. The line was out the door, and the wait was 40 minutes. We decided it would probably be worth the wait, so wait we did! Inside---people young and old, tourists and locals a like. A good selection on the menu. I started with the Fried Rice Appetizer which was made with Kalua pig, delicious! For my entre I choose the SOS-- a seafood chowder, stew, soup ( that's how they refer to it). OMG! It had a little bit of a kick to it but it was OuTrAgEoUsLy delicious! I am hooked! I will return here on my next visit to try something else from the menu. Don't miss my favorite, new dinner spot!
(5)
Elaine C.
Went to the new Haleiwa location on opening night. Was nervous the service would be slow and that our order would somehow be wrong. Was pleasantly surprised to be wrong on both fronts. The staff was exceptionally attentive and our food came out so quickly that our dinner conversation was cut short, but we were totally ok with that. As a note for parents... The keiki plates are HUGE! Might want to order one and have kids split it because the servings were large enough for an adult. Highly recommend the dynamite shrimp!
(5)
Cindy N.
Good food, good meat, good god lets eat! Love this place! We ordered the six little piggies, opah piccata and the Boca Rota pizza. They were all delicious! My recommendation would be the Boca Rota pizza. It's a large pizza topped with lots of prime rib and garlic cheese. They really don't hold back on the toppings. It's absolutely delicious!
(5)
Wendy D.
Once again Uncle Bo's has exceeded my expectations!!! The staff was amazing tonight and the food was just Amazing!!! Because it was crowded we didn't get the best seats, but lucky for us we know how to make the best of it. Mahalos for making my sister's visit one to remember.
(5)
Rainy L.
We went there on a Monday night. Called ahead for reservation but the person answered the phone wouldn't take one; she said "there's too many for two at that time (7pm) already, so just walk in". Hmm weird. That's the first time ever I've heard something like that. But no big deal, we sat ourselves at the bar. Ordered some drinks, my lynceetini was quite strong. I guess that's a good thing. Saw so many reviews on here about boca rota, was not a disappointment at all. Of course; cheese and creamy beef sauce. What can go wrong with that. Braised beef with pasta of the day was my dinner, it was yummy. I just hoped the side veggie that came with it would cooked a little longer cause I'm not a fan of almost raw carrots. Another person got a rack of lamb with pasta on the side. Overall; this is a good place for good food and to hang out. It was busy even on a monday night or maybe cause it was a holiday. The portion was big and the price wasn't too bad. I would recommend for you to try!
(4)
lucy t.
Uncle Bo's is pretty awesome, my favorite dishes are the calamari and seafood trap....mmmmm...num nums! Great for work dinners, family dinner, date night.. All in all a great spot.
(4)
Coreen L.
A hidden little gem of deliciousness in the heart of Kapahulu! The menu at Uncle Bo's has a huge variety that's sure to meet the needs of your party. I've been here a couple times and it seems to be crowded all the time - so mentally prepare and do yourself a favor, make a reservation. The staff here are ON IT all the way through - from reservations, arriving being seated and throughout the service. And the food arrives fast and furious, so pace yourselves if you are planning to order a bunch of stuff. We didn't do a good job pacing ourselves, so all our food seemed to arrive at the same time -- salads, appetizers and such that we intended to share but made the table crazy and chaotic! But it was all so yummy, we didn't care! Our hit list included: Boca-Rota, Dynamite Shrimp, Bo's Big Nachos, Spicy Tuna Wraps, Hamachi Sashimi, Warm Spinach Salad, and Garlic Rib-Eye -- ohhh...la, la -- don't forget dessert too! We had beignets which were delicious! Drinks were merry and fine as was the service (cant' say enough about the service given the chaotic environment)
(4)
Nakita C.
I honestly don't know anything on the menu other than the clams. Every time I come here I always get the Thai clams with extra bread. The broth is amazing. I just soak the bread in that broth and enjoy. The caveat- the clams usually have that grittiness when they still have sand in them. So I usually eat one or two and if they're fine that night I eat the clams (and don't need the extra bread). However if I have one or two and they're gritty I just don't eat them. I guess it's weird to order something just for the broth but hey, it's that good.
(4)
Julie D.
I was looking for a "local" Resturant to get away from the tourist feel, and this was perfect! At first glance, the Resturant looks small, but as we were seated, there was a whole back section to the Resturant that wasn't visible. The server was formal, and extremely polite! On the menu, we got ceviche for the appetizer, and lamb as well as sea bass. The ceviche and sea bass was flavorful and original. The seasonings are one of a kind, and the fish was extremely fresh. The lamb was cooked well, however I do have to say, I felt like the "gravy" on it was salty and heavy. For the dessert, taro beignets were to die for! This is also an original dish that I haven't seen elsewhere, so I highly recommend! The service was excellent, as well as the food. It should have been more obvious that seafood should be more specialized on versus lamb, but I would absolutely recommend eating here!
(4)
Mich S.
Had to try this place out from other yelpers reviews. I must say this place is awesomeness! We gotten lucky for their was a reservation opening on a Saturday which is prime at 7pm. Our server was super sweet! She made us very comfortable and suggested foods Uncle Bo's signature dishes. So we ordered all appetizers and our drinks. The food didn't take long to come out. Their oyster shooters oh so yummy! All the appetizers are delicious! Their desserts are yummylicious! The atmosphere are cool and cozy, they play music to make you shrug your shoulders and do a happy dance as you eat & drink the night away. The owner came by every table and meet & greet each guests. That made our night experience special! All the staffs are super friendly and helpful. Parking is located across the street. Make sure to stop by the parking machine to pay or else a tow truck comes by every hour to check every car. Please call to make reservations for people do wait an hour. For this place is super busy! We definitely will be coming back again!
(5)
Maggie N.
No happy hour, only four draft selections. Bartender ( one if them) busy with "regular". Rice dish was tasty, chicken not so much. Serious problem with music system. Dance music? Too soft then too loud then too soft. Friday @6pm should have A game. Sports channel on but no closed captions.
(3)
Kissie D.
Oh my! So good! Great service! Had the Boca Rota. Amazing! Mai Tais are good and strong not too sweet. Had the special. White fish scallops and shrimp. So good! Of course our waitress was adorable and her service was awesome! Crowded so do t be in a hurry. We will be back!
(5)
Nicole M.
Wow!! Had dinner here a few hours ago, luckily it was only the Mr. and I only - so we got seated fast - couple seconds wait! Servicenis nice and efficient - you can tell the waitress was busy and the restaurant was packed; but she gave us our drinks fast and checked to see if we knew what we wanted to order and also checked a few times to make sure we were ok.! Ordered the Boca rota and the dynamite shrimp. 5 stars for the Boca rota and 3 stars for the dynamite shrimp!! Damn that Boca rota!! I know it's just garlic cheese bread - but what makes it good is that mushrooms and sauce with PRIME RIB!! Damn!! The mr. Was so impressed about it! He said it was one of the best things he ate --In Hawaii! Dynamite shrimp was ok- I've had better but glad portions are pretty big so you get your money's worth! For two people that was more that enough- we had to takeway. Place is pretty trendy- lots of TVs which may be good for a good spot to watch a sports game. Would def come back if I was in the area!
(4)
Kimberly A.
Oh. My. Stars. My new husband (honeymoon in Hawaii, woo!) and I roll in to Honolulu starving, get picked up by college buddy Jason, who immediately takes us to Uncle Bo's. We paid for parking and Jason says, "It's worth it." I look at the outside of the building, and, dude could use a makeover. Jason says, "Just wait." The hostess says it will be about 45 minutes (turned out to be an hour, on a Monday at around 630pm). I've got a one way ticket to hangrytown and don't want to ruin the reunion with impending tears or bursts of rage so I calmly assert that I need a mothaf*uckin snack. Jason implores me to wait. Lots of buildup. High capacity for disappointment and regret at a missed snack opportunity. Well, THIS PLACE IS MONEY. You get inside and you're like, "Say whaaaat?" It's like an ugly person with a fabulous personality. Jason orders us Kalua Pork Fried Rice, Six Little Piggies, Crab Cakes, Boca Rota, and some beers. I entered a blissful state. I realized halfway through that I was enjoying Jason's stories about getting with chicks way more than I normally would because I was just SO HAPPY. The service was cool, I don't know, I would be willing to french kiss anyone who brought me this caliber of deliciousness. With every bite my husband and I exclaimed, "This is the best thing I've ever eaten." You can't go wrong. It doesn't matter what you get, it's all made with an imaginative passion for food and all of its potential. I love you Uncle Bo.
(5)
Cy K.
I celebrated my birthday here on a Sunday night. My friend suggested we try this place since she thought it was good. -Making reservations were easy. I called and the person who answered said "Bo" I think that's what she said? Anyway, I made a reservation for a large party and she kindly explained to me that for a party this big (15 people) they DO NOT split the checks and suggested that everyone pay cash, OR if everyone pays by debit/credit card they need to all pay the same amount. (I thought that was a lil weird) But it was no problem. She also said that we have a 2 hour limit, and that they need a credit card to hold the reservation. ?(that was a first to me) -Atmosphere was kinda strange. There were chains hanging from the ceiling in the main part of the restaurant, . I thought we were in a strip club for a second. LOL! We sat in the back area where they hold larger groups. There were nice paintings on the wall, with little lighting except for the sun beaming at our faces for a while. It was nice, but a little hot. There was no music playing up until we were leaving. -Service was really good. Our waitress was very attentive to all our 20 guests. she made sure everyone got what we all needed. At the end I got a little brownie sundae which was very unexpected and awesome! -Food was okay. A lot of my friends didn't really care for the food. Most of them had the opakapaka. I on the other hand LOVED my pasta. I got the blackened chicken pasta I believe. It was very creamy and garlicy with a little spice. My husband had the rib eye which was really tender and juicy but a bit salty, He enjoyed it! -Parking is across the street and is $4.00 for 4 hours (sorry if im wrong) You MUST watch the time because I heard they are very strict and they will tow! Also, be careful and lock up because there are people hanging around the parking lot.
(3)
Loni D.
Good stop for pupus and drinks! Got the oyster shooters (good), crispy pork belly (meh), and nut wraps (yum!). Almost didn't order the nut wraps bc they didn't sound too exciting... But they ended up being the stand out dish! The kind of lettuce they use is really special, kind of soft and puffy(?). A nice, refreshing snack. Doesn't taste like your eating nuts and lettuce:) I'd skip the pork belly tho, small serving and the texture wasn't as good as other pork belly I've had, could've just been my serving tho. There were plenty other exciting things in the menu I'd like to try!
(4)
Ernest P.
This was my 7th and probably last time visiting this establishment. My first time was June 2014. I found the food to be outstanding along with the service.. So, we decided to visit once a month... As time went on, I noticed the quality of food was declining (taste and appearance). I give this establishment 1 star because of the customer service. You see, the owner, uncle Bo walks around the restaurant quite frequently and mingles with quests. However, every time he passes my table, he turns the opposite direction and doesn't even acknowledge. It's unfortunate that he has this negative bigotry towards me and my company. However, I will find another establishment to spend my money in. Want OUTSTANDING Asian fusion and 5 Star service? Go to The Lucky Belly or The Pig and The Lady!!
(1)
Gigi K.
I am not a picky eater and I don't normally do reviews but this place was disgusting. My family had to get another dinner after because we didn't want to eat our food. They couldn't even make something as simple as mashed potatoes. In the middle of our dinner it turned into a "night club". You couldn't see your food or hear anyone at your table over the obnoxious music playing. One of the worst eating experiences I've had. More like poo poo bar
(1)
Ken W.
If you're a couple or a foursome you can ignore the references to large groups and loud noise. You're going to be seated in the front room which has an upscale look and, while not quiet or romantic, certainly allows conversation. But you didn't come here for ambience. Food and service are both very good. Some strategic planning is required before you order, though, especially if you're in a hotel without a refrigerator for leftovers. Both of us have very healthy appetites but we could not finish three pupus: Boca-Rota, pork belly sliders, and shaken chicken. Companion is not a seafood fan, unfortunately, because those clams looked amazing. The chicken was a bit salty, other two dishes tasty and complex. Enjoyed meeting people on either side - Japan on the right; Scotland on the left. Lots of sharing across tables. The basil-chicken pasta from the Japanese table was especially good. Bill for two with tip and one one drink each was under $80. Great deal! Note: No bread or water unless you ask. One check per table.
(4)
Tiffany P.
What a hidden gem! It was recommended to us by a local and it didn't disappoint. The inside is nothing like it appears on the outside. GREAT food, GREAT atmosphere, GREAT bar and wait staff; super informative and super nice. John, the bartender, is fantastic! Always willing to offer great suggestions on food and drinks.
(5)
Cheryl C.
The Boca Rota was amazing! The rest of the food we ordered was good except the oyster rockefeller. They should remove that item from the menu. Seriously bad. Other than that I was happy. Service was a bit slow, but it was a little busy and the server was very friendly so it didn't bother me too much. Will definitely be back for the Boca Rota.
Highly recommended! Love the ambiance. Good music. Lighting is dim. There's a bar area to hang out at and the staff are very friendly. We shared a couple of pupus. The Prime Roast Sliders (on taro bread buns), sesame scallops, walnut shrimp wraps, and the Boca Rota are all good. My favorite out of the four would be the Boca Rota! You have to try this. It is amazing. I have had better scallops but the sauce and mushrooms it comes with are good with bread. A must try! Food, service and atmosphere are great!
(5)
Tom M.
This place was recommended by a hotel bartender several months ago, and we finally gave it try. Definitely a local find, with a friendly staff and fun food. While the food is a bit uneven, we liked what we ordered, and our drinks were really good. Bo's menu may try too hard to please too many people at once with their wide variety of items, but we liked our selections. It's not much to look at from the outside, so the modern interior is surprising. It is casual enough to feel comfortable, nice enough for a date, authentic enough to be hip. Everyone raves about Happy Hour, and we enjoyed it, too. The wine list is not exactly inspired, but the cocktails were very good and the bartenders aim to please. Above all, we enjoyed the many (local) people we talked to. It may not be the most sophisticated place in town, but we loved experiencing something unique.
(4)
Richard M.
Great local spot.
(5)
Jodi L.
Appetizers were outstanding. Oyster shooters. Artichoke dip. Ceviche. Potato spring rolls. Garlic shrimp. Hawaiiian pig roast pizza. All excellent and generous portions. Table of 6. Our mistake ordering chicken parm there. Steak pizza was ugh too. Greasy. But go for the apps. Fresh and delicious!
(4)
Mary Ann B.
Ordered to go: Must have: Crab cakes Thai clams Boca rota Just okay: Crispy Pork belly This is for take out. Food is pretty good but damn the Thai clams are a must get item! Like lemme drank that sauce with a straw slurp slurp. Lemme get to my other fave the boca rota had my faves in it: prime rib, creamy sauce, mushroom, and cheesy bread. Like damn Gina whoever came up with that I need to high five cause I could not get enough of it. I wish I was back there right now just to stuff my face.
(4)
Nikki H.
My first time here on Friday night with a fabulous group of ladies! There were 6 of us dining this night and so we all ordered something off the menu that we wanted to try and then shared it. I love doing family style because it relieves me of having to order something I don't like, and I usually want to try what everyone else has. I love a get together with my friends, we always have a fantastic time when we go out, so my night out here was still fun. I just think that the food could have been better all around. WARNING: DO NOT ORDER ICED TEA TO DRINK. THEY BRING YOU NASTY INSTANT TEA! MAJOR FAIL!!! We ordered: Hamachi Sashimi - which was okay, but SUPER small portions. You basically get a nibble. Not a great plate to get on your own. The Pork Butt - Again, small portions, only okay for one piece and wouldn't fill you up on your own. The Beet Salad - PROBABLY my favorite..and since this is a pupu place, that's sorta sad. The Pig Fried Rice - delicious. Spicy Uncle Bos Dynamite Shrimp - The other favorite. LOTS on the plate, great for sharing or having on it's own. Boca-rota - I wasn't impressed with this. I honestly don't believe that was prime rib, and not sure what it was, but it was referred to as tasting "boiled" at the table and I agreed. Meh. The service was great, but the restaurant was loud as shit. There seemed to be 4 Bday parties going on & a bachlorette party as well. So, if you have a hard time hearing, you're screwed. Also, I think they wax the concrete floors, so if you're in heels please be careful.
(3)
Lisa W.
To our stomachs, we apologize for not coming here sooner!! We've been coming to Oahu once every 6 years now and have passed Uncle Bo's. It was recommended to us the first year we were here.... This year it was recommended again, we went in... OMG!! The clams.... Yummmmmmmmmmmmmmm!!!!!! Had the beet salad, then unfortunately got full. Had to feed my dessert stomach the Oreo Haupia Mud Pie though. Ohhhh, the coconut flavored ice cream, nom nom nom! Thank You Uncle Bo!!! We will be back!!!!!
(5)
Tash M.
Uncle Bo's is usually a name that comes up when thinking of places to eat (live around the area.) My bf hadn't eaten here before so I decided to take him here. I've come before with friends and I'll break it down into 3 sections: 1) Some things I'd stay away from are: * French onion soup: SUPER salty. That's all you taste...lacks the traditional look/taste. * Pizza: 3 times I've gone here the crust is burnt. And very dry. 2) Some things I'm iffy about: * Spinach artichoke dip-there is pesto or something herbal in there I didn't care for. * Boca rota- sorry, guys but this was not that great to me: it's soft, cheesy garlic bread sitting atop some white sauce with small bits of steak. Flavors didn't mesh well for me (confusing) and it was hard to eat. There was a lot though! *Music is a little loud for such a small place. *Parking. Across the street. Min $2.00 which warrants 2 hours. 3) Some things I like: * The thai clams/broth was tasty. * Though the pesto taste in the spinach artichoke dip was overwhelming, I like how it came with won ton chips. * Service is usually prompt and the girls are smiling and nice. * Their menus light up! Trendy inside; outside is misleading.
(3)
Kehau C.
I've only been here once. I'm not a seafood girl so I went with the greasy noodles. "Greasy" to be emphasized. It was okay. Thought the portion size could have been a bit bigger. The atmosphere? Very loud. Again, I emphasize "Loud". I appreciated them seating me in the back of the restaurant which is obviously where they seat their local customers. However, they did not pay attention to me and my bf rather to the larger parties. We had to ask for water and honestly if your water is low it should automatically be refilled. It was an okay restaurant, but I'm not into the loud atmosphere and unacceptable service. Also, I believe they should offer more choices of food for those who are not seafood lovers.
(3)
Patricia L.
It was our last night in Oahu before heading back to the mainland. My boyfriend and I started up looking for places to go to eat and drink. We ventured out from Waimanalo to Uncle Bo's, and we were not disappointed. The portions here are huge, so don't mind the prices of the dishes. They're definitely meant to share, and I can see it being a perfect place for a birthday dinner of some sort. My boyfriend and I decided to go all out and order everything we wanted. First off, I ordered the pear paradise cocktail which was made w9ith pear vodka, housemade pear lemonade, and cucumbers. It was very refreshing! Here's my theory about the menu. They give one star for Bohana's favorites and two stars for diners' favorites. All the food we ordered had either one or two stars. The thing is, we enjoyed the food with one star more than two stars. So in conclusion, I prefer the food that are the chef's favorites rather than the diners' favorites. The diners' favorites were too heavy for my taste, and more one-dimensional in flavor. That being said, the food was generally delicious! One Star Dishes: - Bo's Big Nachos: Came with kalua pork, ham, mushrooms, onions, tomatoes, mozzarella, and hoisin sauce. They were served with sour cream and salsa on the side, both providing some freshness and bite to a heavier dish. We also added avocados to them as well. But the best part is that the chips are fried wontons. THEY ARE THE BOMB. The kalua pork was delicious and flavorful. Kyle and I aren't huge fans of ham, so in our opinion that could have been omitted from the dish. All in all, it was one of my favorites that night. - Black sesame scallops: This was the smallest portion of them all, but they were delicious! The sauce it came with was mushroomy and delicious. We kept scraping at the dish even after all the scallops were gone. Two Star Dishes: - Boca Rota: Everyone raved about this on Yelp, and it did have two stars... But honestly I could have done without it. It's a cheesy garlic bread dish served with mushrooms, mozzarella, and prime rib. It's not bad, but it's too heavy, and one-dimensional. It's something that I might find at a BJ's type of restaurant. - Spicy Baked Opah Mauna Kea: This one had fresh island fish and was baked in a garlic chili aioli and topped with a parmesan crust. It's served with fried garlic shrimp. The shrimp was delicious. The fish itself was way too heavy. The "garlic chili aioli" wasn't spicy at all and just tasted like mayonnaise. It was underwhelming. There's always room for desserts! Even after the feast (we packed some of it up to-go too)... we had to try the dessert. Why? Because the menu said "taro beignets." Okay 1. I love taro and ube everything. 2. After our trip to New Orleans, we love trying beignets. So of course, we ordered them. AND WE WERE NOT DISAPPOINTED. I'll come back for this alone, if I have to. The beignets were purplish from the taro, and they were still light and fluffy, like a proper beignet should be. They were sprinkled with powdered sugar, which was melting because the beignets were so hot and fresh out of the fryer. The beignets are served with vanilla ice cream and a coconut syrup. It was just phenomenal. I didn't want myself to get full so I could eat more. Honestly the spicy baked opah dish made me want to give this place a 4, because I felt that it doesn't deserve any more stars... But the taro beignets just made it a 4.5, and because I loved it so much, I'll round it up to a 5! It's just THAT good!
(5)
Kurt K.
Totally awesome. We were told about this place by our waiter at our hotel. Man did he hit it right. The pork sliders great. Ahi huge portion, spicy though. The Boca Roto is crazy good. Humus was delicious and the home made pita slices were warm and delicious. We took half the portions home. Pick out four order two and you will be full. Make a reservation on the weekend. We got a table but had to be finished by a time. Good came out fast and tasted great.
(5)
Brandy W.
Please don't kill me for my unpopular review! Another month and it's another meals on heels evening. My girlfriends and I decided to try the famous Uncle Bo's Pupu Bar & Grill. I have heard stories about this place since I first moved here. It probably was even the first restaurant recommended to me. Our group of six made our reservation over a week in advance, but I was still disappointed to find our table in the back of the restaurant, where it seemed to be the loudest. As we filtered in, our table decided on sharing a variety of pupu's. We ordered hamachi sushi, kalua pork fried rice, boca rota, dynamite shrimp, pork belly, and beet salad. The hamachi sushi was a very tender slice of fish, but we all only had one bite to share our table of 6. Be prepared to order at least 2 servings. The kalua pork fried rice seemed to be a hit with out table, but I didn't see a huge difference from normal fried rice. I was the MOST disappointed with the boca rota. The steak tasted poached more than grilled, which zapped all flavor from the beef. I preferred to eat the bread without the steak (serves me right for violating No Meat Fridays during lent!) I barely remember the pork belly, but I do remember the beet salad being delicious. I do not like beets, but I could easily avoid them with the rest of the salad. My favorite was the dynamite shrimp, which seemed to be a page from the chinese restaurant (honey walnut shrimp I believe). Parking is not as difficult as everyone makes it out to be. Park in the lot across the street and ask someone to explain how to pay with the machine. I was surprised that most of my friends easily found parking on the street.
(3)
Kate M.
Get here at 5:00, or be prepared to wait while your stomach growls and your lip wobbles with sadness. The pupus here are fantastic, and the portions are perfect for sharing. The clams are served in a broth that can only be described as ethereal; the beef tongue is cooked to perfection; the seafood trap is flavorful and comes in a bowl that almost overflows; the hamachi sashimi is cut perfectly, complemented with jalapeños and served with perfectly crispy nori and sticky sticky rice...I could go on and on about the expert execution of this menu, but you should just go, because you won't regret it. It doesn't look like much from the outside, but inside is a modern, busy restaurant with attentive waitstaff, a great selection of food, and a very comfortable ambience. Make sure that you try the taro beignets after you've tried all the pupus you can, they should not be missed, and they are so good you might just dream about them.
(5)
Joanna H.
Had the most delicious meat lovers pizza. My husband has some ahi tuna pupu and he loved it. There was a 15 minute wait for a table so we sat at the bar instead. Bar tenders were pretty busy but food was Yum!
(5)
Elizabeth L.
Chic lounge for locals, does large groups well. Great vibe and cute decor. Loved the Thai basil chili clams - super fresh and tasty. Dynamite shrimp was also tasty, lightly dusted and not overly salty. The Boca Rota (prime rib in a mushroom cream sauce, served with toasted garlic bread slices) was tasty but a bit too heavy for our tastes. Fried ice cream was a disaster - literally had to carve it b/c the batter was too thick (thus cold) and ice cream was frozen solid. Recommend Uncle Bo's.
(4)
Marlon T.
The first thing they will ask you after you sit down is if you parked across the street in the private parking lot where the rules are very stringently enforced--if you're parked 1 second longer than you've paid for, your car will get towed. Basically, avoid parking across the street at all costs! Anyway, we went with the popular dishes like the Dynamite Shrimp and the Boca Rota. Everything was very flavorful good. I recommend these two items plus more if you're in a quality well-presented food mood. Furthermore, you can't come in here and not notice the trendy atmosphere as well as the certain look-standard for all the servers (you'll see). I like how this place is open until 1AM. It seems like a lot of people celebrate birthdays or whatever here so if you want to come in a large party, be sure to make a reservation. I sort of would only recommend coming here if you're really hungry and it's an occasion because their product is not cheap and it's definitely better to sit-in even though you can order take-out (for foodies, the presentation can enhance the enjoyment of the meal).
(4)
Noelani C.
The food is AMAZING! We had the Thai Style Steamer Clas and Oyster Shooters to start. These are an absolute MUST! The sauce that the clams are in is PHENOMENAL! We ordered a batch to-go after we were done! I ordered the Opah Piccatta which was INCREDIBLE! The Opah was cooked PERFECTLY, and the pasta and piccatta sauce was DELICIOUS! My husband order Braised Beef Cheek. This is the 2nd time ordering this dish and he was not disappointed! The beef is so TENDER and FLAVORFUL! For dessert we ordered the Hobos, a basket of warm taro beignets served w/ 1 scoop of vanilla ice cream and vanilla creme anglaise. These beignets are OVER THE TOP! The space is small and loud if it's busy but the food is TOTALLY WORTH IT! Our waitress was super sweet & very attentive. Mahalo for a FABULOUS dining experience!
(5)
Aj M.
Meh. Food was mediocre at best. It tried really hard at being gourmet or whatever but didn't hit the mark in all cases. I was with a big party and we literally ordered about everything on the menu and it was all just ok, but flavor was not right on most everything.
(3)
Deano G.
Words cannot express how much I love this place. The food, the decor, the service are all top notch. Do yourself a favor and go... and go hungry. Order a few pupu's and if you're still hungry when your done, order more. I liked the clams, others in my party didn't love clams. The fried rice was almost the best I've ever had. The UNCLE BO'S DYNAMITE SHRIMP were out of this works (especially when you add them to the fried rice! The BOCA-ROTA was incredible and should be served as a main course... Please do yourself a favor and go.... It's the first of second stop we will make on our next visit right before/after the noodle house.
(5)
Judy And Joe N.
I've visited this establishment twice now. I didn't remember my first visit much, so agreed to trying it again. I think that considering both the prices and the quality of food, they are overpriced. Our table ordered dynamite shrimp (the best dish of the night), crab cakes (too sweet, too much sauce, too much breading), steamed clams were good, crab legs were good, the prime rib was overcooked, and chicken marsala pasta was just ok. Cocktails are about $10 each, but they are generous with the amount of alcohol. Service here was also very friendly. Attentive, but not annoying.
(3)
Susan C.
We came to Uncle Bo's for the first time a few years ago on a friends recommendation and have been coming back and bringing friends who visit Oahu every chance we get. The food is always delicious and we never mind waiting for a table because we know it's worth the wait.
(5)
Pamela S.
Tonight was awesome. I was part of a party of 22 and we did the pre fix pupu menu ( min of ten people) and oh my gosh... Yum! We tasted about 10 different pupus and its all you can eat for $27. I almost never came back here because the service was so terrible about five years ago, but today was a different story. Our waitress, Tiffany was so great. My only complaint is that it is really loud and crowded but you kind of get used to it as your dinner goes on. (Probably not a great place for kids.)
(5)
Millie H.
We came here for my oldest sons birthday last night. I had such an easy time making a phone reservations for such a short notice, upon greeting the hostess were very gracious and nice. Our waiter was off the hook though! He was sooo on it... We had to feed a bunch of hungry teenagers so with me trying to hold my composure, get them some appetizers to put some food in their mouth n get the night going. Our waiter was awesome! He kept the food coming, he was very observant of when we needed something and the last treat. Having my 19 year old still smile as they sang him happy birthday ... Totally unexpected for him. But, all in all the 6 kids n 2 adults loved the onolicious food and of course, well I love their food! Sooo Ono! Great customer service
(5)
Cheri L.
LOVE the food here and the atmosphere is casual and upbeat. Staff is friendly and service is GREAT! One of my favorite places! You gotta try the Boca-Rota and Thai Steamer Clams! The Crab salad is delish, too! We also got treated to a free desert when we came here for a birthday! Uncle Bo and Ho Suk (the owners) are THE BEST!
-Cajun seared Tuna is A+ Good portion, quality and service - Steamed sea bass with steamed bokchoy and rice came - not that great. Didn't care for the rice or the Bokchoy. - Grilled beef tongue - nah, - Greasy noodle - too salty but great noodle.
(2)
Mike B.
Very cool place, awesome looking bar and decor inside. I had the braised beef here which was amazing, I was really surprised at the size of the portion I got. I could not even finish all of the food, I was expecting a smaller dish, but the food was great. I kept trying to it all. My only complaint was both the bottles of beer I ordered were not the coldest. They seemed a little warm, perhaps the cooler they were in was messed up? Other than that everything was great and the staff was very friendly. I will definitely be coming back.
(4)
Joe L.
By using one word to describe this little gem I choose "Wow". This is a local favorite off the main drag in Waikiki and I was really blown away by the food. We started with the Dynamite Shrimp which yes was dynamite. I loved the aioli sauce they used and the panko breading which wasn't too crispy/crunchy. For my entree I ordered the Baked Opah. This is a 10 out of 10 seafood dish. The Opah was so fresh and had amazing flavor & texture. I also loved the steamed vegetables they had with it. The person I was with had the S-O-S which I had a few bites of and also was extremely impressed by. My hats off to the chef. This guy knows how to make a meal and impress customers. The manager brought us their "Hobos" dessert which I went nuts over. This is kind of a taro / malasadas dessert with ice cream. This was a perfect ending to the meal because it wasn't overly sweet but still a great dessert. The service was very good too. The waitresses were very helpful with the menu, very attentive to the table and genuinely kind girls. I 100% recommend this restaurant to anyone that visits Oahu. It will be the first place I go to on my next visit. I will probably make it back to Uncle Bo's before the end of my business trip.
(5)
Felix P.
If I were in Honolulu for four days I would eat here at least two of them. Bartender makes amazing drinks Wait staff is super friendly Food is amazing...what more is there?
(5)
Stefan L.
At first I thought the prices were a bit high, considering the location and decor, but when I saw the portion size I did a complete 180. Add to that excellent service and very tasty food and you've got a winner. We were a party of 6, sharing a bunch of different dishes and loved all of them. I was really amazed how fast we got our food - it can't have taken more than 15 minutes! If I lived in Honolulu, I would be a regular!
(4)
Kori H.
Uncle Bo's is highly recommended. I've never been disappointed in service or food quality. I always get the seafood ceviche and walnut shrimp wrap to start, so yummy and enough to share with 2-3 people. Uncle Bo's fish tacos are one of my favorite items, juicy and filling. I've probably had majority of the plates on the menu and can truly say they are all delicious. I was there for a party of about 12 people and they accommodated us very well, we took a little long to order and decide but they were professional and served us at one time (which we requested). Be prepared to dish out at least $70-$90 for a good 2 person night out! I will definitely be back and introduce Uncle Bo's to more of my friends.
(5)
Jim T.
This place is awesome. Food is spectacular. Group of 4. We ordered Boca Rota, Beef Cheeks, Prime Rib, baked opah, and I had SOS. Are you kidding me? Unbelievable!!! Cheeks were better than a mothers love and I wanted to roll in the SOS. Seriously contemplating staying an extra day so I can eat here again. Easy parking right across the street for $1 per hour.
(5)
Mark Q.
Pupus, pupus, and more pupus -- a great way to eat. A little bit of everything. Menu: We went the pupu route and didn't order entrees. Wide arrangement of pupus. We had the oyster shooters and they were quite tasty but the sauce mad them a tad salty, needed a bit of acid to help with the salt. The nachos were amazing. Kalua pig nachos were interesting and quite delicious. Sweet salty and crunch all at the same time. Escargot was cook nicely covered in cheesy goodness. The thai style steamed clams were nicely cook, not too chewy, and in a rich broth. Ask for extra bread and dip it into the broth, YUM! Drinks: Full bar and Assorted beers. A nice selection of wine by the glass and by the bottle. Definitely recommend buying bottles if your with a group. Price: The price was decent. If there were only two or three of us, it may have been more expensive but since there were the check was split between 6 people it cut down on the cost. Ambiance: Great place to have a big group of people. When we went here, there were quite a few large groups. The ambiance is almost party like. Location: Its quite easy to miss this as the signage outside is quite discreet. The website also makes this place look very classy but from the outside it doesn't reflect the same decor. You'll need to park in the street.
(4)
Donald S.
Got here @ 6:00pm anticipating the awesome nachos I've been hearing about and was told by the hostess that we can be seated but they'll need the table by 8:00 pm because they're expecting a big party. Like who goes to a place with awesome food and drinks and then gets told you only have two hours to socialize. REALLY???????!!!!!!! REALLY?????????!!!!!!!! The food is awesome by the way. That is my reason for the two stars.
(2)
Trish H.
This place is AMAZING! I would give it more stars if I could. The first time we went, was on a recommendation from a friend. I was a bit skeptical to try it out, from the outside it doesn't seem like much. A bit of a hole in the wall... BUT, as always, looks can be deceiving and we all know not to judge a book by it's cover. The service is friendly and the food is incredible. There are a ton of pupus to choose from - the Nachos are my favorite and the Boca Rota is pretty damn epic, too. The portions are generous (an understatement), and every thing is wonderfully cooked and seasoned and mouth watering. I have had fish both times, and both times I was blown away - and I generally don't order fish at restaurants. I would definitely recommend this place for date nights, gatherings with friends, or even a family dinner (our two kiddos were kindly accommodated with chocolate milk, grilled cheese and the best french fries I have ever tasted). I love this place. I can't say enough good stuff about it. I can't wait to go back... definitely worth the trip from Kapolei to town for the yummy food!
(5)
Anton Z.
Great place for drinks and pupu's. Went here for our first dinner in Waikiki, and it's going to bye tough to top this place. We decided to share a few of the pupu's, rather than get a whole meal each. The nachos had a mix of kahlua port and ham with tomato, while the "chips" of fried wonton gave it a fun texture. The spicy tuna wrap had a great creaminess and flavor, and the hamachi sashimi was fun because we would put them together with however much rice we thought we'd want. We also had the firecracker shrimp, which were wok fried and covered with aioli and panko breading. The food was amazing, and there was tons of it. The drinks were equally as memorable. My partner had the pear blossom drink, a delightfully refreshing drink along with the spicy food. My drink had gin and lychee, and was slightly sweeter though equally as refreshing. Overall, a wonderful place to have a reasonably priced and brilliantly balanced meal.
(4)
Sally C.
All the food I ordered tasted fantastic. Calamari was good, although I think that's a difficult thing to mess up. The only reason I knocked it down one star was because the chicken wings we ordered were more room temp/warm than hot. The server was good about keeping my beverage orders coming, although twice she took my drink glass without asking while there was still a sip left, which wouldn't be a problem if I wasn't drinking expensive whiskey. That also helped to knock the rating down a bit. All in all a pretty good place to go to chill with friends and get some pupus. I'd go back.
(4)
Jesse C.
Anna D.'s awesome husband put together this "little" party for his beautiful wife. He ordered just about everything off the menu and tempted us to try everything. All we had to do was show up and eat. I can do that! It's on the main strip of Kapahulu. I've drove passed it but never stopped in. This place was jammed pack and they had a few tables with reserve signs but no patrons. I'm quickly greeted at the door and spot the birthday woman. "Happy Birthday, Anna D.! " I sat and was quickly tossed a plate and food. Whoa! My kind of party. I can honestly say of the things I tried I liked all of them. That's quite a feat.
(4)
Denise K.
This place is always packed and parking is kind of a doozy, but I give this place 4 stars based on one dish that makes my mouth water just thinking about it! Their clams! Whatever sauce they use, it is soooo finger-licking good, that you will want to drink it, slop it up with bread, put it on rice (you get my drift).
(4)
Lauren S.
I thought this place was more of a bar than a restaurant for some reason. It's also a little pricey! But there's a lot of space here especially if you have an increasingly growing group that shows up at different parts of the meal which is cool. Lots of pupus and liquor choices...just wish there was a little bit more beef or pork options...I'm allergic to a lot of seafood which is lame. Service was a little shoddy and I had ordered stuff that never got delivered but when the check came they wanted to charge me for that or see if I wanted to wait around for them to actually make it. Uhhh no thanks, I've already been here for 2 hours. Lame. Kept messing up the bill and charging my friend like twice with a huge ass bill. Eh I dunno, Uncle Bo's...I dunno....
(3)
Ryan K.
Sometimes I think I was born without the ability to stop eating. I stop when it becomes hard to breathe. Not only were the portions generous, but very delicious contributing to my shortness of breath. There is something for everyone. See the updated menu on their website link.
(5)
Rise D.
I need to write an update for Uncle Bo's because of the stellar customer service I experienced there the other night. Thank you so much to Andrea who was very kind, patient, and professional the entire night. I recently threw a birthday party for my bf here and made a reservation for 25 people. It was a bit stressful to plan a large party because I was told that they charge for people who don't show up. So when I was planning the party I made an estimate of how many people my bf wanted to invite to his party and gave them my credit card number to hold the space. They told me I could come early to decorate. On the night of the party, I arrived early to decorate. The tables were all ready. My only complaint is that I bought confetti to put on the tables, but no one had told me on the phone earlier that confetti wasn't allowed. :( Since we had a large party, we had the option of ordering the $25 all-you-can-eat pupus, or ordering off the menu. The only stipulation is that EVERYONE in the party needs to agree on the same option. We ended up deciding to go with the $25 all-you-can-eat pupu option. At first I was hesitant and didn't know if everyone would want to eat that much since the party started at 9:00 pm (I figured some people might have had dinner earlier), but I'm glad we all decided to go with that option. There was SO much food. Dynamite shrimp, clams, meat lover's pizza, boca rota, dip and won ton chips, and more. I really like the clams and shrimp, but could have passed on the pizza. The all-you-can-eat option is cool though because you get to sample so many different dishes. Anyone who's planned a large dinner party knows how annoying it is when people take forever to RSVP. Besides that, one of my bf's friends invited two other people we don't know without telling me. Therefore, we ran out of seats and my bf had to tell some of his friends who hadn't arrived yet that there were no seats left. His friends were understanding and came anyway to sit next to us and order some drinks and food at the bar. Andrea told me kindly that she saw them taking a little bit of food from our table and therefore would be charging them $25 each. I was disappointed because they had only been there for a little while and there was so much food left that it would have gone to waste if no one else was eating it. I told my friend and he understood. However, Andrea talked to her manager and said not to worry about it anymore because she felt bad that no one told me I couldn't use confetti and the clams took longer to come out. Plus, she understood that our friend wasn't there for too long and he had already ordered food at the bar earlier. I thought it was really nice of her and I was grateful that she understood where we were coming from. Uncle Bo's also offered my bf a free birthday shot and sang happy birthday. That was cool. All in all, it was a great night and I hope our friends had fun at Uncle Bo's. The waitresses divided our checks by tables which was helpful, and it was also convenient that everyone had the same menu option and just had to pay drinks separately. Uncle Bo's is a really good venue to host large parties, but you need to keep everyone who is invited on close watch because if they don't show up, you will get charged, and if you are caught eating food when everyone else had already ordered, you could be charged. Thank you so much again to Andrea for being so understanding and attentive to our party. She made the whole night easier and made what could have been a stressful party planning experience turn out fine at the end. Also, thank you to one of the managers, Ho Suk, who sounded nice and happy to hear about Andrea's excellent customer service when I called them back to put in a good word for her.
(4)
Nikki N.
I actually think of this place everytime I feel like eating out. It may not be where we end up but its always one on my list. The food is excellent and I ALWAYS have fun here. My friends and coworkers choose this place regularly for get togethers. The clams are first priority when coming here. The drinks are always flowing and they have FRIED ICE CREAM! I recommend this restaraunt to all of the guests I service and they come back with Raving Reviews! The waiters and waitresses are very attractive too! haha just saying...
(5)
Nicole C.
EVERY TIME I've been here, I've always had a great time. The food is great, especially the Thai-style steamer clams which are delicious! Apart from the food, the setting and ambiance is pretty nice. I admit, sometimes the wait for a table was pretty bad, but I don't blame them - they're really popular and people keep coming back for a reason. The last time I came here, I took my friend who was visiting from the mainland and I'm so glad we ended up at Uncle Bo's. I wanted to show her a good time and Uncle Bo's did not disappoint!!
(4)
Ryan M.
I've only been here once and it was for a party so we had a set menu for a large party. Here are the things I enjoyed and remembered eating: Steamed clams were good and buttery, the pizza had a lot of toppings and tasty, pot stickers were ono, fried rice had good taste and lots of ingredients. We had a few more stuff, but I just can't remember because they had so many choices with the set menu. My girlfriend didn't enjoy this place because the day before she had her wisdom's pulled. So, I'm going to take her here again in the near future and try other dishes. She really wants to try this place because all she could eat was soup.
(4)
Sue C.
YUMM!!! I have to say I followed the advice of other Yelp users and did the Dynamite Shrimp!! And it does taste dynamite!
(5)
Ori T.
For some late night food--and when i say "late night" i mean anytime after 9 pm since everything in waikiki seems to close around that time--at a great price and great lounge-y lay back vibe go to Uncle Bo's. It was like 10 and we were looking for a place to eat and found this on Yelp I believe, and so glad we found it! finding parking is the hard part, especially if you don't wanna pay $4 to park across the street, but once we got in it was exactly what we were looking for. Great food! loved the nachos and the fried ice cream, they had the vodka i like so I couldnt complain. Also, some good looking locals came in and out as we ate so I was more than happy =)
(5)
kristine f.
I have given this place multiple chances, especially because I absolutely love the ambiance. But the food is a letdown. The only thing that I actually would order again is the Escargot. The bar has a nice feel to it which has a chic and classy look. But other than that, in a nutshell "Methinks not." I'd rather save my cash and go over to Irifune.
(1)
Chris T.
Love this place! I've been meaning to rate this place... The first time I went, I wasn't sure what to expect judging by the outside, but once you get inside it's pretty trendy. The owner is very nice and is always hospitable. The food is delish and the staff is friendly. Parking is good (across the street) - haven't seen valet in a while...guessing there wasn't a need with parking so close. Uncle Bo's is on my "safe" list where I've experienced consistently good meals.
(4)
a p.
Love this place. It is a true hidden gem. Us locals couldn't have asked for a better place to come to our neighborhood! They are open late, and it is a great place to meet with friends. After 10pm the music turns up and you have a great lounge type vibe in the bar area. Everything is reasonable and there is a great list of martinis and wine. Service is fast and the owner is always around. He makes sure everyone has a great time. I always get the cajan seared ahi....... i dream about this app, it is amazing, and really reasonable. Also worth trying is the calamari, dynamite shrimp, great pizza too!! Already go there almost once a week... you should go!
(5)
Rhiannon R.
I came here during my visit to Hawaii in June 2010. Two people recommended this place on the same day so our group decided to try this place for dinner. One word: gross. I did not try anything that I liked. Here's what we ordered: Bo's Big Nachos - The chips were soggy and wet Ribs - They were loaded with garlic and other toppings and did not have any sort of sauce which made them dry. The other items on the menu have been removed and replaced with others. Hopefully the new items on the menu are better.
(1)
Deb F.
We tried to find non-chain places to eat on our trip to Waikiki, and so we ended up at Uncle Bo's. What a treat! We really enjoyed ourselves. I have to give props to our server, who handled our demanding party of 7 (including 3 kids) with patience, a smile, and a great attitude. She was rewarded with a good tip. Now to the food. Here's what I noted from our order: Shaken beef, Nachos, Crab cakes, a steamed fish entree (Opakapaka, I think), Oyster shooters, kids' meals, and drinks. I think the runaway faves were the Shaken beef and the fish, but truly, it was all good. OK, maybe not so much the kids' meals, but hey. We all shared the food among the adults and everyone liked it all. The music was fun and current and not too loud. I think the atmosphere later in the evening would be fun without kids; lounge on the sofas and have drinks and apps. Next time I'm in Waikiki (whenever that may be), I will definitely go back to Uncle Bo's.
(5)
kahau m.
Eh. what you doing afta work? nuttin. why. we go UNCO BO'S!!! shoots! we go. been to this place many a many a times. all good. martinis? great. pupus? great. spicy shrimp? spicy! and tasty. always have a great time. staff is friendly and welcoming. sit at the bar! if there's a stool and if there's room!
(5)
Katie K.
Last night was my third time at Uncle Bo's. The first was my 21st bday, which does not count--as it was a blur, and the second was just drinks; so finally I feel that a review is in order! A co-worker and I got off work fairly early, were starving, and ready for a pau hana outside of Waikiki. Let's see...Kapahulu...Uncle Bo's, perfect! Open late with a full food menu--my kind of place! The place was still packed when we walked in a little after 9 (always a good sign), but were able to get 2 seats at the bar. Actually those two seats were separately by a gentleman at the bar, but the host knew we wanted to sit there and kindly asked the guy to move over one--wow! They have a pretty good selection of wine and beer, with a few on draft. All I needed though was an ice cold Sierra Nevada and I was a happy camper! Food wise, we ordered the Veggie Pizza and the Cajun Seared Ahi. I love that they have a huge selection of pupus here and everything is pretty reasonably priced. The veggie pizza was good, but way too saucy! The seared ahi however--AMAZING! Wow, this was great ahi and perfectly seasoned. I will return for this ahi dish very soon!! Overall, the service was great, and I left with a full tummy and a smile on my face (though a couple of mind erasers may have enhanced this smile!). Uncle Bo's--I will see you again soon! Thanks for a fun night!
(4)
Christina Y.
Visited this place for the first time, while we were waiting for a table at Side Street Inn. Great atmosphere, the pu pus were delicious, and so were the drinks! Would definitely come back here again to celebrate a birthday or just to have a girls night out.
What a sweet ass bar. The food is as good and flavorful as any restaurant you might randomly pick, the atmosphere is top notch without forcing you to feel like a complete douche bag if you're wearing shorts and a hoodie. Got the carpaccio, chicken wings and butter fish and it was thumbs up from the entire table. This is the kind of place that makes me sad to go back to SoCal and forces me to plan out my next 2 week vacation before my current one is over. Bye Hawaii =/ I misses you already.
(4)
Daniele D.
Alooooha Uncle Bo's! =) So I found this place on Yelp while visiting Oahu and it had some of the best ratings on the island so I wanted to make sure we stopped in at some point on the trip. I convinced my bf, his bro and the bro's wife (all from Oahu but living on the mainland) to go there to eat before heading over to Mai Tai's to meet friends. I'm really glad we did. This place is tasty, classy and had a great atmosphere! Of course, we went early because we had to get to MT's by 7 pm so we didn't get to experience a "crowd" but I hear it is a cool place to hang out. It really did have a nice vibe when we were there and I liked the decor. This is really an asian fusion tapas bar. The best pupu's we had were: Spinach Artichoke Dip (Def didn't get my share cuz people be hogging it. HA!) * I am not a huge fan of restaurant "dips" but this was REALLY delicious Spinach Chicken Pizza (is that considered a pupu?) * I really enjoyed the flavor, crust and sauce on this. Someone at the table said it had too much cheese...is that possible??? We also had the Shaken Beef, which was okay but not great. Glad it is many, many hours away from my house by plane or I'd frequent the joint. Can't remember what my drink was called...but it was really good and strong! I saved the rest of my drink consumption for MT's. =) Overall a must visit location. A little pricy overall but worth it. Random afterthought...both of the waitresses working were preggers. Does anyone else find that interesting? I was a little afraid to drink the water.
(4)
Elizabethgray K.
This place looks like a dump from the outside and then looks like some swanky martini lounge on the inside.. Tiny tables all close together... You really get to know your neighbors and all about their love lives or whatever drama is going onsince you are VERY close. We got a bottle of wine that tasted weird so, we sent it back with no issues, I then got a glass of a different kind of wine which was really good. For pupus (or as we texans call 'em, appetizers), I ordered the dynamite shrimp I think they were called and some ahi tuna pupus Both super great! My dad and I then split a fish meal that had dill sauce (also really good but, didn't top the pupus). I would recommend coming here and just ordering lots of apps. P.S. No parking.. you have to pay 3 bucks to park across the street.
(4)
Brad K.
Many apologies for never reviewing this place even though I eat here all the time! Ambiance is solid! Staff is informative, friendly and helpful! Owners constantly in the mix with the guest. Food is outstanding upscaled comfort food! Chef Bo, Partner Ho Suk, and there staff keep this place packed everyday of the week! Call and ask for reservations! They have a solid all you can eat app menu for parties of 20 or more guest! You'll get all you can ask for and more! My #1 choice when entertaining large groups!
(5)
Diane S.
I had my wedding rehearsal dinner here and it was perfect. There was many different types of food to fit everyone's tastes. My favorite apps were the Boca-Rota cheesy garlic bread topped with Prime rib and the calamari. My meal was the special of the day which was sea-bass with dill sauce. It was amazing. Overall the food was great, the service was spot on and the prices were reasonable. I can't wait to go again.
(5)
Weezee L.
Good appetizers. They have drafted Guinness. Nice hang out. They play lots of clubbing musics. Wish they play more contemporary and island musics.
(3)
Brian K.
This is one of those places where you want to try every item on their menu! I have yet to order something that wasn't good! The modern, contemporary, New York-style feel on Kapahulu Ave makes this place unique. The modern artwork gives this place the right vibe. Seafood seems to be their specialty. It's a pretty chill place to hang out with close friends or bring a hot date! ;) Prices are appropriate and have a full selection of drinks, including a decent wine list. Parking is the only thing that's holding me back from a 5-star rating. Street parking can be difficult sometimes. I usually park up the street and take a short walk. As Nikki mentioned, yes, the waitresses are attractive, but more importantly the service was friendly and attentive.
(4)
Daniel C.
Uncle Bo's is a trendy bar that features delicious dishes and a good selection of drinks. It is in close proximity to Waikiki and great place to start for a night of fun. The food is always good here. The entree portions are large but not overwhelming. I had the ahi poke pupu, which tasted great for the most part except the sauce was a bit too salty. For my entree I had the panko crusted opah. It was awesome! The fish was perfectly cooked with a crunchy outside and moist tender inside. The spicy sauce complement the opah well. If you're ever in Kapahulu, you must check out Uncle Bo's. It is a great place to have dinner or start a night of partying. Expect to pay about $20 to $30 per person with drinks. They have excellent service and I would definitely be back!
(4)
Cy C.
Is this a bar or a restaurant? Its actually both but I think it leans more on the restaurant side. It does have a huge bar but not much bar stools to sit on. So don't expect a place to stand around or sit and drink and meet people. However there are a lot of tables for you to sit, drink and eat. I've never been here for dinner but . someone told me Uncle Bo's is good for drinks and pupus, but not a great dinner place. I have to try it myself, but I'm pretty dam happy of the appetizers I had here. This is definitely one of my favorite places to hang out for after work for drinks and pupus.
(4)
Keane S.
I've been kind of lazy on yelp, I've mainly been reviewing my favorite places. Uncle Bo's is definitely one of them. I've been about four or five times now, and I've seriously enjoyed every dish so far. The menu is large but not overly complex, the flavors are delicious and the overall feel and look of the restaurant is great for what it is -- a nice modern restaurant/lounge. Service my past few times was decent, but my most recent visit I would say service was very good. The waitress was very friendly and refreshing, we didn't ask too many questions because we had a good idea of what we would order but she was good with checking up on us, the others in the restaurant (I'm assuming floor managers) did a great job with water refills. Timing of the food was appropriate and most importantly all the food tasted wonderful. Some favorites to try: "Baked Opah Mauna Kea, Dynamite Shrimp, Seafood Ceviche, Boca-Rota, Clams" Overall it's an awesome place to go with friends, family or a date, it's a welcoming place that for all the reasons above simply just works.
(5)
Tracy Lu G.
We asked a local cab driver where the locals eat and he recommended Uncle Bo's. Hands down, it was our favorite place to eat. Our party of 16 walked 15 minutes from Waikiki Beach and we were seated with a 5 minute wait on a Friday night at 6 pm. The food was fantastic and creative. I especially enjoyed the clams with a dipping sauce/soup which was to die for.
(5)
Melissa K.
I love this place!! We came here with a rather large dinner party and ordered lots of food and lots of wine. Even though the restaurant was packed to capacity, the service was outstanding and the food was absolutely phenomenal. Every dish was superb. I'm definitely in food love heaven.
(4)
Kate Y.
Dynamite shrimp with dipping bread is must try. Drink is in the big glass, not over prize, big portion food, def my favorite dining place in Oahu.
(5)
Caroline T.
Undeniably good, love the atmosphere and a MUST to visit when you are in HAWAII! My friends ordered for me and everything we had was delicious! 2 of everything please! Must try Boca Rota, crab salad, pizza! Yes Pizza is so cheezy and yummy. Oh and get the mussels and dip the sauce with your bread! Great date night. Kid friendly too.
(5)
Alex Y.
The food here is AWESOME! the quality of the pupus are great and the taste is unheard of! First look = local, low key, and shabby. The outside is very deceiving, but once you step foot inside the outside just doesn't do it justice anymore. The space inside has a contemporary feel to it, but yet it still has a family feel to it. Parking sucks, but what can you expect when you're on Kapahulu. Luckily I found street parking, and after all the food that I ate the walk is perfect before heading back home. I was invited to a birthday party, and Uncle Bo's accommodated well to about 20 of us. I don't know what kind of deal was made, but it seemed like we had an unlimited amount of pupus coming out for just $25 a head. For those that can't eat that much it's expensive but for those that can eat a lot its well worth it!
(5)
Cheryl E.
After reading other reviews for this restaurant, my curiosity and appetite were whetted. I have to say that the reviews were spot on! Our waitress was efficient, polite and beautiful to boot. [I am a grandmother, so don't get the wrong idea you guys] We took my 90 yr. old mom, and her sisters 87, 85. They LOVED the food and raved about it dish after dish. The ahi appetizer and the Thai clams are excellent. Flavor were multi-layered and clean. The clams definitely deserve 5 stars. Also deserving 5 stars is the Kailua Pig fried rice ,which is another of their signature dishes. Although it contains a lot of ingredients, it is not just a hodge podge of leftovers thrown together. The flavor was excellent and the spinach definitely put a different spin on the fried rice. The waitresses and staff in general are 5 star folks. Kudos to you all! I did not give 5 stars as an overall, as the broiled sea bass, which was nicely done, was served with some fairly mediocore blanched veggies that were fairly raw. the sauce was a bit floury and pasty in the finish. my suggestion would be to broil the veggies as well and serve the sauce on the side and not drown the dish in it. That said, I loved the atmosphere and found the food exciting. I will be bringing folks from the mainland here [and we get lots of company]
(4)
Cynthia W.
This was my first time here and I loved everything! The menu all looked yummy, drinks were very reasonable priced and yummy! I had the Perfect 6 and it was delish...it was just right. We had the Thai Style steam clams and that was delish. It is definitely something I will go back time after time when I go visit my bf in Honolulu! Everything is affordable and the selections are great!
(5)
Toan D.
Good food not great. Dishes tend to be on the sweet side.The service is consistenlt friendly and very effecient. Hip-young crowd. Exciting and fun addition to the neighborhood of Kapahulu.
(4)
Jayme N.
Likes: Thai style clams, Kalua nachos. Dislike: baby-back ribs The ambiance is great and the food is reasonable. We also had the spicy tuna wrapped in Korean nori - it was good but would've been better if they gave the whole piece of nori instead of cutting it in half. The ribs were a disappointment but the rest of the meal covered for it.
(4)
Vincent Q.
After weeks of anticipation and various comments made me excited, I was finally going to Uncle Bo's! This time we had twelve people eating, but after our experience here, I might be hard to get that many ever again. Although this is a pupu place, and I had anticipated having a table of pupus, our party ended up with plates for themselves, so I didn't get to try as much food as I had wanted--it wasn't the same family group I usually eat with--share-and-share alike (but that's our bad). Spinach Artichoke Crab Dip (with Won Ton chips)- 3 1/2 stars- Definitely tastes like what it is. I've had spinach artichoke dip from many places, and it seems to be a staple for both restaurants and eaters, as even I have made a batch for myself at home. The addition of crab didn't take this dish anywhere new or exciting for me. I will compliment the price, which puts it well in range of other dips without crab. The won ton chips act as a weird scoop, cracking under the weight of the thick dip; but so does regular chips. I suggest trying something unique instead. Uncle Bo's Dynamite Shrimp- 4 1/2 stars- This was very good. The creamy sauce was not totally mayonnaise, and had a lighter flavor. The spice was hot enough to make me feel a tinge of sweat, which was a delightful surprise. This is one dish well-chosen. You probably don't even need the shrimp in there. Thai-Style Steamer Clams- 4 stars- Another good plate. I did expect more, because of the hurrays my friends would spout. The clams have a sauteed tomato seemingly cooked in a separate pan, because I could taste wine. The base sauce was so good they were using bread to soak it up. Filet Mignon- 2 stars- My friend didn't even eat half of this, and she said it was better before. I ate it, with the splash of blood, and it tasted like meat, lightly seared. As she stated--her garlic mashed potatoes, like the one I got, had no flavor of garlic. Indo-Lobster with stuffed Crab in parmesan crust- 2 1/2 stars- Since I wasn't going to eat everything, I decided to get one of the expensive items on the menu. At this point, I didn't even want to eat my food. I let the chef on my right have a taste, and she said it tasted like nothing--that made me very excited. -__- I eventually ate, and it was lobster. The stuffed crab was tasty, but with the dark, cave lighting, I couldn't even see what I was doing as the shape of lobster tail is ridges--they should serve it with a spoon. As I'm not totally a fan of lobster, I always hope someone will do something to amp it up, and make it worthwhile. Not so here. It was like digging in a dark cave. Atmosphere- A very interesting look. The hanging chains was reminiscent of a dungeon, which I actually like; I did keep walking into them though. We had a table in the back--a majority of which is decently lit. Yet, we were placed on a corner table away from all light, I could barely read my menu; at this point, I found out about the Flashlight App new phones have. The lack of lighting made it hard to order, eat, and enjoy the company of my friends. There needs to be some lighting compensation here--a lamp or chandelier or something! Also, they have large screen televisions, and music which is mostly trendy, top-40, and not played too loud. Service- Oh, the bad part. 15-minutes after being seated, the entire back of the restaurant is empty--so it is only our party alone. The waitress forgot to take the order from one person--we were celebrating for this person tonight, which only made being forgotten that much worse. One of us had to get the waitress to come back. I sat between a chef and a previous waitress, so discussions bounced almost into an argument about service from both perspectives. The chef got her drink late; everyone else had mixed drinks, and she only had a beer, which took several minutes longer to arrive. One in our party, rudely yes, stated, "There's our bread!," as it arrived after our meals were already on the table. Personally, I thought we ordered the bread with some other pupu; but I hear it generally comes before the meals. We were only visited about two times; after receiving bags for our food, the waitress didn't return for a long time, and we were going to send someone to find her for our receipt. Yet, she was nice, smiling, and very accommodating. Conclusion- I lost my appetite roughly ten-minutes after arriving. The darkness is insufferable--yes, other parts are dark, but my closest light source was track-lighting twenty-feet away. I actually wish I had my LED book light, because I would have used it. And honestly, I'm the one usually tsk-tsking people about being rude, but here, it didn't seem to matter. The food came rather quickly, but about half the meals received negative reactions. The whole confusion with our service was also disappointing. I had actually looked forward to eating here for months! I have yet to give one-star anywhere, but this is pretty close. If I could, I would give it 1 1/2 stars. 8.(
(2)
Kenny F.
Walking the cross walk I scrutinize the sign for "Uncle Bo's"--not impressed so far. As I make my way towards the restaurant I notice the building seems pretty old and tarnished like my grandmothers Hawaiian home, but then...as you get close you start to see the light fixtures on the other side of the window--modern, unique--the dimly lit restaurant from the inside seems like a diamond in a rough. Once you walk into Uncle Bo's, music streams into your ears and you notice that every worry you thought of this place from the outside has completely vanished. One of my many biggest request is, if I go out to a nice dinner with close friends we need to eat in an ambient environment that makes me feel like I am in a new spectrum of life. Uncle Bo's pupu menu is by-far one of the BEST pupu menu's I've had here on the island. Their crab cakes are made from fresh crab (the best I've ever had), their oyster shooters are slurppy GOOD, and their calamari (Advice: Ask for the sauce on the side) is delicious. Their bartenders are amazing and the waiters can come up with drink suggestions on the spot. They even made a special request drink per me using basil--it was out of this world. The only complaint I have about Uncle Bo's is: DO NOT eat their escargot...it is nothing but a small piece of snail with 10 times the amount of cheese. Basically you're eating cheese. GREAT PLACE, BEAUTIFUL ENVIRONMENT & Well, if you like alcohol go to Uncle Bo's. When i got my bill 3/4 of it was liquor. :/
(4)
Joe F.
Really like the food here, just the service I can't tolerate. Last 4 visits: 1 - After a nice meal and some good wine, my credit card was lost by the waitress, after she had ran it to pay the tab, and she was just sure that it was my fault. She later found it. 2 - Seated and then ignored for close to 20 minutes. No menu, no 'we'll be right with you', nothing. On a night the place was only 2/3 full. 3 - Seated, drinks, ordered 4 appetizers and a salad. After 2 app's we were presented with the check, and asked if 'we were sure' we didn't get the rest. 4 - Service was from a waitress clearly not happy we were there. Plates basically dropped on the table, drinks cleared before finished, not asked for refills, etc. Again, let me stress that I really do like the food here, nothing bad to say about that. I am in the industry, and have friends who work there. But I won't be going back.
(2)
Menyian W.
This is my second time here. The first time was great. This time I have a party of approximately 15. We have been seated at the most ghetto uneven uncomfortable so called lounge area. We actually had a reservation. We've had to ask for everything from water to silverware. When we asked about it, no one seemed interested including Bo. Also, it was very obviously my friends bday. We had been there for hours against the wall when we see the staff and owner give a happy bday song and shot to some guy across the room. We had to request if that could be done since this was obviously a bday celebration that they weren't going to acknowledge. And by the way, the first time I went was very obviously my bday and no one did anything for me. I assumed they just didn't do that kind of thing there until I saw them this day do it for someone else. I'm so disappointed and will never return here...
(1)
Chris E.
We recently had the great experience of attending Uncle Bo's. Get there early or make reservations cause it gets busy. The drink specials were very creative, using cucumber, mint, and Ginger for refreshing concoctions. Choose from several pupu's and you have a great experience with friends or a date. We got the seafood soup/stew/? and the flavor was to die for, all were flavorful & tasty. We went back later in the week and ordered the same meal. Casual yet sophisticated, highly recommended!
(5)
Matthew L.
Almost like a jack of all trades, the master of none. This is a nice little hip place and good choice to bring people from the mainland. Too bad they dont have drink and pupu specials because the pupus are good (kalua pig nachos and dynamite shrimp and my favorites). They have alot things on the menu like pizza, steak, prime rib, fish, pasta, and curry (I joke around with friends telling them to order curry with fries). I tried to order butterfish and they didn't have it, and I ran into that problem before. My favorite is the fish, the Opah or Opakapaka.
(4)
Doris D.
The most hype, the most let down. The food is so terrible I am embrassed to have spent money on this place. Had the calamari but was completely soaked in the sauce, killing the crisp. The fish was terrible, rice is awful. So disappointed with the atmosphere too, not warm, not inviting, just kind of empty and sad.
(1)
Melanie G.
We drove by this place a few times before deciding to give it a try. it was a thursday i believe, and the wait was "more than" half an hour. we decided to make reservations for the following night instead. So the next night, our reservations were for 830 and it was crowded. the place is bigger than it looks, the building goes way back. The decor is hip and colorful, as well as the clientele. For a party of 4 we ordered 5 pupus to share, which were all delicious and well-proportioned. My favorites were the kalua pig fried rice and the dynamite shrimp. We also ordered a greek salad, chicken wings, and the tofu dip, which were all good too. We left absolutely stuffed and satisfied!
(4)
Andrea H.
I have to start by saying WOW! My cousin suggested that we meet for dinner at Uncle Bo's. We called ahead and tried to make reservations, but they were booked that night and only seating walk-ins when tables became available. We decided to go anyways and wait. When we got there, the place was packed. We had a large party and I was starting to feel that waiting may not have been the best idea to choose this place. After only about 20 minutes the hostess was able to clear off and rearrange some tables to accommodate us. I cannot re-iterate how packed they were that night, so just being seated was really started the experience out right. When we were seated our server was prompt and got our drinks ordered and out to us quickly. We decided to order lots of pupus and eat family style. Everything we had was good, but my top three were: #1- the Seafood Trap. It is served in a dish shaped like a clam shell with french bread on the side. I really enjoyed dipping the bread into the broth, I really couldn't get enough. #2- Seafood dip- this was a warm creamy dip with large chunks of seafood (kinda comparable to artichoke dip, but way better). #3- Boca- Rota. If you like meat and cheese you'll love this. It is a cheesy, buttery, garlic-y bread topped with small chunks or tender prime rib. I was very pleased with the service, Bo himself came over to check on our party. Amazing food.
(5)
A. M.
Friendly staff, good food, and a wide variety of locals to hang with. I had already eaten when we got here, which is really too bad. I ordered the fried ice cream, which was delicious. Alas, my eyes were too big for my stomach. Parking was a serious issue. We ended up making quite a hike to the car. If you vacation in Oahu, get off the beaten path and try this place!
(4)
Cinsational C.
I really like this place! I like this place for several reasons. 1. Great customer service. -kind and friendly employees -complimentary birthday drink -food arrives quick 2. Fun & Clean atmosphere 3. GREAT FOOD! 4. Reasonable pricing on food and drinks! (downfall: i hate the parking situation! boo! )
(5)
Brandi C.
All I can say about the food is YUMMY! We and I mean 8 hungry girls went to bask in the glory of: Dynamite Shrimp, Boca-Rota, Fish Tacos, Steamed Opakapaka, Pepperoni Pizza, Fried Rice, Sweet Potato Fries, Sesame Chicken Salad, and DRINKS. Okay, I'm very finicky when it comes to flavor & food. Uncle Bo's did not disappoint. It was oh so good. I kept asking my girlfriends "Is it me or is this food effing fabulous?" We all agreed that the food was beyond what we expected. Very tasty and reasonable prices. The atmosphere: Loud Bar Lounge in the front, and a more Quiet restaurant style in the back room. What I found funny was when I walked in I saw a kid who was maybe 4 or 5 years old who was dancing and laughing (this was about 930pm), I hope it was just because of the excellent fruit punch. It was a little odd to see a child in there, but I guess that's how they roll. All in all, I was impressed with the food. Our waitress was average and did her job. We all put in about $35.00 for the bill. Worth every penny to me...will definitely go there again.
(5)
EV L.
So much as already been said about this venue so I'll just get down to the nitty gritty.. lol ENVIRONMENT: It looks like a hole-in-the-wall joint from the outside, but it's got a pretty nice indoors ambiance to it. The lounge/bar area has comfortable seating along with flat screen televisions. This place gets pretty packed by 7pm, so it's always good to go early or make reservations. I suggest going early (pau hana) because parking can be a pain -- street parking or paid parking across the street ($4-$5 evening rate). FOOD: My favorites are the Thai Style Steamed Clams (yummmy oustanding sauce!!!), the Dynamite Shrimp (it's 'ok'..reminds me of honey walnut shrimp), Calamari (it's typical, but it's tasty!!), and Spinach Artichoke Crab Dip with Won Ton Chips (I like how it's just served with Won Ton Chips other than regular nachos chips!). There are special drink specials for $5 to $7. So far, I haven't tasted one nasty drink yet except for the Mango Mojito, which did not have any taste what-so-ever. Martinis are always good. STAFF: I've never had any issues with the staff here. From hostesses, to servers, to waiters/waitresses, to bartenders... they've all been friendly and knowledgeable about their food and drinks. This place is a MUST-GO for little gatherings and pau hana! :)
(4)
Kris O.
i heart Uncle Bo & Ho Suk, always try to accommodate me and my guests, even when it's crowded. Boca Rota is my favorite thing to eat there, and the dynamite shrimp is good too. thanks guys for always coming through!! i've never been disappointed yet.
(5)
Jay M.
Our group barely waited for our seat- but they gave us free drinks and free appetizers to apologize anyway. They get 5 stars for the tasty food and wonderful service. Every dish I tasted was delicious, so it's tough to pic a favorite.
(5)
Garrick F.
Okay, outside this spot looks like a craphole, but inside, wow, its kinda fancy pants lookin without the fancy pants attitude, I can dig it. So here's what we ordered: Clams: d-d-d-d-daaaymmnn. so good. if we had an extra straw at the table, I'm sure the juice from the clams would have been consumed that way, but alas, we didn't, so instead we took turns scooping up the juice with our spoons; not quite as efficient, but it was just as tasty. Calamari: this was pretty good too, but not d-d-d-d-dayayymm good as the clams Big Bo's Nacho's: I'm a big fan of all kinds of nachos, but this has got to be one of my favorites ever. Why have I never had kalua pig on nachos before? This was straight ingenious. It was like a Mexican was fighting a Hawaiian on my tongue. Baby back ribs: they was some tender, tender lovin' I think we might have had something else too, but my Hawaiian trip was so stuffed full of food that I'm having some trouble remembering now. But anyways, you can call me incestuous cuz I think I'm in love with Uncle Bo's!
(5)
Kelly M.
I do love this place which is saying a lot considering my first experience there....please read on. I first went there with a HUGE group of friends. We arrived early, no issues with reservations. We were so excited to order the CHEFS SPECIAL !!! For a mere $25 per person, the chef would select pupu's and send them out til we say stop! HOLY CROW! AWESOME! Naturally we all about killed each other over the first two platters that were sent out but soon enough we were showered with delicious yummy-ness and all manner of pupu to sample. A foodie's dream fo sho'. So what went wrong? Our beautiful, yet deceiving, waitress...We all ordered the special except for one person who came late. When the check arrived, it was about $100 more than we expected. Since there was 20 of us we figured we miscalculated and those 4 of us remaining chipped in to cover the difference. The next day, my friend was still troubled over the issue and after talking about it, we realized that the waitress charged us $25 for ever person at the table even the one that came late with her 3 children including 1 INFANT. (yeah, she charged us for the infant who had a BOTTLE). So my friend called and talked to Bo personally and explained what happened. He Apologized and IMMEDIATELY sent her a gift certificate for $100. 3 of the 4 of us went back last night and had an amazing dinner! The food was fantastic again, I seriously love the cajun seared ahi, boca rota and opah mauna kea (spicy!). Sooo wonderful. 5 stars for food alone, but 10 stars for the wonderful owner.
(5)
sky i.
Uncle Bo's menu is like a good CD, there were mostly hits but there were a couple of misses too. But one thing is certain, if you're looking to plan large parties of 10-30, Uncle Bo's is a wonderful alternative. One of the reasons, aside from the mostly delicious menu, is their ALL-YOU-CAN-EAT $25 appetizer special for groups of 10 or more. One can choose 8 different appetizers from their menu or go with 'chef's choice' and allow the cook to choose the dishes for you. For $10 more per person, you can add some entree selections along with dessert. However, it is generally recommended that you choose the 'chef's special' as they will only select their most popular dishes. The food that our party of 20 ate: Meat Lover's Pizza Crispy Pot Stickers Steamed Shrimp Shumai Spinach Artichoke Dip with Nachos Thai Style Steamer Clams Uncle Bo's Dynamite Shrimp (everyone's favorite) Clam Chowder (another popular dish among our party) Sweet Chili Calamari Sauteed Sea Scallop wrapped with Bacon Ahi Poke Escargot Sauteed Sea Scallops Baby Back Ribs (our least favorite dish) Warm Fudge Brownie w/ vanilla ice cream Also had as entrees: Shrimp Scampi Grilled Salmon Garlic Ribeye Steak Universally liked among our group: Clam chowder. Rich and creamy with generous chunks of clam. Uncle Bo's Dynamite Shrimp. Aptly named cuz it was DYNOMITE! Generally disliked by everyone: Baby Back Ribs. Way under seasoned and bland. Sauteed Sea Scallops was another unpopular choice as it had a weird, mushy texture. Pleasant atmosphere, attentive servers, mostly good food, and the all-you-can-eat specials make for a wonderful experience for large parties.
(4)
Ramsey S.
Visited this place while on vacation to check out a local joint. The food is excellent, you can really get a variety of things and all were done well. The service is excellent. The atmosphere was positive. Will visit again!!!
(5)
Nick Y.
I understand fusion, but Uncle Bo's is more like confusion. It's like The Jersey Shore meets Tokyo Drift. It's like Rufio from Hook and Shredder from TMNT started an interior design firm, and this was their very first account. It's like your divorced, Ed Hardy-wearing uncle's midlife crisis. I wish that the whole place were as avuncular as the name and the exterior suggest. I love few things more than a familial dive that serves surprisingly amazing, chef-y food. Uncle Bo, however, confuses me because, somehow, the huge menu isn't very diverse (how many parmesan/panko-crusted, or dynamite dishes do you need, really?), and not one part of the concept matches with the other. Uncle Bo's isn't terrible (at least what we ordered), it's just confusing. I guess even with a something-for-everyone type of menu, you can't please everyone.
(3)
Jennifer A.
To be honest, I wasn't that impressed. The decor was nice as was the service. And it sure was crowded on a Friday night. We shared a few pupus, ribs with maui onion, clams with thai coconut sauce, chicken wings, fries... I also had a mango cocktail that did taste like a fresh mango. The ribs were okay, very soft and tender which I liked, but a little bit flat tasting to me. I liked the clams, they were sweet and they seem to be popular. I saw them featured in the magazine articles posted by the bathroom. I liked the grilled factor on the wings, but I wish they were grilled a bit more on the skin. Parking was terrible unless you want to pay across the street. I don't know if I would go back, it was ok.
(3)
Trisha A.
It's been 6 months since I was at Uncle Bo's and I still have impure thoughts about Bo's Big Nachos! My husband and I came to just eat a sampling of various pupus and on the whole, the food was very yummy. Bo's Big Nachos: the kahlua pork was tender, delicious, and full of flavor. I would have had these daily. Baby Back Ribs: they were OK. They were tender, but nothing incredible. I probably would not get them again, although we did appreciate them at the time. My husband loved the various seafood dishes he got like the ahi poke. He was not a fan of the escargot because he felt there was too much cheese that overpowered the snails. I'd probably rate the food as a 4, but the attentive service and prompt food delivery surely is worth a bonus star!
(5)
Dane G.
I'd give a five stars for the food. but a 2.5 for the furniture. The food was definitely good, had the chinese style opaka. drinks are also good. i was a little embarassed for them when they brought out a folding beige striped costco chair for one of my dinner mates. and the chairs are not that comfortable. parking wasn't too bad was a weeknight.
(4)
Chris F.
Bomb food
(4)
Jennifer D.
My classmate Ho Suk Lee always surprises and delights me with new off-the-menu creations. That being said, I can never get enough of the tried-and-true Hamachi and Spicy Tuna appetizers.
(4)
George R.
Great place for dinner and or drinks. Very good food... Recommend seared cajun ahi filet mignon, dynomite shrimp! Good for a date or dinner and drinks with friends.
(4)
Steve M.
Wow, this place was outstanding. We walked from downtown Waikiki that included a near death experience crossing the highway near the restaurant. My advice drive. The atmosphere was excellent for a small group of 4 to talk while enjoying dinner and drinks. Across the 4 of us we heavily sampled the menu and found nothing less than outstanding.
(5)
Austin T.
FIVE star local Chef working hard. We hold back a star for the hard surface decor making the place very loud. If your on Waikiki and enjoy real food stop at Uncle Bo's
(4)
johnny O.
Fun place, nice prime rib, great bar scene. Will be back for sure.
(4)
Robbin N.
Was looking for something tasty and affordable so I checked yelp on my iphone and Uncle Bo's is what stood out. I must say from the outside the place looks nothing like the inside. At first I thought we were walking into a tiny little cheap diner but as soon as i walked in I was consumed with warm energy and great vibe and a hip bar with hot waitresses. This place is actually alive and kicking. Great food, fun people, friendly staff and beautiful waitresses. The food is excellent and would definetely recommend it. Me being out of town really wanted to try something Hawaiian. This place hits the spot and would come back for sure.
(5)
Jessie H.
The clams! Oh man, the clams. SO. GOOD. get extra bread so you can dip it into the bowl to soak up all of the awesomeness. We followed other reviewers and ordered the dynamite shrimp as well. It was, ok? there was nothing wrong with it, but it wasn't that amazing. i ordered the opah (LOVE opah), but in my opinion, it was way too salty. Opah is amazing, especially when simply grilled. Uncle Bo's did a great job of cooking the fish, but it was unnecessarily smothered with cheese and other sauce that just overwhelmed the delicate flavor of the fish. And it was WAY too salty. I had to scrape off all the extra stuff just so I could actually finish my fish. Portions are generous. I had my leftovers for bfast AND lunch the next day. **note** parking is across the street in a lot. and it's NOT free. they
(4)
Kaiulani K.
What can I say that hasn't already been said about Uncle Bo's? Good food, odd ambiance, and helpful/strange waitresses. I was skeptical at first, but was quickly made a believer! Although the sports bar & grill feel is more than a little awkward, the food (at least what we ordered) is fantastic. At first I was a little uncomfortable because the entire staff was watching us and giving us odd looks, so I actually intended to hate the place and write a scathing review about them. Couldn't happen. As soon as the first piece of fresh baked bread appeared, my mind began to change. They have the best house-baked bread I've had in a while. Despite the fact that it was smashed and it was one medium-sized roll versus an actual breadbasket, it was delicious. We ordered the ribs as an appetizer. If you're expecting bbq, don't. They weren't smokey, and I'm not sure how they were prepared, but they tasted more like spare rib soup meat than what you'd normally think of ribs. They were topped in a chopped garlic/onion/pepper concoction and it was delicious, incredibly tender (the bone broke with hardly any pressure), and different. I ordered the shellfish pasta: Scrumptious! packed with seafood. Clams, scallops, shrimp, fish in a slightly creamy tomato sauce. It was the best I've had. Better than my former favorite Auntie Pasto's. My mom got fish, I completely forget what type. Opah? Anyway, it was lightly crusted, incredibly flavorful, and came with delicious vegetables! I guess for that dish you could order whichever type of starch you like, so she got penne with a tomato sauce. A very different combo, but still very tasty. Her dish was light and yummy. And BIG! Both our servings were large. She finished hers, I took a little less than half of mine home. The waitress we had was very helpful, but the hostess kept looking at me. I don't know if I had a giant mustard stain on my face or if I'm secretly a celebrity, but the initial (and continuing) awkward stares from the hostess and waitresses didn't overshadow the amazing food. I'll be back again (SOON) and hopefully I don't attract so much attention this time.
(4)
Danielle Y.
I have a serious love affair with the lemongrasstini. It is smooth and a little spicy and exceptionally yummy. I keep promising that I'll try another drink, but after 10 or so visits I haven't managed it yet. I really enjoy the atmosphere. To me it seems very "Upscale" Hawaii. It's a little casual, a little trendy, and the food has a lot of mayo on it! I've had mixed experiences with the food, but its never been egregious enough to keep me from returning. I've had generally good experiences with the dynamite shrimp (baked mayo! so strange! and yet so tasty!) and the spinach dip. The fish dishes are also quite tasty, but if you are a little wary of the mayo, be sure to ask if it comes on the fish (they'll make it without it!).
(4)
Chris O.
Uncle Bo's is one of many restaurants on Kapahulu. Luckily, they are located directly across from a private parking lot ($5 all night) which is extremely convenient. From the outside and given it's name, you may assume it's a pretty mellow place with a basic interior. But as you walk in. you'll be welcomed with an modern upbeat look. Onto the menu, there were a lot to choose from and I opted for their Prime Rib, medium rare of course. For $22, the cut was generous and it came with a side of veggies and your choice of garlic mash, fries, etc. I am glad to say that they did NOT over cook it, it was a perfect medium rare. I'm happy that my party scheduled an early dinner on Friday night because once we left at around 9pm, Uncle Bo's was PACKED! Uncle Bo's is "A-OK" so far and hope to return to try more things.
(3)
Kate J.
Love this place! It really is as good as it gets! The vibe inside is very cool. Great food, awesome atmosphere, and fun people. The pupus are delicious and come to your table quickly. My favorites are the Dynamite Shrimp and the Thai Steamer Clams. A reservation on the weekend is a must. But if you go early enough in the evening you may be lucky enough to snag a seat at the bar.
(5)
Valerie N.
This place defines "don't judge a book by it's cover". We wouldn't have given this place a second look if not for the high recommendations from some locals. Our eyes are much bigger than our tummies bc we ordered like we've never eaten before. But when are we going to have a chance to come back to try the million of options on the menu? Dynamite shrimp: tempura shrimp with a spicy aoli. Good but not as bomb as everyone else made it sound. Crab cakes: 2 gigantic cakes made with real crab. Yummy! Boca-rata: sooo heffer status!! It's delish but how can you go wrong with prime rib, cheesy bread and more cheese? Thai style steamed clams: very good. Sauce is yummy dipped with bread. Waitress was your average friendly. Overall, not disappointed by all the hype but I'm not dying to rush back to stuff my face again either.
(3)
Julia H.
LOVE their Clams! Its so tasty and juicy, I even ask for more bread to clean out the sauce (gross, i know!)
(5)
Clam J.
super good food usually packed so you know its good!!!
(4)
Maxine M.
Yum, yum, yum. This place has great decor and comfortable seating. Couldn't decide what to wear coming here. Depends on the time of day and company you come with I suppose. The food is always good and the staff is warm and inviting. Don't let the outside fool you, it looks like a whole in the wall kind of place from the outside. A whole other story on from the inside. I like the mood of the place minus the stuck up snooty people that usually come along with it. It's down to earth and very chill with a full bar and yummy food in decent portions for the money. Would suggest making reservations if you are coming with a group or on a Friday or Saturday night. Parking is not usually a problem, but the wait can be annoying otherwise.
(4)
Joey H.
I ordered the Chicken Parmesan which looked mouth-watering and the type of dish that everyone wants to glance over and say "What's that!!!" After the temperature of the food went from fresh to room temp, it started to lose it's value. I didn't want to keep eating, so I just ate the rest of the chicken...and cheese, and tried to enjoy the meal. I put it in a box and gave it to my brother, who for some reason thought it was good. bleh. It's probably because he didn't eat it from the beginning. If I didn't like my food, why 3-stars? The Clams and sauce is AWESOME! You only receive maybe like 8 clams, but the sauce was drooly-goodness. OMG status. ughhh. I could taste it in my mouth right now! Btw, this dinner was on my birthday. July Fizzle!
(3)
Dutchess K.
Uncle Bo's = Uncle No's. I was forewarned that the outside of the restaurant looked a little shady yada yada yada, we've all gotten the spiel. The outside doesn't look shady; it just looks like Moe's Southwest Grill. The interior is what you would get if a sports bar, a lo-fi gym and Marquee Night Club had a baby. There is a really spectacular Lisa Frank-esque wall mural of two fish right when you walk in that will love if you love Lisa Frank as much as I do. It was pretty crowded with mostly a younger demographic. While the menu is extensive and offers many a pupu, it is rife with grammatical and spelling errors such as "fetta" cheese. I wouldn't really care if the food was bangin' but.....notsomuch. Everything I ordered seemed to have an excess of some unidentifiable Bo's creamy mayonnaise sauce. The vegetable side seemed 2 reminiscent of frozen veggies 4 com4t. The one thing we ordered that was actually pretty good was the shrimp walnut lettuce wraps. I also will give props to the bar for making a smooth Lemon Grass Martini. In summation, if you are looking for a place for bar/finger foods/the Moe's Southwest Grill of Hawaii, you'll probably be very satisfied with Uncle B's. They have really nice servers and a chill vibe. I was disappointed because I had been misled by a review to believe that there was some sort of inventive culinary orgy going down in the kitchen there, and this just wasn't happening.
(3)
Bobbie W.
I've been to this restaurant several times and with the exception of my first experience (when they first opened), had an exceptional dining experience. When we go, we like to stick to the pupu menu and eat family style. My fav items would have to be the hamachi carpaccio and clams! Fun environment to get together with friends and share a bottle or two of wine!
(4)
Erin S.
First and only downfall: parking. There is basically none. Had to pay to park in the lot across the street. Now, once inside, we were attended to right away. I loved the ambiance and atmosphere of Uncle Bo's. We were seated in the back corridor and I appreciated the lovely paintings surrounding us. Too bad they were 5k to purchase. Our server helped us right away. She was very friendly and attentive. My husband ordered the Cajun Ahi appetizer and he loved it. I don't care for ahi, but the sauce on the side was amazing with my bread! We both ordered pasta and it was good. This was a good dining experience for both my husband and myself - we would go back again if we lived a little closer. On the way out, I again really appreciated the atmosphere - it is just exquisite.
(4)
Maude L.
Didn't like the food at all. Got the dynamite shrimp, pork skewers and cajun ahi. Only the cajun ahi was okay. The dynamite shrimp was basically shrimp in seasoned mayo, the pork skewers were rather flavorless. I'm the type that always finishes food or takes it home, and I had no desire to do either with the shrimp or the pork. While the food gets only one star, the reasonably priced drinks and niceness of the place (decor and service) get a star. I'd say it's a 3-4 star bar, but a 1-2 star restaurant.
(2)
Murray B.
After going different times with friends, here are some of my impressions -good pupus overall!; the ahi poke, the spicy tuna wraps and the cajun seared ahi with honey glaze were the favorites; the ribs were just OK -interior has a modern feel to it but still seems inviting -extensive wine list with 50+ (nope, that's not a typo) selections spanning the globe; if bubbles are your thing, champagnes are available -while valet parking is an option, finding parking nearby wasn't a problem I like the versatility of the place, the cool atmosphere and the service was attentive. Good place to share pupus, have cocktails or just drop by and relax with a beer while watching hoops or whatever is on the flatscreen tvs behind the bar.
(4)
Debi S.
This restaurant is wonderful!! My associate and his wife took me there after work one night. The food was fabulous, the cocktails great and the service was first rate! For appetizers we had clams and the pork nachos. For dinner I had the fish tacos - so wonderful! Their desserts are to die for. Bottom line...GO THERE!!!
(5)
Matt V.
very tasty food all around. We had a BUNCH of pupus...most notable were the dynamite shrimp, although I was expecting lightly fried with a tangy sause...they were fried, covered in mayo and spicy sauce. That being said they rocked, I just couldn't eat too many of them because they were very rich. Spinach salad was nom nom too Spaghetti with seafood very tasty Service was friendly and attentive
(5)
G. K.
Uncle Bo's was delicious! Great place to go with friends or ohanas. My favorite pupus were the Spicy Tuna Wrap with Korean nori, the Seafood Ceviche and the Thai-style steamer clams. Also, UNCLE BO'S SEAFOOD CATCH was an incredible pasta dish! Mahalo!
(5)
Trey D.
Great pupus, great atmosphere, great drinks. Just watch out for the crowds, the place is usually quite busy on weekends, and they do not take reservations, so get there early! Shrimp dynamite a must.
(5)
Christopher K.
Great hang out for dinner. Energetic atmosphere and great service. We started with a lemongrass martini and beer. Stella on draught hit the spot after surfing. The Thai style steamers came next. There is oystervsauceand something sweet in the broth...maybe honey. It worked well with the slight heat. Also tried the ahi poke and kaluha pig fried rice. Both are delicious. The smoke of the pig is perfect and the ahi sauce has that Polynesian twist. $16 cab ride there and back from Waikiki Beach was well worth it for the local flavor. Plan a casual dinner there any night....you won't be disappointed.
(4)
Betty P.
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOH, yummy in my tummy! I love Uncle Bo's pupu Bar and Grill!!! Even if its an hour wait! Came to Hawaii and this place is a must VISIT! The last time I was here - 3 years ago with my cousin. The food was de-li-ci-ious!!!!! We order like 5 items on their menu! I'm not very fond of their dynamite shrimp but everyone else I had was pretty darn good! Btw, DO NOT, I REPEAT, DO NOT order the JJ Bakeries Dessert! That thing is horrible. We actually went to the Bakery itself and boy was I disappointed! So instead, my friends and I got the brownie ala mode! It was a nice way to top off my meal!
(4)
Jerome L.
As noted in a previous review, I had visited Uncle Bo's on my last visit (a year ago) and the place was fantastic, with great service, very good food and extremely large portions. Well, I went back this year, not once but twice while in Honolulu during the month of July. Wouldn't you know it, Uncle Bo's was even better than before. We had a waitress named Jacqueline who really made us feel special with her outstanding service. She really knew the menu and pointed out things that she felt would fit our taste. The first time we went, I had Uncle Bo's ribs and the Thai chicken wings with a side salad that was huge. My wife had a new item called "Boca Rota" which she really enjoyed. Now get this, these were "pupus" and with the shared salad we could not finish it. On the second visit, I had the "Dynamite Shrimp" and my wife had the" Uncle Bo's Nachos." And again, the food was out of this world. Unfortunately, on our second visit Jacqueline was not on duty, but the service was still great. If you are in Honolulu, do yourself a favor, put a visit to Uncle Bo's on your bucket list, it's a must! P.S. If possible get Jacqueline as your server, she is simply great!
(5)
Jirarat S.
If I had written this review about 2 years ago, after the first 2 times I went, I would have given them 2 or 3 stars. I just ate here again last Saturday and I actually enjoyed it. From the other times I came here, I was under the impression that they served small portions for the price and that everything was covered in mayo. I guess it was just what we ordered, which was mostly from the recommendation of my brother. I have since learned not to trust my brother with his food and restaurant picks. So Saturday night I went here with my date around 7:30 and thought we would have to wait for 30-40 minutes. We only ended up waiting for 10 minutes. I let my date pick what we would order since he clearly really wanted to. So we had ahi sashimi, ahi poke (I even questioned his choices of 2 ahi dishes), the opah mauna kea and the filet mignon. The filet was surprisingly good for an entree that was $19. I don't know where else you could get a 7-8 oz filet with sides for less than $35. The opah had this creamy crab crust which I think was mayo based so that made it a little heavier and less appetizing in my opinion. My other complaint is that they put too much onions in the ahi poke. That's just a waste for them since we both didn't eat the onions. I didn't have any drinks or dessert, but maybe next time. As for the general atmosphere and set up, I thought that our table was too close to our neighboring tables. I felt like I had to watch what I was saying 'cause I didn't want others to hear. I also felt like everyone there was dressed to go clubbing or something. Maybe they were, but to me, that place isn't really worth the effort to get all dolled up.
(4)
Lynda N.
This spot definitely had a locals vibe. It's a bit off of the touristy stretch and there were three birthday celebrations while we were there. Yes, THREE! I could see why this would be a popular spot to celebrate a birthday. It has a nice sized bar, lounges towards the front, bar seating for dinner, and more tables in the back area as well as the front. I had the baked opah mauna kea with garlic chili aioli, garlic shrimp, and mashed potatoes. It was delicious! I enjoyed every bite from fish to shrimp. I would definitely order this again, but will ask for the aioli on the side to control how much mayo is slathered on my perfectly healthy piece of baked fish.
(4)
Slade N.
Loved the Spicy Tofu. Great flavor.
(4)
Tanner E.
Awesome food!! The Kalua Pork nachos are the best! I just all around love this place! You really can't go wrong no matter what you order.
(4)
Shannon L.
Thai style steamed clams!!!!! They are so huge, tender, tasty, and the sauce is great to dip the bread into. Everything else was a little overpriced and they also go heavy on the garlic aoili which wipes out the taste of everything else. If you don't mind the walk, park 2 blocks up the street at the Safeway shopping center and then on the way back to the car, stop off at Leonard's malasadas for a great dessert.
(4)
Braden K.
small kine upscale from the town scene. came with family for a little classier grinds, family style, tapas wannabe kine. don't judge this book by its cover. from the outside, you'd believe me if i told you uncle bo sold adult toys. once you get in, everyones dressed properly and the atmosphere is solid. food is good, prices are right, diggin the atmosphere. we ready! try it out, you won't be disappointed. i eat too much and too often, so naturally the portions never filled me up, but when do they ever?
(4)
Michael W.
My family is in Hawaii on vacation and happened upon Uncle Bo's and were very glad we did. It's a bit off the beaten path and doesn't look like much from the outside. However the interior is very nice and the service and the food were outstanding. Our only problem was that we ordered too much. Prices were very reasonable for the quality of the experience. I would highly recommend this restaurant if you're in Honolulu.
(5)
Katrina F.
Wow, someone finally figured it out hah? This location has changed owners so many times! But Uncle Bos has been here for a while and I definitely know why! My boyfriend and I come here about once every two weeks, usually for drinks and pupus. Their dirty martinis are excellent, dynamite shrimp and clams are a must have, and the employees are all super nice, especially the bartenders. I see a lot of the same employees, which means not a lot of turnover, which means a properly run business!! I have ordered off of the dinner menu, but I have actually been pretty disappointed :( Just skip the entrees and get a bunch of apps! Dont forget the dessert...chocolate cake is amazing too! We keep coming back here and I can see why it is so successful. Great service, tasty and not-too-expensive food, and yummy drinks! Great Friday night at Uncle Bos!
(5)
Lilie N.
Oyster shooters! Four for $7! Who beats that??! Clams are delicious... the service is quick, n the scene is a party. It does look like a hole in the wall place fromt he outside, but shocking once you go inside because it's very modern and nice. Love this place! It's just right outside of Waikiki where all the good eats are.
(5)
Jon L.
I finally made it to Uncle Bo's. And I was pretty happy about it. It was a Saturday night, and the crowd was moderate. We did have a friend grab us a table, and the rest of us showed up a half hour fashionably late, so thereby skipping any wait he may have had. Sure he had to endure the awkwardness of sitting at a table for 6 by himself but I heard that strengthens your immune system. Now for srsly, what we ordered: Pizza Ahi salad Dynamite shrimp Some garlic cheese bread with meat cubes..? Pasta Lots of beer All delicious. The food was 3.75/5 - I've seen the same plates elsewhere and the stuff was delicious in a generic way. Service: 4/5 - no complaints Price: 4/5 - on the pricier range of a pupu's bar, on the same token it's comparable to side street inn, which I would consider Uncle Bo's analog. Presentation/ambience: 4/5 - dope. It's a cleaner, 'nicer' side street inn. I'm rounding up on the score, and will definitely suffer through a little more town traffic to get to Uncle Bo's rather than side street inn. update: went back two weeks later for another good experience, so kudos for consistency.
(4)
Dani P.
This is my go to dinner/drinks/girls nite out place!!! Not to mention I cn walk to it :) Parking is kindof hit or miss, (parking lot across the street for $ or metor street parking on kapahulu. Whenever I want a fun dinner date or drinks with girlfriends I always end up going to Uncle Bos! I can never think of another place better to go. Its also a perfect place to 'pre-game' Food is soooooo good too, the opah is bomb. Love it!
(5)
Michael T.
Uncle Bo's has perfected the formula for restaurants/bars. I give it five stars for food, beverage, ambiance, and service. Among the local eat-and-drink places, Uncle Bo's is at the head of the class in all categories. Food: The appetizers are creative (way beyond standard and greasy bar fare), delicious, and reasonably priced, given quantity and quality. Among my favorite appetizers are the Thai-style steamer clams (the chili and garlic sauce is unbelievable), the Cajun seared ahi (the drizzled glaze gives it an extra boost), the boca rota (prime rib, mushrooms and cheese on toast, and oh so decadent), and the shrimp dynamite (the panko "crust" is amazing). No matter how delicious everything is, my absolute favorite so far is the seafood trap, a medley of seafood cooked just right and bathed in a soupy sauce that is laced with garlic and a form of chili (both mild so as not to overpower the seafood). That sauce is so good that my friend G. drinks it like a soup! The only mediocre appetizer I've tasted so far is the tiger-pork kabob -- lean, hence dry; good, but not worth repeating. The salads are sizable and fresh. In particular, I love the warm spinach salad. The prime rib, as an entree, is lean and cooked expertly. The mud pie is a great way to end your meal. Beverages: Boddington pale ale from England! For my taste, the best beer, and they have it! They also have a larger wine selection than expected. Ambiance: Chic decor; colorful and neatly arrayed bottles behind the bar; a nifty room divider that looks like ball bearing strands hanging from the ceiling; and black and white photo posters in the bathroom (male side anyway). Service: This is where Uncle Bo's really separates itself from the pack. The hostesses are cordial, cheerful and creative. The one bartender with whom I interacted (when the creative hostess put my friend G. and me at the bar during a particularly busy night) was straight-up, even honestly informing us that we had ordered one too many appetizers, and he was right. We were stuffed even with our reduced order. The servers are attentive, able to engage in intelligent conversation, and knowledgeable about the food and drinks available on the menu (one server even "researched" the significance of the plastic thing in the Boddington beer can for me!). I've been to too many restaurants and bars where the servers stand around, annoyingly checking their smart phones, while customers desperately try to flag them down even for a simple water refill. Happily, such slothful behavior does not occur at Uncle Bo's! Even the parking situation -- at first, a mild inconvenience -- is no longer a problem or impediment for me. I park in the $4 lot across Kapahulu Avenue, cross at the intersection, and walk a few yards to Uncle Bo's. . . averaging once a week I'd say.
(5)
Lea G.
Always like to try a local joint when I am in a new area and after hearing some friends recommendations, we decided to try out Uncle Bo's for dinner. There was a nice selection of pupus (appetizers). My sis and I were not too hungry so we dined on the pupus: the ahi poke, Thai clams and walnut shrimp wraps. All quite yummy. The guys had entrees: the ribeye steak and crab stuffed lobster. While the lobster was on the small side it was quite flavorful but the real star was the steak. The staff was accommodating. We made reservations at 8:30 and were seated promptly. We would recommend and return.
(4)
Beverly P.
This place was so deceiving! From the outside it looks like a dirty hole-in-the-wall type of restaurant, but it was actually a pretty trendy place! The pupus are AMAZING! We had 2 of the clam bowls and practically all the pupus, which were pretty diverse. We were too full to venture into the actual dinner menu but we're definitely going here again. Also, their drink selection is extensive and their cocktails are creative. Service was excellent and ambiance was soothing.
(5)
Alan C.
This place seemed super popular from the amount of people i saw waiting outside. once in, you must get the THAI STYLE CLAMS! amazing sauce, ive never had anything like it, i couldnt even describe it. I also had the dynamite shrimp which was ok their cocktails were decent. try it out. it seemed like a hip hangout spot.
(3)
George P.
When you need to take out your girlfriend/wife or boyfriend/husband or extended family or have a friend visiting Hawaii, take them here! I have nothing but great things to say about their food, their service, and the overall experience. Yeah, parking is paid across the street, but let me tell you that it's worth it! As far as the food goes, I have two words SEAFOOD TRAP. Sooooo good I could eat it as an entree! Husband had the steamed opakapaka, best opakapaka I've ever had! Run, don't walk to Uncle Bo's!
(5)
Kevin A.
Awesome place for pupus and drinks. If you like to order a variety of pupus for dinner, this is the place. It's right next to Irifune in a cool, modern setting. Dynamite Shrimp was dynamite and the Boca Rota was generous and very good. The Hamachi Sashimi was disappointing, though, and it dragged my rating down to 4 stars.
(4)
Anna K.
I'm a PROUD TOWNIE and an even PROUDER KAPAHULU RESIDENT. Look at all the eateries we have in our area. It's mind blowing how great Kapahulu is.. just saying. Anyways Uncle Bo's is one of the great places in the area. Kapahulu is old and if you were to look at Uncle Bo's, you might not think anything of it. Good food? Cute place? Save your raised eyebrow for something else because the decor is trendy, like the bars in downtown and the food is fantastic, such as the dynamite shrimp, kalua pig nachos, spinach crab dip, escargot, etc. The list of great dishes goes on and on. The alcohol selection is great too, which I am basing on the available beers they have on hand. Uncle Bo's is a cute place to eat if you're on a date with a guy or with your girlfriends. However, there are several downfalls to this place. Since the place is small, the tables situated in the middle of the restaurant are close to each other. The one time I was placed there, my friends Jason and David happened to have dinner there too so we were lucky to have a familiar face sitting that close to us. The parking situation is a little tricky. There are meter stalls around the restaurant and valet parking at the school located next door. There is also a parking lot across the street and spots around the neighborhood so don't fret too much. In addition, sometimes the music gets turned up later in the night so you'll feel like you're in a club and thus, can make it difficult to talk to another person if you're on a date. Thus, go early to find good parking and enjoy a fantastic meal without straining your ear to hear your date.
(4)
Rita D.
Food is great. We went there with another couple. We waited for a while but the food is worthy. We only got the appetizers -- my husband had a seafood one and I had a thailand claims. Both of them are good. We ate them with the bread. They are good for a meal. Love it. The service is great. The waitress is very cute there.
(5)
Kimo S.
My review is based off a recent visit on a Friday night on the food & drinks we had. First off, don't let the outside appearance turn you off... it is much more trendy inside. The main dining/lounge area fills up quickly but the room in the back (where we sat) has more space but is also a little more 'plain' in style. The servers were quick, attentive and knowledgeable about the food & drinks. Big plus. My fiance ordered the Lychee Martini and said it was amazing. There are very few places that make a good Lychee Martini (besides Ryan's) and this is one to try. We ordered: 1. Calamari - amazing, tender pieces (no tendril pieces), great flavoring without having to dunk them in a sauce. The tomatoes helped to balance the flavors out. 2. Crab Cakes - not canned crab, the real deal. You can taste and see the crab meat, it's really a great dish. The sauce is fantastic too, a light sauce with a hint of spice. 3. Bo Nacho's w/ Kalua Pig - Great take on nachos with the won ton chips, not an excessive amount of cheese but just enough with the right amount of Kalua Pig. I actually liked the 'chips' that were on the bottom because they soaked up the sauce. Just a note, the pupu portions are actually really large. We ordered those three dishes with plans to order more except we were stuffed and didn't finish everything. Considering that these dishes cost between $8 - $14 (nachos) it was a steal for the quality and size.
(5)
Jilly H.
I ate the shrimp pizza and it was a little oily I'm assuming because of the delish cheese on there..but the oven baked bread was awesome and I still ate it all. The garlic chesse bread was also delish. My daughter had the Thai Manila clams and requested not to have the Thai spicy sauce in it...it still had alot of flavor without that. We had the hamachi sahimi which was okay. The presentation was cute with the nori sheets on the skewer.
(3)
Lam N.
Food was barely ok... Ambiance was nice... Service was offensive... We ordered 4 appetizers to start...appetizers were served...5 minutes later, waitress asks: are you ready to order a 5th appetizer? Really? Don't you have eyes? We just started on the appetizer... Not even 2 minutes later, waitress asks: would you like another drink? I mean seriously, take a look at the martinis, we haven't had a chance to finish, because you are rushing us on the appetizers... We were so irritated, should have went accross the street to the "side door" To make a long story short, I would skip this place. Nothing special about it. Save yourself some grief, go accross the street. Somehow this place has grown an attitiude among its staff. The food does not merit this attitude. To the mgmt of Uncle Bo's : keep your staff in check. you ruined 1 of my only 5 nights in honolulu. you should be ashamed. --------------------------------------------------Â--------------------------------------------------Â----------- My opinion has not changed since writing this review. However, I would like to share that since this review, an obvious fan of this place has been stalking my other reviews and making lewd comments. It doesn't bother me too much, but I wanted to share.
(1)
Lori M.
Thai mussels are the best!! Great place, very nice. the name is misleading, I think.
(5)
Gspot H.
great soups and hip atmosphere.
(4)
Michelle O.
Took the LA girls here when they came for a visit. Loved the swanky decor w/o the uptight attitude. We were able to get a table w/o reservations on a pretty crowded Thurs PM. Our drinks came quickly and soon after our rib appetizers. In fact, we actually had an additional waiter check in on us btwn delivery of our drinks/appetizer and our meal. I had the chicken piccata which was EXCELLENT! The sauce was perfectly seasoned, the chicken was prepared perfectly and reheating the left overs the next day was just as tasty. Definitely recommend checkin this place out if you've never been. I certainly intend on returning.
(4)
Vera S.
Food is awesome. Get the Boca Rota, Hamachi Sashimi, Dynamite Shrimp. This place won't disappoint.
(5)
Tiffany B.
on a work trip and networking after-all the locals who worked in town just HAD to take us to this place.parking across the street in a dirt lot,I was like "um where are we?!" as we walked in-packed-young hip and vibrant!even the bathrooms are crazy cool where they slammed pictures all over the walls. Sat at the bar but there are private rooms where you can host dinner parties and a lot of room for casual pupus,drinks, and a good time. Service was very personal-even ha the chance to be introduced to the hard working owner himself. Martinis I always enjoy but one thing that popped out is their spicy shrimp! Yummmy!
(5)
Jeraldine O.
Awesome food with excellent customer service Shrimp Dynamite
(5)
Joe S.
Very nice food and Bevvies, the service is great too. I went there the other night and my daughter who is on a special diet came. Uncle Bo made somethiing that wasn't on the menu to keep our Keiki happy. Highly reccomended!
(5)
Chris B.
Best place for eat and drink all nite
(5)
Peggy C.
After reading all the rave reviews, my bf and I decided to come here. The reviews and website made it sound like a trendy place, but really, the exterior and much of the interior was pretty divey. It was crowded, so we ate at the bar. We had a bread basket, which was warm, but seemed like it had been reheated. The portions were huge, but the food was just ok. The butterfish was grilled, I think, and the first half was moist and juicy, but the second half was strangely dry and hard (very strange). The accompanying veggies were standard Western bistro fare--zucchini sliced at an angle.
(2)
Amanda P.
DON'T make the mistake of walking by this gem. Food is great. Local eatery was packed on a Tuesday and rightfully so. Reasonably priced for Hawaii. Dynamite shrimp and any of the Opah dishes are wonderful!
(4)
Tessa t.
yelp 365 challenge #70/365 had to give the another star.... i have been here twice since my last review... sooo f@#$@# good!! prime rib and mashed potatoes! LOVE IT! last night i came here with a few of the girls... they ordered...and ordered everything right! clams...why have i never ordered this? amaZing. boca rota...the best. the meat was so tender and the bread so cheesy! warm spinach salad, holy moly! walnuts and strawberries...my mouth is craving more! dynamite shrimp, couldn't stop eating it! i love this place! i will be here again... rack of lamb is the next on my list to try from here... thank you uncle bo. you make my tummy smile :) service as always is on point. p.s. thank you girls! without you, my mouth wouldn't have experienced such wonderful flavors :D
(4)
Katherine S.
We arrived very late in the evening after a long flight. This place is noisy. As soon as we finished our food and drink I was ready to get the heck out. But, to be fair, it was late at night, I was tired, and the TV's in the restaurant were showing infomercials. I really loved the crab artichoke dip and would love to eat that again.
(3)
Nicole M.
4 Stas for the following reasons: 1. Food is good, had a couple off times where the same dish isn't as good as I remember the last one being, but still tasty. 2. Staff is always nice and honest, if they are behind, they tell you, if the food is back logged they let you know. I like that. 3. They are open late. I ate once at 10 p.m. and had a great meal, well served and made. 4. Atmosphere is distinct and well done. No uncomfy chairs or bech seats, all very nice. 5. Price is great for the food. You figure that the price must cover a mutiptude of expenses and that being said, the price is totally on point. I don't feel like I'm paying too much. 6. FRIED ICE CREAM!
(4)
Tyler D.
What is the hype on this place? I don't get it...I have yet to have anything good there. It isn't terrible, but I just haven't seen one dish that impressed me at all. Okay...I see cute girls there sometimes...I guess that keeps me coming back for drinks on occasion. Everyone tells me this is a great place to bring a date, but I don't see why...like bringing sand to the beach
(2)
Jacob B.
Pretty good. The food was very good, service was just okay. Could improve on refilling drinks, more prompt attention. The quality of the food very much outweighed the service.
(4)
Amanda L.
I've been here before and loved it, but when this tiny place is crowded you can't hear anything! We were sat at a table in the middle so the people standing keep putting their asses near our faces AND their famous dynamite shrimp tastes like macaroni and cheese!!! We're outta here!
(2)
Estella H.
This is a long delayed review from a trip to Hawaii way long ago. This is a long delayed review from a trip to Hawaii way long ago. Felt a little uncertain of this place when I walked in because it it screamed "bar atmosphere" more than yummy pupus, but the food was so good. Thai-style Steamer Clams - really fresh delicious clams. The sauce was so good, although by the end it started feeling kind of too sweet. Dynamite Shrimp - a unique dish and pretty tasty Sea Bass - Broiled w/ garlic citrus-butter, topped w/ lobster dill sauce - yummy sauce and the fish was cooked perfectly...I hate overcooked fish. This seemed like a place that the regulars frequent and I think I saw the owner floating around and checking in on people too.
(4)
Tim V.
This is the best in Hawaii. I had the nachos, boca rota pizza, pork belly and the SOS. Wow this place was awesome. Must try. I'm from Montana, I found on yelp. Was perfect for my birthday.
(5)
Jamie D.
Started with the drinks...all super delicious! Then ahi poke also really good. The steak was cooked perfectly (medium rare). Service was very quick and friendly for how busy it was. The Hobo's for desert were my favorite part.
(5)
Jamieee D.
After reading the reviews I was really excited to go here but I guess I set my expectations too high. Food wasn't all that great as what I had imagined. We chose whatever was said to be the popular items on the menu. It was also recommended to me by a friend to try their seafood dish (see pictures) and it tasted ok. Their Kalua pork fried rice was lacking in taste and it tasted a bit dry. We also had what looked like fried shrimp dynamite but i didn't enjoy the Panko crust they used. It tastes a bit of a mixture of whole wheat bread and Parmesan. You might just wanna try it though. I want to give this place another try and see if there is something else better on the menu that what she had chosen.
(2)
Alex W.
Restaurant was not too busy when we got there around 8 so that was nice considering the hidden gem we found on yelp. We got the garlic shrimp starter. It was amazing and what the restaurant is known for. If you like shrimp def should get it. They are the small shrimps. I got the chicken pesto and the wife got the fish tacos as our main meals. We both really liked our meals.
(5)
Nicole M.
Super cute atmosphere, nice and cozy. Service was great! People were polite. Food was amazing, I got a seafood dish and it was melt in your mouth tender. Food is so tasty!
(5)
Denell G.
The food is amazing here!!! My husband and I shared a pizza and it was more than enough. The service was also good and our food came quickly. I give it 4 stars in that the place was loud to begin with, and I didn't like that the music got louder later in the evening.
(4)
Sheila A.
My boyfriend and I decided to try this place after having this place recommended several times and looking at countless pictures of boca rota on yelp. The setting here is very lounge like and looks like it gets packed pretty fast. So I advise booking in advance or ordering take out which is what we did. Due to the fact everyone raved over the boca rota we decided to get two orders of it. It was delicious to say the least but it has a bit of a spicy kick to it. Certainly understand all the hype over it now
(5)
Amber T.
Uncle Bo's was the place we held our group Christmas party at because of their awesome buffet deal. If you get more then ten people to come, you can have your choice of ten appetizers buffet style! Yummie. So we got this deal and it is quite worth. Basically we just made a ton of orders for the clams lol! But all the appetizers are good. Service was pretty good, along with the nice ambiance inside. Very good place to have a party with a group of people!
(5)
Jeff B.
great atmosphere and great appetizers. Fine selection of spirits as well. Service was fast and friendly. Definitely recommend.
(4)
Kristy N.
We had Yelped restaurants before we came to Hawaii and were so looking forward to trying this place. What a let down! We ate here this evening and are surprised at all the wonderful reviews. The "spicy" dynamite shrimp not only was it not spicy, it really had no flavor. It said it was wok fried so we thought the shrimp would be crispy and it was gooey. We also tried the Boca Rota and the meat was tender but lacked any seasoning. The bread it came with was good and cheesy. The spinach and artichoke dip was just okay. When I inquired about the fish used in the fish tacos, the waitress said "mostly opako" which I thought was unusual. The fish tacos came and the fish was in very small pieces of fish like what you get in fish sticks. Very strange to not get whole pieces of fish. We would not come back to this restaurant.
(2)
Dan F.
I'm sorry but I can't agree with 3 of my yelp friends who reviewed this place and gave them high remarks. The pupu buffet does seemed like a good deal but that's only if you can stomach cheese, cream, cheese & cream, cream & cheese. You also need a party of 10 people willing to go through the journey of extreme richness. About 1/3 of the pupu menu is not included in the buffet such as most of the seafood offerings. What I liked of the meal was the Kalua Pig Fried Rice, Thai-Steamer Clams, Dynamite Shrimp, Calamari, and Garlic Cheesy Bread. What I didn't like was the Wonton Chips with Salty Hummus Dip, the Bo's Big Soggy Nachos, the Unappetizing Shaken Beef, the Deep Fried Potstickers, the Very Creamy Spinach Artichoke Dip, and finally the Appetite Killer Kalua Pork Quesadilla. Our first round of food was enjoyable at first. Everything was good tasting and amazing. My biggest mistake was eating the Kalua Pork Quesadilla. It was just so damn rich and dense with cheese cream that anything I ate tasted like cream cheese. Even the Thai Clams began to taste creamy. I just couldn't eat anything else after that. I wasn't full but I couldn't eat anymore. I tried eating a lemon to cleanse my palate but it didn't work. I couldn't even look at the food and I had to play solitaire on my cellphone to keep myself from puking. I probably would've been disgusted if I played Fruit Ninja or Candy Crush Saga. If your lactose intolerant like me, I suggest you get yourself some lactase pills before doing the pupu buffet.
(3)
Michele F.
Fun unique place with great food and ambiance. Had the boca rotto. Delicious. Great drink menu.
(4)
Corinne O.
This place was just the right place to start off our Hawaiian adventure! My initial thought of seeing this places was it was just a hole in the wall, but when you walk in, you will think differently! It was decorated pink to my liking and very modern. I felt kinda like i was in Vegas. LOL. My local cousin made reservations and he has a Hawaiian name and me and my bf are dark (can pass as locals) so i think we were treated extra good. haha.... even one of the waitress asked us if we were locals at the end of our meal, which is kinda funny. The menu was amazing! We ordered 10 pupus-- aka appetizers and shared them family style. We also did that with our main courses. We had some Kahlua pork sliders with a taro bun, which was my favorite and I think stood out the most. We also got to try Opah, which is like a expensive rare fish. I also had a couple mojitos to top it off. I think they have a seasonal menu and whatever is in season is what they offer. The servers were also very nice and accommodating especially since we kept ordering things here and there and kept a menu in hand. Food also came out really fast! Great place to check out if in Honolulu!
(5)
Kristina M.
Ordered Boca Rota and Calamari. Boca rota was good, definitely enough to share. Calamari was slightly over cooked. Arrived around 730 and sat right away, by 8pm there was a wait. Overall, we enjoyed it.
(4)
Nic J.
This place was an easy 5 star restaurant and probably the best meal I had on the island. I wasn't too happy about the 45 minute wait but Im never too happy when I have to wait for anything. While waiting my party got some drinks at the bar, kind of expensive, $40 for two IPA's and two mules. We finally sat down and just started ordering apps. Went with the Thai steamed clams, which were awesome. The complimentary bread soaks up the clam broth nicely. Ordered beef tongue skewers, Boca Rota, oyster shooters, and pork belly app. Everything tasted great. The boca rota was awesome, not sure WTF a boca rota is, but order it, you won't regret it. For dessert we had the hobo taro beignets and the mud pie. The beignets come with some kind of sauce(not too sweet) and they might have been one of the best things I've ever eaten, dessert wise. Wasn't extremely impressed with the mud pie, was expecting more of a hula pie I guess. Either way the food was awesome as was the service and our party left very impressed. This place is a must when in Waikiki.
(5)
Christine Y.
The food was awesome! Rich and tasty, especially enjoyed the boca rota. We were so full on the pupus we didn't get to try their desserts. They had a really upbeat atmosphere. The only downsides was the one-stall bathroom for each men and women and street parking/paid parking lot. It was a little difficult to spot the location due to all the road construction blocking off the front of the restaurant.
(3)
Anthony H.
Uncle Bo's is a spot I have visited every time I've been to Honolulu (3 times). The atmosphere is casual with a wide range of maturity levels. The menu is rather broad. Plenty of selections to choose from. The staff is easy on the eyes too. (That's a +) It gets pretty busy so be prepared to wait, depending on the time you visit. I would've added photos of my food, but I was starving and went right in. :-) Just go and check it out for yourself.
(4)
Carmen M.
The food here is amazing! The service, the price, the flavors...all on point! For those of you who want to go but failed to make a reservation, you can avoid a long wait if you eat a light snack and make it a late dinner. If you do end up waiting long, it's worth it!
(5)
Andre P.
One word...Amazing. We couldn't get past the Pupu menu. The Dynamite Shrimp and Seafood trap are out of this world. Not one bad item on the menu. We came on the advice of a local bartender, and ending up eating here every night of the remainder of our vacation. Prices are reasonable, but I can't emphasize the fantastic flavors of every dish. From the outside you would never guess the diamond mine inside. Highly recommended to everyone who comes to Honolulu.
(5)
Christopher C.
Great atmosphere and great service! My wife and I went last night for date night. We had the sashimi, tai Manila clams, lobster bisque and opah pasta. So Ono. As a newbie to uncle Bo's the owners Bo and Ho suk came out to introduce themselves and greet us. That's getting to know your customers! All about great food, great service and the relationship.
(5)
Lisa G.
Uncle Bo's is a great place to go with friends when you want a cool atmosphere, good pupus, and good drinks. Keep in mind that you have to find parking, which might take some time, and then walk there. What we ate: Spinach artichoke crab dip with fresh won ton chips, thai style clams, shrimp. The food is really good, tasty, and comes in good portions. Order a bunch of pupus and share with your friends. Get the clams, the sauce is delicious! We had a slight problem when a waitress spilled ketchup on one of our friend's shirts and said "oh did I get you" and never apologized. But the manager came and made it up by giving us a round of dessert shots.
We were told to come here for dinner by a local friend. We got there right at 5PM and were seated immediately. We had Kalua Pig fried rice, Sashimi, Clams, crispy pork, oysters, and calamari. All were excellent. Will definitely be back whenever we're in HNL.
(5)
Jason T.
OMFG food coma heaven! If you ever get the chance to come here with a group of ten or more people, MAKE SURE YOU GET THE ALL YOU CAN EAT PUPU SPECIAL. For just $28 a person you get to eat everything they have on there pupu menu and they don't play around. From the moment you tell the server you are doing the all you can eat pupu, the food just starts coming immediately. This isn't some all you can eat places where they bring you one dish and make you wait 30 minutes so that you are already full by the time it comes out. No no no, its not like that at all. The onslaught of food fills the whole table so that you find yourself struggling to find a space for the next plate. It's a race of how fast we can finish a dish so that we can find space on the table for the server to leave the plates so that she can walk back to the kitchen to bring back whatever the next dish that is ready. You don't even need to decide what you want to try because you WILL try EVERYTHING and they bring you two full orders of each pupu entree so both sides of the table gets their own. One pupu on the regular menu averages $10 which is totally worth the price on their own but you only pay $28 to overindulge on every last one of their awesome dishes. No need to fight over the last piece of clam because you can also request your favorite dishes after the endless rounds of the blitzkrieg of wonderful appetizers. Coming here was truly the best Christmas idea we made this year. I've never left a place feeling so happy and satisfied. No need to pick either quality or quantity. At Uncle Bos you get the best of both worlds.
(5)
O D.
Definitely a locals spot since it's off the main strip in Waikiki. But definitely worth the trip. An electic menu, young & hip environment, good service, great owner. Highly recommend it. Clams and seafood ceviche were good
(5)
Jodi M.
Our surfing instructor recommended this restaurant & I have to say, it's the BEST meal we've had in Waikiki! The food is amazing & servers are very nice. We plan to go again before we leave.
(5)
Andrea P.
What can be said about this place! The food is excellent and the service is equally stellar. We have been going to this restaurant for a couple years now and have never been let down. You may have to wait for a table; it is a smaller place...but why not eat at the bar!? That's what we started doing and we usually get seated right away. Even better, we get to know the staff when we sit at the bar. They are awesome! Ho Suk is one of the owners and he is great to chat with. Bo is great as well. They always take great care of us. Must try the clams and the lobster dynamite..to die for!! They also have a great selection of cocktails. Enjoy!
(5)
Nichola T.
We have Celebrated two birthday there recently. I love their food and their great drinks. The fried rice is amazing so are the clams. The servers are friendly and helpful.The ambience is nice. Can't wait to go back again and again.
(5)
Kelsi J.
AMAZING!!! Must try. Don't skip the Boca Rota!!
(5)
Paul M.
My wife and I were told about this place on our 2nd day. We waited until day 6 to go, what a mistake! This is the best place we have been to this week. The service, ambiance and food are incredible. Our bartender John is all about hospitality. This place is awesome!
(5)
Monica R.
Went here on vacation after being recommended this restaurant from many locals in Waikiki. By far one of the best meals we had when we were there. The best was the spicy dynamite shrimp; it's a must have when you dine at uncle bo's. If your not a lounge type make sure you ask to have a seat in the dinning tables. Happy dining
(5)
Jimmy J.
My friend made reservations for us on a weeknight and the place was packed. They squeezed us in at a table against the front door dividing wall. Other tables were opening up in the middle with more room but we didn't bitch to get one. We are big dudes, so we had to skootch the table a few off the wall to be able to bend our elbows to eat - there was plenty of room to the other side to allow people to pass. When the waitress came, she tried to push the table back against the wall and we stopped her. All I had to do was pull my elbow down to my side and it almost punched a hole in the divider. She understood the message and said OK, let's leave the table where it is. All the waitresses were smoking hot which was a plus. $6 for Longboards and Stella on tap. My $10 crabcakes and $13 Cajun ahi were tasty. My bud said his $24 paka was not fresh, overcooked and spiced up to mask it's lack of freshness. He didn't rave about the sides either. I get it, the place is trendy so everyone wants to go there. However, considering these price points and the cramped loud atmosphere here's a suggestion - go to Sidestreet. Cheaper beer, cheaper and larger portions, larger tables - you bring the hottie and the party with you.
(2)
Amanda T.
I would give this place 5 stars but... They took a few of my favorite items off of the menu, why??! I've had to order other entres now that I wasn't blown away by, like the spiny lobster dinner was not that great, but I still love this place and almost everything on the menu.
(4)
David J.
I'm gonna have to go with the 5 Star rating, even though it's not on the beach and maybe not as aloha as Dukes, but all the guys on layover were just about giddy over the food selection and may I say the girls serving are extremely cute, and I can say the boca rota was special, so it was a 5 star experience and it sure was hopping on a Saturday night packed with locals and that's really all you need to know anyway, right?
(5)
Marty L.
This is the place to eat in Waikiki. Excellent dishes, great service and friendly atmosphere. Had the chefs choice for our party of 10. Everyone was satisfied and enjoyed it all. The prime rib was so tender you could cut it with a fork. Mashed potatoes were awesome, shrimp appetizer was off the chain. Go.
(5)
tiffany t.
Thai clams and 6 little piggies. Finally something that's not covered in mayo or cream sauce !
(4)
Max G.
Cool place. Very noisy so not the best sometimes. I really like some of their pupus, others are just average. I will go back again for sure. But it is not my favorite place on Kapahulu.
(3)
Marie D.
This is a cute place, pretty far off the beaten path of Waikiki. They were super busy when we got there, so we had a drink at the bar. I asked the bartender to pick for me and I got a delicious pear drink, definitely try it. We had the shrimp lettuce wraps for appetizers and I got a fish I can't remember (that was a 2-3 rating) and my wife got a steak which she loved. My entree was disappointing, but my wife loved her steak so much, and the appetizer and drinks were so good I decided to go with a four. Steer clear of white fish and you'll enjoy yourself.
(4)
Florence S.
If you are from out of town, this is definitely a place to go. Great place, food is yummy, and drinks are good. Ciroc Peach Lemonade good but sweet for those who don't like drinks too sweet. You have to get the nachos, they are bomb!
(4)
Kelly M.
Everything was good. Nothing was great. Love to graze on lots of different dishes for dinner. Had all the things we were suppose to have boca rotta (cheesy break, steaks and mushrooms), dynamite shrimp (shrimp were just a touch mushy from being frozen), etc. Fun place, but we felt rushed even though no one was waiting for a table. Parking can be very tough.
(3)
Tracy B.
I always hear about this place but I've only now tried it. The name and the sign is totally misleading. When we walked it, it was a total modern chic lounge type of feel. From the name, I thought it was just a regular chill eatery. The bar area is really nice and modern. I wasn't able to see the back room but my friend told me there's more seating and it's more of a dinner style room versus sitting in the room with the bar which gives more of a lounge feeling. Love the light up menus! Took me by surprise! We ordered the calamari and boca-rota (I think that's what it's called. Calamari comes with an interest soup type of dip. The calamari had a really nice crunch to it and the dipping soup/sauce added a nice flavor! The garlic bread, Mozzarella cheese, mushroom fusion thing was good too! The dip is really creamy! We only ordered those two appetizers and the portions were so big that we couldn't finish them at all! I gave this place 4 stars only because the parking situation kinda sucks. there is a paid parking lot next and across the restaurant and of course street parking, but I'm a convenience girl, so I docked one star for that. Overall I really enjoyed my experience. Hope to try other dishes and drinks next time!
(4)
Kate M.
Went here with my boyfriend for his birthday for the first time and absolutely loved it! We live right near it and always pass it because it doesn't look very nice from the outside, however the atmosphere is awesome! Very modern, clean, and really cool! The food was awesome and so were our martinis. we'll be back for our next special occasion for sure!
(5)
Shawna L.
I was expecting a sports bar but when you go inside there's a restaurant area, bar area, & small lounge. it was crowded when I went so we sat in the lounge w/ 2 couches & a table in the middle which was fine. found this on yelp & was rated good so decided to finally try it. we started off w/ the crab cakes & dynamite shrimp for pupus & those were already filling us up, & we were pretty hungry. the crab cakes were perfect & a pretty big size w/ the amt of crab they give in the cakes. & then the dynamite shrimp they give is also a good amt & the flavor was so good. then I got the misoyaki sea bass w/ garlic mashed potatoes. I don't usually like garlic but it was so subtle I loved it. there was kinda to much bak choi but the sea bass was so good & have like 4-5 big pieces I def had leftovers. the workers were really friendly & got our food really fast! they have a small parking lot on the side for $5. I def wanna go back to try more foods & even try their drinks.
(5)
Josie S.
The SOS seafood bisque was hands down one of the best meals ever!!! Great place! Will highly recommended it to anyone!
(5)
Ken C.
Great food and price. It is great dinner either for whole family, friends or just two of you. We are very pleased with the quality of food and great service.
(4)
Rachel Z.
Sea medley (Thai seafood curry) is too sweet. Oyster Rockefeller is good. The nut wrap was a little too simple.
(3)
Cynthia W.
A must! Boca Raton was just like the prior reviews. We tried the garlic ribeye and Sea Bass. They were fresh and delicious!!
(5)
Nicole S.
YummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmÂmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmÂmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmÂmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm! Walnut Shrimp Lettuce Wraps. Dynamite Shrimp. Avocado Shrimp salad. I obviously like shrimp. But it has to be done right. Uncle Bo's makes shrimp dishes into a veritable MOUTH GASM. They are constantly adding new items and changing their menu which I adore. They keep things fresh and interesting. Always busy, always loud, always fun, always friendly and delicious. Highly recommend you take all of your out-of-town guests here and skip the Waikiki circus and the typical Honolulu staples that everyone and their mother's have already heard of and been to.
(5)
Emi H.
I've had an up and down relationship with Uncle Bo's over the years. Looking back, I often wonder, was it because I didn't know what to order? Or was it an off night? Because after my latest visit, I am sold! We decided to have pupus and drinks before the Jason Mraz concert at the Waikiki Shell and were seated right at 5 pm when they opened. My brother ordered what can only be described as a giant slab of beef (Fred Flinstone style, in that it was so big your car could tip over). My BF & I decided to share the thai manila clams, crab cakes and the hamachi carpaccio. My brother's girlfriend ordered the thai manila clams for herself and declared that she didn't want to share her clams with anyone. And I will tell you seafood fans, you should order your own portion and NOT SHARE as well! Those clams were so delicious and the sauce, ooooooh LORD the sauce! I kept dipping my bread into the thai sauce and praised the man who made it while I munched away. Hamachi carpaccio = yelp.com/biz_photos/sv5X… Glorious clams!!! = yelp.com/biz_photos/sv5X… Crab cakes = yelp.com/biz_photos/sv5X… Happy birthday brownies w/ ice cream & hot fudge (Caution, this photo will make your ass fatter) = yelp.com/biz_photos/sv5X… We had another set of friends come a little later and they grabbed seats at the bar which was located right behind us. We hopped from table to bar and sipped on cocktails and beers until it was time to walk to the concert. A short 5-7 minute walk to the Waikiki Shell and I'm so happy we ate at Uncle Bo's because it was certainly tastier than concession fare. If you're going to any concert in the area (Waikiki Shell, Honolulu Zoo, Diamond Head Theater), I HIGHLY recommend hitting up Uncle Bo's for your pre-game! I'm reserving my 5th star for my next visit in hopes that I'll be blown away once again! Yelp 365 Challenge: 289/365 (The OMFG Clams)
(4)
Hui P.
Real good pupus. Last time was here had the sea food trap, which was good, and also the braised beef cheeks entree, also great. Don't order a salad though. Got the beat salad and was boring compared to all the other things I've tried things on the menu over the years. I'm guessing chef Bo eats no salad so he gives it no love. Also they have a good beers bottle selection if you don't mind spending $8 for a bottle.
(5)
Sarah W.
Awesome food. We decided to try Uncle Bo's after being recommended to it by friends and family, so happy we listened. The food was amazing and you can't beat just ordering PuPu's, perfect way to eat. We will definitely go back again when we have the chance.
(5)
Ryan P.
PARKING. If you do park across the street in the lot, remember to pay the machine(it takes coins) and to leave your receipt on the dashboard. And if you own a slammed car like I do, be careful on the driveway into the lot, it's steeper than you think. I liked this place, the food was good, and the staff was nice as well. We had the dynamite shrimp, the calamari, and the clams, which were all amazing. Even the bread was fantastic haha. As others have the said, it doesn't look like much from outside, but it still has a nice atmosphere inside. Will come back again.
(4)
James N.
Uncle Bo's Bar & Grill is a great place to have dinner with friends and family and an even better place to take a significant other on a date. Some of my favorite items on the menu are the (steamed) Pot Stickers, Thai Clams, and Boca Rota. The staff at Uncle Bo's is very friendly from the beautiful hostesses that will great you with a smile when you first walk in, to the cooks in the back who are responsible with providing such wonderful food. But what make's Uncle Bo's different from most bars is the friendly owners who are easy to talk to and know the importance of providing great customer service. FYI, be sure to make reservations ahead of time especially on weekends this place tends to get crowded.
(5)
Monica C.
Although Uncle Bo's looks a bit like a run-down shack from the outside, once you go in, you'll actually find a nice restaurant with a full bar! The four of us decided to order a few items to share family style so we can try a little bit of everything. We ordered: Oyster shooters, Dynamite shrimp, Thai style clams, Blue Crab and avocado salad, and Peppered Chicken pasta. Everything was really good, but my favorite was definitely the Thai style clams! Service was great and it's about a mile or two outside of Waikiki so parking wasn't difficult to find either. I highly recommend coming here for dinner!
(4)
Michael R.
The restaurant itself is cool and trendy, and they have a rock wall of white wine that made me want to climb it. However, make sure that your bottle comes from somewhere else as the warmth and light probably make those bottles go bad pretty quick. I am basing this review on the dynamite shrimp appetizer and the sea bass entree. The appetizer was really good, and definitely not LO-CAL. The fish itself was amazing and the the dish looked nice, but some garlic and ginger might have helped to break up the monotony of the bok choy greens a bit. They were good, but got to be a bit much by the end. The others in my party liked their food too, and would probably agree with this rating.
(4)
Jeffrey N.
Boca loca....loca rota....boca roca....whatever the hell it is, it's freaking amazing and I can't help but order it for myself everytime I come here. I gotta remember to try the kalua pork nachos next time, cause a table next to us had them once and it looked awesome. Been here quite a few times, it's always busy but the wait is never unbearable and the food comes out fast. Service is friendly and attentive. Also tried the seared ahi, thai clams, crab cakes, calamari, and pork belly something. All pretty good. Oh, forgot, another standout....the hummus is completely amazing and the pita chips that comes with it are always hot and super fresh. Killer dip for sharing! I always need to order extra pita chips because it's the best part. The girls I were with one time had some kind of pear/peach cocktails that I admit were tasty, I've never taken a good look at their cocktails because they have pretty good beers, but I'm interested to try. Also need to try dessert but we always order too much food! Did I mention they have light up menus now?? Awesome and entertaining....this concept of this place is very well executed. Good for dates or just some apps and drinks with friends. Love it.
(5)
Kiawe T.
Went here again last night. Had the Oyster Shooters! Two thumbs up on those. Also had the half shrimp and half tofu lettuce wraps. Super delicious. For some reason I paired that with glass of IF YOU SEE KAY which is a lovely and smooth red blend. I was accompanied by the most gorgeous young lady and had a wonderful time! Great place to cap off a Saturday evening in Waikiki. Best part was that it wasn't too loud that I couldn't have a good conversation with my date :)
(5)
Blanco T.
I've eaten at Uncle Bo's on several occasions and every time I've been pleased with great food. The quality of the food is excellent with comparable prices. My server on 28JUL2014 was really fun and attentive to my table's needs. She keep the black & tan drinks coming.
(4)
Alex T.
I loved this place! The food was really good. It was tough to only pick a few things off the menu and not go overboard. The place has a full bar and the food is really good! The kalua pork pork fried rice is to die for and the sos is awesome. Be ready for the amount of butter in the sos though. Add a little rice and you're in food heaven. So many more things i wanted but couldn't fit in a sitting.
(5)
Kimo K.
Went to Honolulu with my GF last week and went to dinner here with her, my son, and my granddaughter. I give them 3 stars rather generously --- maybe only 2 stars would be more appropriate. I chose this place due to some good reviews and their pricing being more reasonable than other Waikiki establishments. And also, as they advertise, they include veggies and starch with their entrees. But although the entrees are nicely sized and not too small, I thought the taste was mediocre at best. We had four different entrees and shared. Seafood chioppino like dish, seafood pasta dish, sauteed opah, and chicken fettuccine. The best dish was the opah, with the other three dishes being mediocre at best in taste. And although they did provided steamed veggies, they were poorly cut and presented on the plate. And we made 6 pm reservations and we were told that we had to be out of there by 7 pm or they wouldn't seat us --- WTF?? Although I guess to be honest, it was not a terrible experience or dinner, I don't think I will be back here again.
(3)
Fred W.
A local favorite for sure. My fav dishes include the Thai clams, escargots, and the Boca Raton. They also have a large selection of drinks, good looking and friendly service.
(5)
David C.
As soon as we landed in Oahu, people were raving about Uncle Bo's. When the locals tell you it's their regular spot then it's a must hit! The atmosphere could use a tune up as it looks like some blind fashion designer with split personality decorated the joint. But that's ok since it is a bar AND grill which also happens to serve fusion cuisine. The staff were quite good looking with a get up similar to a hooters uniform which was just fine w me. We tried the delicious (ono!) Boca Rota which did not disappoint! The sliders were quite tasty too. My wife was happy with her order of the hamachi appetizer which like all their dishes had generous portions. Those were the hits. The misses were: Katsu Ahi (weak flavor), fish tacos (over breaded). I also had the very girly cucumber cocktail since I order whatever I like regardless of how much it makes me look like a wuss; and was pleasantly surprised. All in all, it's a fun joint. Regarding the food, there were some really bright spots and some duds but add the eye candy waitress outfits and its a decent way to spend the night.
(3)
Melina P.
My first time ever here & I wasn't very impressed. I made reservations for my friends & I about a week in advance & the first thing they asked me when I checked in is was "we have another large reservation coming in later...can you be out of here by 8:00?" I figured it was fine since we were planning to catch a movie after dinner anyway but WOW. What a turn off! I've NEVER been to a restaurant that asked something like that right off the bat. We barely had time to order a second round of drinks! & certainly no time to order real food or dessert. I do not plan to return here any time soon. I highly recommend the boca-rota & the kalua pig fried rice. My friend also really liked the oyster shooters & our waitress brought us a wonton chip with some kind of chopped-veggie-looking-salsa thing on the house. The wonton chips were delish (I'm a picky eater & didn't try the salsa). I also expected alot more of our drinks considering the full bar. We each ordered a different martini which were all nicely flavored & tangy but they are prissy-girly drinks & we should've just drank juice for all the good it did. I was really looking forward to the deep fried ice cream but didn't have enough time to order it. 2 stars for the chef & our nice waitress.
(2)
Colette W.
I absolutely love this place. The dynamite shrimp is too die for! The boca rota isn't too shabby here. Perfect spot for a small dinner party or a casual date with your babe. Only cons: parking... And sometimes it can be quite loud in there. The music is pretty loud. However, quick and friendly service.
(4)
Ronnie R.
Spotted this place while going up and down Waikiki and told my wife we had to eat here. We stopped by the night before we fly back home. It was reservation type, but the bar is open to first come first serve. We sat down right before the crowd showed up. We both ordered the S.O.S. seafood plate with a side of rice. We found it to be very delicious. If we come back to Waikiki we will definitely come back. The ceviche we had as an appetizer was tasty also.
(5)
Janda D.
I enjoy coming here. The only thing I would like to have is the option to split the check when dining with others. They will not provide this no matter what your reason is. Other than that, I love the boca rota and steamed opah.
(4)
Jim G.
First I want to say that the food was absolutely delicious. We had the dynamite shrimp, the fish tacos and the opah picante. I would give five stars except for the timing/service. It took way too long for our drinks to arrive, which would not have been bad in itself, but the pupu arrived before we could enjoy our drinks. Then the entrees arrived before we were half finished with the pupu. We felt very rushed, especially since we were expecting to enjoy a leisurely dinner out. I would go back, but I would make clear my expectations for the timing of my meal.
(3)
Christopher W.
This place was one of our favorite stops on the trip. Just out of the tourist trap, Uncle Bo's was an unassuming little hide away place. We saw good reviews and thought we should try it. The indies was clean and well decorated... Felt like a hip spot. Drink list was great and the prices were fair considering the ingredients. We sat at the bar, and our server was busy! She was hustling all night, and was very pleasant and attentive. Once we cracked the menu, she gave us a verbal tour if the local favs plus her top choices and we attacked the list. Like shrimp? There's an app for that. Love the ahi tuna? There's an app for that. The food we ordered was stellar, and the food prices were great! Note: even though it's a pupu bar, they had a great looking full menu. If you are in town, I strongly suggest you hit this place up for some broke da mouf grinds brah!
(4)
Ashley T.
Came here for Valentines day and this was a great place to have a chill yet romantic dinner. I visited this place years ago but not any time recently. So I was surprised at some of the menu changes. They had a set special menu for Valentines day but we decided to order what we wanted to eat. First of all, we did not make a reservation and to my surprise we seated immediately with maybe a 5 minute wait. Not too bad I say for a busy night. That was already a plus for me. Our server was great at recommending a wine according to what I looking to get in a wine (don't remember the name of the wine, but it was a red Chardonnay). Our service overall went smoothly and our server checked in on us from time to time (but not overly annoying type of way). We started with a few pupus - Calamari ( yelp.com/user_local_phot… ) and Seared Ahi ( yelp.com/user_local_phot… ). The Calarami surprised my taste buds with the saucy soup dipping sauce, it had a sweet taste to it. The Calarami also were in big chunks and oh so yummy. I can't say the same for the ahi, I have to say it wasn't my favorite and I've had better. Now moving onto to entrees I ordered the Braised Beef ( yelp.com/user_local_phot… ). Mmmmmmmmmmm oh lord how yummy that sucker was. Thinking of it makes my mouth water of the soft tender beef that was braised for who knows how long with a tomato beef sauce. I got it with rice and veggies and that just tied this dish all together. The large portions were too much (which is a good thing, as I can enjoy it another night ^_^). Parking is another thing I should let you know. Before they had valet parking but now you would have to self-park and pay. They have available parking across the street of Uncle Bos and next door to Uncle Bo's also has parking which is closer but not as safe (in my opinion).
(4)
Tanya C.
Wow what a treat! We had dinner at Dukes and the bartender suggested Uncle Bo's. I was really glad he did. Started with the boca rota.. okay simply amazing and a must. Prime rib with mushrooms and garlic bread with mozzarella cheese. Every mouthful was pure happiness. Dinner I had the sos another must try! The ambience was modern, service was amazing! So glad we found this place. Now my favorite new place to eat!
(5)
Aleena Anne O.
Uncle Bo's is within walking distance from my place so I have been eating there a lot lately and I can honestly say that I haven't had a bad meal yet! It's a really great place for dinner and drinks with friends or a nice romantic date. Food: My favorite items on the menu are the Ribeye, Boca Rota, Dynamite Shrimp, and the potstickers. I rarely order off the actual dinner menu and just go with a few pupu's options as I like variety and Bo's just has so many options I just can't choose only one. Service: I have read some of the reviews on here that complain about feeling rushed, but I have never experienced that. I often hang out with friends having a drinks after dinner without feeling like we should move along. The only real downside about Bo's is that the wait can be pretty long, especially if you head over on a Friday or Saturday night. My advice is to either arrive around 6:30 or around 8:30 to avoid the lengthy dinner rush.
(4)
Resi K.
We tried this restaurant a couple weeks ago as a family of 6. The wait time wasn't too bad-30 minutes. They offered us to be seated on a coffee table style dining table but we wanted a regular table. It was super busy and we didn't have reservations. Parking was across the street in the pay parking. Our food was very good. The cheesy bread with prime rib topping was excellent. Our dinner was good, my husband and son didn't think the steak was all that good for what we paid. Of course, it's not a steakhouse. Service was very good until the end when we wanted take out containers and to pay our bill; the waitress got busy and left us with our dessert menu (which we were too full for) for a long time and we had to flag another waitress to let her know that we were ready to leave now. Otherwise, I'd go back again.
(4)
Michelle T.
Let me start off my review with a few tips: Tip #1: MAKE RESERVATIONS! This place is super packed even on a weekday night so make sure you make reservations. Our party of 5 had to wait around 30-45 minutes for a table when we arrived at around 6:30pm Tip #2: Get Boca-Rota because it is one of the best things I ate on the island during my entire vacation Tip #3: Skip the Pork Belly Pupu. It was super dry and did not have the fattiness of pork belly at all. Tip #4: Don't listen to the waitress when she suggests dish amounts for the table - go with however much you feel is right because we ended up over-ordering
(4)
Jordana F.
We had a party of 16 and were waiting for a bit but the chef and waitresses brought out plates of calamari on the house. That was really nice! However, the wait for everything else was loooong. Even getting water was difficult at one point. I ordered a Bloody Mary and it came out 15 minutes later, and wasn't worth the wait. We ended up getting the "buffet appetizer" deal (27 bucks per person for 9 unlimited appetizers). The only downside is the chef and waitress pick the 9 appetizers but everything that came out was delicious. The nachos were great, potstickers, artichoke crab dip, hummus, clams, dynamite shrimp, crab cakes and a couple more were all very tasty. I definitely recommend eating at uncle Bo's but it might be best to go in a small group or sit at the bar.
(3)
Bill R.
Starting with ahi poke. Very fresh, very big, very good. Lemongrass martini. Good cocktail smooth but could benefit from some lemongrass extract. They use lemongrass tea which lacks some intensity of flavor. Still very good. Black sesame scallops. Perfectly seared with caramelized color coated with black sesame seeds nestled in mushroom cream sauce. The scallops were good sized and perfectly cooked. The pupu menu is where it's at here! Grey goose pear, peach lemonade, cucumbers. Lemon. Sweetener? Holy crap that's good stuff. This is a great place just far enough away that you can walk and get away from some of the garbage that lines the beachfront area.
(4)
Nick H.
Cool vibe, great food, awesome service. Thai clams and oyster shots - both good options to get going. The Boca-Rota is on everyone's review, and it's good, but really heavy and there are a ton of other things that look great. We'll have to be back to check out the rest of the menu.
(4)
E E.
Solid four-star restaurant. Food was very good service was good. Fish was amazing, don't think it could go wrong with any fish order. Others at the table had the tacos which were really good and the SOS which was very good and the salmon.Had two appetizers hummus and calamari. Don't just your money on the calamari it wasn't very good the hummus was delicious.
(4)
Tracy B.
Amazing! One of my favorites in Waikiki! Busy and small location so make reservations or get there early. SOS is excellent. Most flavorful and tender filet. No salt and pepper on the table for a reason. Must try!
(5)
Noriko K.
Reasonable price for great food. One of my top 5 places I take visitors from out of Hawaii. This is the place to go especially for seafood lovers. My favorite entree is "Baked Opah Mauna Kea". Opah is so tender and the sauce is awesome. It says spicy, but it's not that bad. The new entree from seafood calls 'S.O.S' is great as well. It's spicy, so if cannot handle the spicy food, you shouldn't order this. For spicy food lover, this is one of the "must try" entree.
(4)
John L.
I can only give one star for this place for only one reason, honestly the food we ordered was good greasy noodles very tasty, clams so so, oyster shooters very good, dynamite shrimp YUCKY it was swimming in a mayo sauce that was disgusting. The server Kathryn was fantastic attentive fast and pleasant. The reason for the one star in after dining before desert I had to go wash my hands as I approached the men's room a employee came from the kitchen went into rest room just ahead of me and urinated and left? What's wrong with that? HE DID NOT WASH HIS HANDS GROSS so we paid and left I noticed the pass plaque on the door I bet the health dept doesn't know about the Hygene practices of some of the employees or at least the one. I for one will never set foot back in that place again.
(1)
Kpon Y.
I really wanted to like this place because others have said it was good. Wait time for 2 people was 30 min and there was an area of the restaurant that was open and under utilized. Waitress was friendly but had way too many tables and service was slow. Food was mediocre to poor. Clams we not rinsed before preparing and I was biting on tiny shell fragments from the first bite. Clams were not good quality (small and dark mussels). The clam soup base was good though. Ribeye steak was ordered medium well but came out bloody rare/raw. Sent it back and it came back rare on outer and still raw in inner. Could not chew through it. Plus, I've had over a hundred rib eyes in the past and this was NOT a ribeye... More like a less expensive cut of meat. Very chewy and difficult to cut in half. Had the spicy shrimp and it was tiny pieces of shrimp covered in cold mayonnaise type sauce. The panko crust did not adhere to the shrimp and it detached and fell on the plate before you could pick it up. Not good. It was a Friday night and they were busy. Atmosphere nice, but food was substandard and not enjoyable.
(2)
Drew K.
Can't go wrong with anything you order at Uncle Bo's a must stop when in Honolulu!
(5)
Mark D.
This restaurant was an excellent find! By far the best meal in Waikiki. Great variety of dishes including amazing fresh fish and the best steak on Oahu. Packed every night with mostly locals, the ambiance is upbeat and the staff is super friendly. The chefs know what their doing and extremely reasonably priced for what is served. I'd give it a bonus star if that was an option!
(5)
Erik P.
If you're looking for a local food experience, go here for truly authentic Hawaiian. The bar has everything and then some. I actually met Bo and said how much we were enjoying his food. Very friendly locals there too! Talked to a few friendlies at the bar while we are several pupus. May I recommend the cheesy bread with the beef/mushroom pupu, so amazing.
(5)
James J.
Great appetizers... Dynamite shrimp is fantastic... ..ordered two mule martinis, unbelievably strong and you just might have trouble remembering your name! ... A must order... Ordered meat pizza, good but not great... Saw many locals eating appetizers here... You have to try this place, but there is not much room inside, so be sure to make reservations... Could be the best food and drinks in all Waikiki!
(5)
Tracey A.
How to have a great time at Uncle Bo's: 1. Order an assortment of pupu flavors balanced between fatty and rich (Dynamite Shrimp $9.95; Ahi Katsu $14.95), protein heavy (Hamachi Carpaccio $14.99; Thai-Style sweet Steamer Clams $14.95), and lighter veggie-focused fare. This selection resulted in nothing but happiness. 2. Sit in the front room, where you pick up a great energy from the buzz of a full house. Sit along the far wall if you like a birds-eye view and the possibility of meeting those dining beside you. They might give you some further tips on what to order, as my Bay Area (shout out!) neighbors did. 3. You might want to secure some reservations. Moments after being seated in the front room as a walk-in, the place filled up and didn't empty the entire time I was there. 4. Order some booze. A couple of draft Stellas ($5 each) and a glass of cabernet ($6) were good accompaniments but you might prefer something stronger. There's a full bar in one quadrant of the main dining room, separated by ceiling-hung chains. It's a cool, sparkly effect. 5. Unfortunately for Uncle Bo, the rich and varied pupus mean that you might be too full to sample entrees or dessert. That's what happened to me, with no regrets. It'd be great to come back with a larger party to be able to sample more fare. I don't know that I'd ever get around to the entrees and that doesn't even bother me. That's how much I liked that large, varied menu. 6. Enjoy the eye candy. Whoever hires here has an eye for the ladies. The servers were beautiful (and enthusiastic and proficient). 7. If you're staying right in Waikiki, Bo's is a nice destination to walk to. It's probably too far if you're not into walking but if you are, have at it. If you over-order (likely) you'll appreciate the walk back and it'll give you time to think over what a great, fun meal you just sampled. The food isn't highly sophisticated but it's a unique twist on island fare. I liked Uncle Bo's a whole lot.
(5)
Bobby A.
Cool, trendy ambience. Food was on point, had the nachos and fried pork belly. Any place that can make specialty cuts of meat, I will try. Definitely worth buying again, try the pork belly. Place stays busy and the larger back dining room threw me off, can't see it until you go to the restroom from the front...awesome space. Only bad point. ..parking. good luck, lol. Service was good and food was good. Mahalo uncle bo's
(4)
Brent K.
OMG !!!! You got to try the seafood stew . They call it the SOS. It is amazing ! You got to have the Kailua fry rice! So Ono !
(5)
Tiffany T.
Try the Boca Rota!!! This place is a must when visiting Oahu! It's small so be sure to make reservations or you'll have to wait for a table!
(5)
Mark I.
We went with a party of 6 thinking we could order a whole lot of stuff but we only managed pupu's and beers and we were stuffed, lol. Ordered the steamed clams, nachos, crabcakes, steak, pot stickers, and 3 types of salads and we were done. The portions are big so I think we need to bring more people next time so maybe we can order dinner, haha.
(4)
Natalie P.
This is one of my favorite restaurants. Every time I come here I can always count on two dishes that will never fail me... and this place is right in my hood so it's simply convenient! CUSTOMER SERVICE: Is not the best here. I've only came across one or two helpful waitresses but other than that the rest seemed to be very absent-minded. When ordering from the bar the bartenders have just been ok. MY FAVORITE DISHES: *BOCA ROTA is a must, it translates into tore/broken mouth in Spanish. The dish consists of cheese breadsticks covered with rib bits and a special creamy sauce that makes the dish oh so irresistible. *KALUA PIG FRIED RICE has a combination of multiple meats and tastes delicious. (These two dishes are both in the pupus section and are just enough for my gf and I to be full. Great reasonably priced dishes = Happy Meal) OTHER DISHES I'VE TRIED: *Escargot: cooked snails...my friend ordered this so I got to try it...I know it sounds gross but it's actually pretty good. It's definitely appetizer status for sure though and by that I mean it's not very filling. *Rib-Eye Steak and Mashed Potatoes - A little more pricey, it wasn't great it was just good, but I wouldn't order it again. This place is always pretty packed so if you want to get good seats and fast dinner service I would recommend coming a little early. Everyone should try this place at least once...or at least try the "BOCA ROTA"!
(4)
Naomi H.
I heart Uncle Bo's. Upon much hype and pushing from my friends to check this place out, I made Uncle Bo's my first meal on my trip to Oahu. The place was mellow, Tuesday night around 6. Lots of large/Birthday-types and many tables for two. My partner in food-related crime took a seat and feasted our eyes on the menu. We had to ask our server what was popular, what we HAD to try since we weren't locals. Upon her recommendations, we ordered the: Cajun Seared Ahi = 4 Stars, $12.95. Good enuf to split with someone worthy. I 'm an Ahi fan so i will always be down to try a Cajun-spiced version. And it was Delectable! Boca Rotta= 4 Stars, $14.95. My friend's dinner selection. She LOVED it! I had a moment to have a quick sample and it was perf! She had it with a glass of Chardonnay and was good for the rest of the night. Walnut Shrimp Wrap= 3.5 Stars, $8.95. Still quite good, but the shrimp was on the mucho salty side. Ugh. I wasn't quite stuffed so I glanced at the Desert menu to see if there was anything I would fancy. I took one look at the Hobo's and ordered it ASAP. Hobos= 5 Stars, $6.95. AMAZ-ANG. Taro filled Beignets with a side of vanilla ice cream and some type of cream. I ate ALL of it. My friend missed out on this one, YOU SNOOZE, YOU LOSE! : p One thing that tripped me out was that when our server delivered the Ahi Tuna pupu, she had one hand holding the meal, and the other holding two chopsticks. She held them out in a way that we each grasped ours out of the paper holder. It was classy, and I thought that was a nice touch. Service all around was 5 Stars. Super friendly servers, very accommodating, totally had the Aloha Spirit! And this place served their food QUICK. Like, within minutes! I loved it! *****
(4)
Daniel L.
Ever play Tetris? Ever gone up to level 29?!?! Last night we had a Christmas party with a bunch of friends at Uncle Bo's. We got the Chef's Special, all you can eat light pupus for $27.50 per person, minimum 10 people. Within 5 minutes of placing the order, the game began! Food from all corner started to rain in like Tetris. The food in ROUND 1 came faster then we could handle. This was probably the best buffet I have been to in a while. Our table was completely filled with all the wonderful offering from the Chef. Best deal ever. I like to spend time with friends, but I rather have food while we talk and drink. It much more pleasant to have food immediately rather then sit and wait like some other restaurant I recently visited.
(5)
Justin S.
Nice ambience, service is good, food is very good, the martini's are made very well. Very relaxing and it's just a good place to hangout with your friends.
(5)
Kanoe I.
Celebrated a friend's birthday at this popular Kapahulu eatery recently. I'm not a frequent patron here, but I thoroughly enjoyed it! My Faves: Warm Spinach Salad, Dynamite Shrimp, & the Seafood Trap. I will go back just to eat the Warm Spinach Salad...Simply Divine! The combination of spinach, onions, bacon, walnuts, feta cheese & strawberries made it a perfect spinach salad. The portion is generous, so we all shared it. Definitely a thumbs up dish! I also loved the Seafood Trap, a "medley of fish, calamari, clams, shrimp, and fish simmered in a mild chili, garlic ouster sauce." It reminded me of bouillabaisse but better. And the sauce was the best part! We went through several loaves of bread because we were dipping it in this sauce. The dynamite shrimp was good as well. We just ordered it because it was recommended. I liked that the staff was eager to recommend dishes. Drinks were good.....I just had my usual red wine. My friends enjoyed various mixed drinks they offered. Prices overall for food and drinks were reasonable. Most dishes ran between $10-$15. A full menu, with prices, can be found on their website. One downfall...Parking. Not the most convenient. Either across the street in a lot adjacent to Side Street Inn or roadside along Kapahulu. I parked in the pay-the-box parking lot next door. I inquired with the hostess if it was ok to park there, she didn't know. Paid $5, parked there, and had a parking ticket on my car when I left. A little annoying. Dislike when parking is stressful...thus the four star rating. I vaguely remember valet parking awhile back but I'm not sure if it's still available. Maybe I'll catch the cab next time.....But I will be back for sure!
(4)
Emily L.
The manager gave us free appetizers that were ready when we sat down. I appreciated that they recognized the problem, apologized and took care of our hunger. They also had good drinks there
(4)
Sean G.
Love their pupus and drinks. Sometimes it's a little hard to get in cos that place is always busy. But everything I've tried so far tasted very good and filling. Definitely will be returning here!
(5)
Danny I.
First-one star off for parking. There are two pay lots nearby, then metered parking-good luck! There are warning signs about the pay-lot operators being quick on the trigger for towing. Second-bring a large group (at least 10) and cash (no splitting checks here), then ask for the Chef's Special. Then hold on, because your party will be barraged with full plates of items from the pupu menu at the chef's choice. No 'mostly white space" tapas here, these pupu platters are STACKED! Ours included the boca rota, the crab cakes, the potstickers, the spinach dip, the nachos, the shaken beef, and the clams (but not any of the ahi or the escargot, which one of our group was sore about), resulting in a table stacked with family-style eats.
(4)
Rocky M.
Um, really? This place is UH-MAY-ZING. Super hot waitresses, 5-star food and they made my Cosmopolitan just as I asked (light on the cranberry juice). What more can you ask for? Our hotel concierge recommended this great, local place to us. Fantastic!! I had Uncle Bo's warm spinach salad and the hubs had the chicken piccata. Both were the best that we've had on our 12-day trip to Hawaii!
(5)
Tiffany K.
There is paid parking across the street, but very limited. The inside is very nice compared to the outside. The food is really good, but a little on the pricey side. I went with a big group, so our bill was really high and we split the check. It was pricey, but the food was awesome.
(5)
Rissa M.
Dang Uncle....... what you be puttin' in the Thai-Style Steamed Clam sauce!?!! Tell me what it is because this morning I woke up craving that sweet, salty, and perfectly concocted sauce that is prepared with the steamed clams. No lie-- that very same night I had a dream that I was sipping the sauce with a spoon, only to wake up CRAVING it all over again. Don't judge me. Please. Between the two of us, we shared the Thai Style Steamed Clams and the Boca-Rota which is a cheesy garlic bread paired with amazing mushroom/prime-rib/mozzarella dipping sauce. We smashed it. Crushed it. Inhaled it. POUNDED IT. Do not underestimate the appetite of two skinny girls! We cleaned the two generously served appetizer dishes down to the plate-- because they were two dishes that were worthy of guilt-free gluttony. After the Lychee Martini, I was in complete bliss (and partial food coma). SIDE NOTES: 1) I do not suggest skipping your work-out on the day you decide to eat at Uncle Bo's because it's going to be the ULTIMATE cheat day. 2) Paid parking across the street. $2 for two hours. I suggest bringing exact change/cash because that machine is always jacked up and will over-charge your credit card sometimes! Warning! 3) Street Parking too if you're lucky 4) Make reservations ahead of time because this place is quite popular and the lines will form! 5) Full Bar! 6) Better to order family style with the appetizers--- i've tried the entree's and they aren't anything to be excited about (or dreaming about). THE END!
(5)
Faye M.
Can you believe I've only eaten here just recently?! I've been wanting to try this place out for the longest time, but invites were few and far in between or the Scheduling Gods were not working in my favor. Woe is me, right! Anyway, we came here for my friend's birthday and all she could talk about was the Boca-rota! So that's what we ordered. Along with the Dynamite Shrimp, Walnut Shrimp Wrap, Warm Spinach Salad, Vegetarian Quesadilla, and some other dishes I can't recall. Don't worry - there were 6 of us, so it wasn't like she and I were pigging out! Service was friendly, but if we wanted more drinks and or anything else - we had to wave down our waitress or any waitress that happened to walk by. The food came out pretty fast and everything was very tasty. Yes, especially the Boca-rota! OMG you know it's bad for your figure when it's a rich creamy sauce - but it's worth it!! The restaurant is nice, it's definitely bigger than it looks from the outside. One thing you gotta watch out for is the slippery floor. Walking through the restaurant, I almost slipped - it wasn't obvious or anything...but it could've been!! One good thing about coming for your birthday...FREE SHOTS for the table and dessert to share!! Guess where we're going for my birthday!! Haha...maybe.
(5)
Kaliko P.
I am one of the "late bloomers" to Pupu Bar/Grill on Oahu due to the fact that I have a social life that's as exciting as slime mold. I was thrilled that I was finally able to check out Uncle Bo's as all my friends (who have social lives) were raving about Bo's great pupus (appetizers, for our mainland friends). First of all, PARKING = street, then walk. Then - AMBIANCE = nothing fancy. VERY LOUD music, like dance-floor-decibel, sans dance floor (Saturday night). Mixed group of folks, younger/older...mostly younger, I am guessing, due to the fact that you wouldn't want your hearing aid to feedback constantly. Casual dress. SERVICE = very good! Our waitress was attentive and friendly and came by frequently. FOOD = Calamari ($9) was excellent although I had a hard time getting used to the strange soupy sweet sauce on the side. I am a die hard marinara fan. Dessert was excellently presented....I forgot what my friend ordered but I had a bite and it was good ($6). DRINKS = Lychee Martini ($7) was good. Melon Martini ($7) was odd-tasting (too much lime). RETURN FACTOR = yes, will return. Can't wait to try out more pupus...but first, must learn sign language.
(4)
Regina T.
I have heard about Uncle Bo's our first time here.. From a few friends told me about this place and it is awesome. Great price and ONO food. I couldn't even eat it all neither could wifee. We will mostly definitely be back. To try out some more of the different items on the menu. Our new restaurant on the Island. Sure going to pass the word. Awesome customers service. Didn't have to wait but about 20. Min without an reservation. But the best thing is we got to meet two very nice couples from Canada and Australia sitting next to us. Plus they got cool menus that light like a I pad. . See yall soon again Thanks for the great service. ..... REG& Brig
(5)
Dawn L.
Shame on me. I should have updated this sooner. After my less than stellar experience noted below, I'm pretty sure I wouldn't have opted back to Uncle Bo's on my own. But a work holiday party had me back there for $25 all-you-can-eat heavy pupus. On that night, our servers were attentive and courteous, and the food was STELLAR. My heart was open to Uncle Bo's again. We had been back a couple times for drinks and pupus with friends and always had a good time. So when planning the biggest day of our adult lives, we decided that Uncle Bo's fit our budget and our personalities for our rehearsal dinner. I worked over email with them to plan everything--which really wasn't much. They made everything easy peasy. On the night of our rehearsal dinner, we showed up and they served. They were attentive and the food was wonderful. Our party of about 20 family and friends loved the food and the staff was attentive to drinks and anything else that we needed. I actually can't wait to have another party to throw--I already have Uncle Bo's in mind for my husband's yakudoshi next year. Since my original review of Bo's, I've been back several times...had lots of laughs, yummy food, good drinks, made some really fond memories and erased one bad one. They have more than redeemed themselves in my eyes.
(5)
Nicole A.
Not a fan. Came here because of the reviews and the beautiful picture of the Boca Rota, which I ordered. Didn't like the flavor. The prime rib and mushrooms were delicious, but the sauce ruined it for me. Way too rich. Just order a side of cheesy bread and you will get the same effect. Prices are expensive for what you get too. I wanted to order their ice tea with pineapple juice and that failed too. No pineapple juice today. Should have ate elsewhere.
(1)
Hoi Y.
Was just recently on vacation to Waikiki with a bunch of friends and meet friends of friends who actually live on Oahu and recommended this place. What an awesome place! Was totally expecting a diner/family style restaurant and it looked that way as we're walking up to the front door. But, what a surprised! Great vibe inside! Very trendy with what appears to be a lot of locals. It was Friday night around 8pm and the place was pretty packed and we were party of five. However, the girls up front were great in accommodating us, two tables were leaving so they push them together and set us up! Once seated, we had the best waitress, Akima or Akema (sorry!). So, this is Uncle Bo's Pupu bar and grill, right? So we ordered a bottle of Stags and a bunch of pupus; Scallops, kalua pork fried rice, poke, escargot and carb cakes - all great! and much larger portions that expected + 2 baskets of bread to soak up the mushroom sauce from the scallops! We weren't stuff but just right! So good! Definitely recommend this place and will be back next time on Oahu!
(4)
Tiare Y.
Went for the first time last night. We tried to get a reservation, but couldn't because they were already too full to take reservations. Now I can see why!! The good was absolutely amazing. I had the Baked Opah Mauna Kea. Oh my goodness it was amazing. The menu disclaims that the dish is spicy, but it wasn't really at all, just a little smokey flavored. Loved it! The dishes that my friend, Aunty and Uncle order were super good as well, food portions are huge! We also tried the boca rota and Thai clams for pupus, I totally recommend ordering these. Our waitress Ella was so friendly and very helpful. Definitely coming back again, this time we'll try making reservations in advance.
(5)
Bryan T.
FRICKEN NOMS! It's really hard for me to go here and not choke down 8-12 oyster shooters. They are amazing. Food is great, i've not been disappointed in any of the dishes. I've only been here about four times but each time i've ordered far too much but enjoyed every bit of it. Each time I've gone was with just one other person, we'd be seated in the front area in pretty tight quarters - forcing us to be social with our seated neighbors. Thankfully it's always been great people, but if the seating arrangements were a bit bigger I would go five stars easy
(4)
Ariana M.
Been here once, maybe like a year ago but I honestly don't remember much of that visit. So decided to check this place out again and boy was it great! Love the inside! Great place to go for pupus and drinks! Service was good as well. Everything we ordered for the night came out great! The Grub: Escargot - [ BOMB! ] I recently fell in love with eating escargot! First time I ever ate it was only this year! So we had to order some! This escargot comes with 6 pieces and is broiled with garlic butter and melted mozzarella Ahi Poke - [ Meh.] Being local, ordering Poke always seems like a must have! This poke dish also comes with onions, cucumbers and cabbage Seafood Trap - [ IN LOVE ] The sauce this dish was in was AMAZING! Loved dipping the bread inside! This is a medley of fish, calamari, clams, shrimp, and fish simmered in famous mild chili and garlic oyster sauce Calamari - [ WOW! ] I have to admit, this is probably some of the best calamari I have ever eaten. Honestly I'm not a big fan of calamari but I am definitely a fan of this one! Wok-fried with choy-sum and fresh tomatoes in sweet chili sauce Fish Tacos - [ OISHI! ] Three tacos filled with creamy dill sauce Ahi Tornado Roll - [ MUST ORDER ] Probably my second favorite item we ordered! The 6 pieces of Maguro sashimi rolled is rolled with maui onion, capers, and house sauce Hamachi Sashimi - [ Not ordering it again ] I honestly did not care for this dish at all. The Hamachi was so tiny and the taste was average, this dish was nothing special to me. I also don't like jalapenos so that was a nono, but everyone else on my table enjoyed it. Comes with sliced jalapeno, rice and Koran nori umbrella. Drizzled in a lime ponzu sauce Thai Clams - [Alright] 1lb of MANILA CLAMS! OMG MUST HAVE! This dish was definitely a good choice Pumpkin Crunch Pie - [ YUM ] MUST HAVE! LOVE LOVE LOVE IT!
(5)
Sarah L.
Who is this Bo and why isn't he MY uncle? I came here with 2 other friends and we split a couple pupus. Spicy tofu dip: could be spicier, but definitely had a lot going on in that dip. A few more crostinis served with it would've been great too Boca-rota: can't really go wrong with 2 of my favorite things, cheese and garlic. Don't expect to go kissing anyone afterwards though ;) Hamachi sashimi: A#$%FIG@%HD?!?!?!?! I would die for this. Small portion but extremely tasty and spicy! Definitely my favorite of all the pupus we ordered Calamari: I'm not a big fan of squid so I can't really comment, but my friends enjoyed it. This one is DEFINITELY made for sharing as the portion is really big. Oreo haupia mud pie: sweetness to finish off the meal, need I say more? The bill for the food and 2 drinks came out to a little under $70. It's not bad seeing as we still had leftovers to take home, but definitely not someplace we can come too often.
(4)
Randoll C.
After feasting with my cousins across the street at Side Street Inn, we decided to drop in at Uncle Bo's for some drinks. Beer selection, lacking once again. But the rest of the adult beverage list surely wasn't. Neither was the food. We eventually decided to grab some Cerviche and an order of Thai Style Steamer Clams. Both were excellent. We devoured the dishes like we hadn't just stuffed ourselves across the street. It was a lively crowd, and atmosphere. Service was pretty good and people were having a great time all around. We surely did. It's a fun place to hang out. Will have to drop in again to check out their other dishes.
(4)
Tiff Y.
Where do I begin? The outside is not pretty at all but when you walk in its great! A group of 12 people and we did the appetizer special where the chef just sends out things from the menu. We loved loved loved the clams, the dynamic shrimp (I don't remember the name) the fried rice was to die for, the crab cakes were good too but I wish they had extra sauce on the side. Everything was good except the steak appetizer. Our waitress Tiffany was extremely pleasant. We were all completely satisfied!
(5)
.Alan Y.
Came with a group of 20+ the day after a wedding and had the "Chef's Choice" under duress. Gotta say, it was pretty wack. Everything was fried to the max and doused with some sort of fat or cheese. I had a few clams, and they tasted like bleach. My lady doesn't eat red meat, so she could only have the spinach and artichoke dip. Stayed for a half hour or so, and paid for two heads, though between us, we ate less than a plate of food. They didn't even have the courtesy to serve up the required side of Lipitor and Prevacid that you'll surely need after eating here. Sorry, Uncle Bo, your food is junk.
(2)
Lizzy C.
So glad we tried this place. A lot more locals than tourists which is nice. We were a party of 8 so we ordered a lot of the dishes to share family style and we totally over ordered! The portions are big. My least favorite dish was the nachos...weird combination for me. Loved the potstickers, dynamite shrimp, and the boca rota was a pleasant surprise. We sat in the back and yes it's loud but we didn't mind it. Service was good, drinks even better and we all enjoyed ourselves. It was a great meal to end our trip and glad we tried it!!
(4)
Twinkle S.
Pros: good food Cons: parking sucks Tables are really close to each other We had the boca rota which was really yummy, the nachos with Kalua pork - also delicious, and ahi katsu - pretty good.
Although I've frequented the Kapahulu area, I never stepped into the mustard yellow restaurant, Uncle Bo's until yesterday. We ordered the "All you can eat" Special. The food was excellent. We had the artichoke dip, nachos, calamari, warm spinach salad, cobb salad, crab cakes. The artichoke dip The calamari was perfectly cooked to a golden brown. For the main entree we had the dynamite shrimp and pene, beef & tomato, chicken and pene, and Opakapaka with mashed potatoes. I didn't try the chicken but the shrimp, beef & tomatoes and Opakapaka was delicious! For dessert we had some deep fried ice cream, brownie ala mode, and mocha pie. The deep fried ice cream had a strange breading around it that tasted like sweet bread. It was okay. The mocha pie was like "WOW!" coffee to da max! The brownie was the winner hands down! I would have given Uncle Bo's a 5 star but since we weren't given serving spoons for any of the dishes, people were using the utensils they stuck in their mouths. Needless to say, I caught a cold from someone. I didn't think that serving spoons were something that someone needs to ask for.
(4)
Chad Y.
Uncle Bo's is definitely a great find to take a group of friends and enjoy each others company while having some awesome pupu's and well made drinks. It also features a trendy feel and great service, what's not to like with all of that? Ok, let's get some of the bad out of the way. It is located on Kapahulu which means they don't have easy parking. There is a public pay lot across the street, however if the inner pake is coming out, then be prepared for a drive around the block a couple of times in the vain attempt to find free parking. Do yourself a favor, pay for parking and get on in. Uncle Bo's also tends to fill up, so call ahead and make a reservation or be prepared for a bit of a wait. The drinks are well made and while they don't feature a mind blowing selection of beers on tap, what they do have is nothing to sneer at and it definitely doesn't disappoint. The bartenders know how to pour one mean drink too if the mood strikes you. The food is good and I have to say that a visit to Uncle Bo's wouldn't be complete without eating their Boca-Roca, The Thai Steamer Clams, and the Dynamite Shrimp. Granted the other menu items are good too, these three are hands down my favorites that make me go Whoa... The Boca Roca is Mozzarella topped garlic bread with cubed prime rib topping that has just the right amount of heat to tingle the palate and keep you eating more. The Clams are fantastic and be sure to get some bread to sop up the amazing juice that has just the right amount of heat and asian flavors to keep the taste buds working! The dynamite shrimp is fantastic with their tempura style batter tossed with a garlic chili sauce that makes me salivate as I think of it. The service is great with the wait staff being very attentive and the host staff very accommodating. No seriously, I don't care what any other people might say, but I've been here on several occasions with different hosts and they have always done their best to be fair and accommodating. The ambiance is definitely trendy and modern with perfectly alligned mood lighting and these fantastic metal chain curtains that I am definitely trying to find a place to put in my own home. The seats are comfortable and the seating is arranged in a careful way so that you aren't overhearing the conversation on the next table with ease. Definitely a great place for groups or just a small gathering. Uncle Bo's provides the good food and drinks. You provide the good company!
(4)
Nathan L.
When we got to Hawaii our local friends told us about this place. The place def. does not reflect on it's name so please don't judge this book by it's cover. The food here is phenomenal. We ordered two appetizers from this place and one entree. (Dynamite Shrimp, Uncle Bo's Nachos, and Hawaiian style pizza) Uncloe Bo's Nacho's is to die for. It' so unique and different from the typical nacho that you just need to try it. Warning though! It's a lot of food. The Dynamite shrimp kind of reminds me of honey walnut shrimp from a Chinese restaurant. It's very delicious, but different as well. The least favorite dish would be the entree. We got this because it sounded different from the typical Hawaiian pizza. It had Kahlua pig in it! Turns out the pizza wasn't what we expected, but overall we had a great meal.
(4)
Lauren S.
I'm so glad I listened to all you wonderful Yelpers, because Uncle Bo's is an amazing spot for dinner and drinks! We would always drive past this place, but never considered stopping to glance at the menu...until I saw all the mouthwatering pictures of their pupus. Favorite Drink: I think it was called, Sunday After Brunch (combining two of my loves: chocolate and coffee, this martini definitely hits the spot after a rough week). MUST HAVES: *Boca-Rota...the garlic buttery cheesy awesomeness paired with mushroom and prime rib....perfect combination. I'll take two please. (this even tastes great the next day, so don't be afraid to grab one to-go for tomorrows breakfast) *Bo's Big Nachos...also incredibly wonderful and a huge portion! (because it's on fried won ton chips...this does not hold up well for next-day reheat...so eat as much as you can there). *Uncle Bo's Kalua Pig Fried Rice with Spinach *Spicy Tuna Wraps *Hamachi Sashimi *Rack of Lamb (large portion and the sauce in this dish is amazing...very flavorful and worth every penny) The ambiance of this place is definitely electric...The lights are dim and the music can get quite loud in the main dining area (I must sound like an old person, but I usually ask the hostesses if we can get a small table towards the back, so it's a little quieter). The bathroom here is a pretty big room! I alway forget there's only one toilet in there (there were a few times when I was standing in line, that I saw girls opting to go into the men's room instead because it was taking too long). Definitely make reservations (there's a lot of big parties that come in, so walk-in waiting periods are about an hour or so).
(4)
George T.
The calamari was epic. The dipping sauce could have been an entre unto itself with tomatoes and chili and some Hawaiian green that all came together very nicely. Fresh calamari with crunchy breading ( panko with coconut is my guess). The sliders were amazing also. They were prime rib sandwiches as mini French dip. No need to over order, an appetizer and sharing a meal for a couple is plenty. Price was good. I did notice parking was tight and tow truck warnings posted everywhere. It was a standout meal from our vacation. It's local and funky.
(5)
Darren N.
Getting there: No parking but easy to find on Kapahulu Ave. Nearby street parking can be found but definitely carpool. Ambiance: Feels like an upscale Chinatown bar with black and white decor and high ceilings. Modern pop music keeps the place fresh. Wall mounted TV provide sports entertainment. Fairly large bar seating area as well. The night we went there were a lot of people and the boisterous atmosphere was great but you'll have to yell to have a conversation. Service: Prompt service! Food: Wasn't too hungry so we ordered only two items, the hamachi with white rice and korean nori and the dynamite shrimp everyone on yelp keeps raving about. The hamachi was lightly seared and soft enough to be a great cut to sear. The nori was a bit small to hold the rice and fish but did not present a problem. As for the shrimp, it is quite a hefty dish as a generous portion of shrimp and fried cheese is on the plate. Despite it's name, it is very mild so for those who do not like spicy food do not fear in ordering this dish. Who to bring: Lots of table and lounge seating to accommodate large parties. How much to bring: This place has lounge prices and the food isn't cheap. Look to spend a lot of cash. For these two pupu dishes and two drinks, we spent enough to buy a dinner for two at a normal restaurant. To be fair, the pupus are not small at all. Verdict: Come here after you get your paycheck and you'll be alright. Anyone know if there is a happy hour at this place? Final notes: I recommend both dishes but they have a ton of options for both pupus and dinner dishes like steak. They also have a website so google that as well and don't be fooled by the website's title of Untitled Document.
(3)
Brandi K.
Sorry I really wanted to like it here since I heard such good things but unfortunately they do not get my vote. It seems to be a popular spot so wait is pretty long. Escargot was horrible, way too much cheese and not seasoned enough. My filet mignon was the toughest filet I've ever had. My boyfriend liked his fish dish and the cheese bread with steak & mushrooms appetizer but he said he wouldn't go out of his way to come back, neither would I. The service was good though and the hostess' were nice. Prices are good and portions are big.
(2)
Peter O.
Spotted this place while walking up Kapahulu to the Safeway from Waikiki. Then a local recommended it. Can't say enough good things about uncle Bo's. Food was fusion style and really good. The atmosphere was electric - so fun to get off the Waikiki strip - a 10 min walk or $5 cab. We ended up getting bought a round of drinks by a table of locals who thanked us for making room for them by moving over a table. Super friendly and fun vibe.
(4)
Drew F.
this place is pretty snazzy. food was good, service was good, comfort-ability was good. our whole group enjoyed themselves a lot. Although this place isn't as expensive as BLT Steak, I'd rather pay BLT Steak prices here than BLT Steak.
(4)
Yuen R.
Good Food, Good Price, Fast Service. Back room need a Face Lift badly. Watch out the Automatic Tip charge when you have a party of 6 or more. Which I am fine about it and when I have one too may to drink, I forget it and the wait staff did not remind you the Automatic Tip/Service Charge. You can end up with 35 to 40% tips by double tipping
(4)
Jade M.
What a little gem!!!!!!! Doesn't look like much from the outside but once you get in the vibe is out-of-this-island. Very trendy and hip. Great place to have a reunion with the gals and enjoy a drink and awesome pupus!
(4)
Kristin W.
Been here a couple times. The pupus are good. I usually got the manila clams. Sooooo good. I love the ambiance and the look of Uncle Bo's. From the outside doesn't look like anything special, but inside it's modern and pretty. Haha. Drinks are also good.
(4)
Abigail B.
Best food I've had in Honolulu! My personal favorite was the spinach crab dip. I also got the seafood trap which was my second favorite. The dynamite shrimp was my third favorite and although it was really good, the other entrees just blew me away. The dynamite shrimp was kind of similar to walnut shrimp which I had in the past. The spinach crab dip with wonton chips was sooo good! The lemon you squeeze on top of the dip gives it a great tangy flavor. Make sure you get here early because even at 6pm (1 hour after it opens) on a Sunday night, this place was already packed with people. Overall, I think everything on the menu is good and the prices are very reasonable. This is my new favorite place to eat near Waikiki!
(5)
Raych D.
I can write review after review on this place for all the countless times I've been here but this particular review is from a friends birthday party about a month ago. We had a party of 10 people seated in the "private room" in the back of the restaurants which is good because it's away from all the noise but also kinda bad because we got forgotten about. Our waiter at first was super nice and friendly but throughout the night he kept forgetting some of our drinks, and mixed up our dinner orders. And at the end of the night he was so confused on our bill and was going back and forth to fix the tab, I guess because it was our fault we had such a big party that we split the tab into 4 times (we are a group who doesn't carry cash). As soon as we where done paying we all where outside taking pictures and was about to cross the street our waiter chased us and was like "oh someone didn't pay their bill" with so much mixed up we finally got it resolved outside! I just thought ht should have been more prepared and handled everything inside while we where still sitting. And to top it off the parking meter where you pay wasn't accepting cards or cash so we where fighting with the machine 15min before going into the restaurant! The boyfriend's had to leave in the middle of dinner to pay the machine because that's when it eventually worked. All other occasions before this incident, the waiters where really on point. The only thing about this place is the parking can be difficult when looking for street parking if you don't want to pay the couple dollars to park in their lot. And be advised DO NOT park at Zippy's because those workers will call the tow truck on you...I've seen it happen twice to two of my friends! The wait can be long, especially on the weekends and there peak hours 8-10pm. Regardless of reservations, you still have to wait! The only thing that makes it worth the wait and parking is there food! First off, the bread they serve is always crunchy in the outside and warm and soft in the inside, with the butter melting on top of it makes it extra yummy! They also have a fab bar that looks amazing with the pink accent. Even the bathroom is dope! And they have almost every drink, wine and alcohol you can think of! And the drapers throughout the dinning room is very hip. Some of my favorites are: Appetizers- 1.) Thai-style steamed clams 2.) Spicy tuna wraps with seaweed 3.) Oyster shooters 4.) Cheesy bread with prime rib pieces 5.) New England clam chowder Dinner- 1.) Prime rib (medium rare) 2.) New york steak 3.) Garlic rib-eye steak with mashed potato 4.) Thai seafood curry 5.) Shrimp scampi with mushrooms 6.) Opah I have never tried the desserts, always due to the fact that I can't stuff anything else down my throat. If you love good food, with good vibe, good drinks and good music then get it there!! Do not over think by the way the outside looks because the inside is a whole different story!
(5)
Jason D.
So you're going on a date and need a place to go to. Or you're going out with friends and need a place to pre-party. Or you're going out with coworkers. Ah heck, you just need a place to eat. Then check this place out! Uncle Bo's without question is one of my favorite restaurants to go to. They have a variety of items and a full bar. You can have pupus and share, or have an entire entree (and still share, I guess). My faves are the boca rota, which is garlic cheesy bread topped with bits or prime rib, and the clams, which are served in the best broth ever! Lots of choices here. Go and go there again and again!
(5)
Radiant C.
It's my favorite restaurant since high school, and Uncle Bo's never fails to deliver great food. I never ever have to wait to be seated with my friends, and this restaurant is the ultimate "go-to" venue for a birthday dinner with friends. My suggestion for every person is to go so often that you try every item on the menu. Absolutely wonderful dishes. My favorite is the escargot, but, I literally enjoy every single thing off that menu. I guess it helps that I go to Uncle Bo's too often, eh? ;)
(5)
Leah G.
Very small and you sit closs to other people but the ambeuance was very nice!! I love the look of the place and the food was good. I had a moon fish called Ahi I think crusted with crab. I didn't taste the crab and it wasn't very flavorable but it was good!! I would go again!!
(4)
Steph J.
Uncle Bo's is a great place to go when you have people that like a great selection of delicious food items. They have everything from poke to oysters to steak and fresh fish. The best part is, although they have a dessert menu of their own, they also have a special dessert tray, where they have a selections of desserts from JJ's French Pastry in Kaimuki. Now THAT is service! Speaking of service, that's the reason why I knocked off one star. They're very intermittent with their service. They pay attention when they remember to and then they forget about you. The servers also aren't too knowledgeable about bar drinks. I asked for a sweet wine and the gal suggested a pinot. Jigga-what? I was hoping for a Moscato or Riesling but when she didn't suggest either, I just asked if they had a Moscato and then she replied, "I don't think that's sweet." No honey, I'm not asking this time...I'm telling you that's what I'm ordering if you have it. Of course I didn't say that out loud but that's what I was thinking. If the service were stepped up and they had just a little more training in bar beverages, it'd definitely be a 5-star joint. With that said, the food is definitely delicious and I haven't been disappointed with anything I've tried there so this place is a definite must try if you've never been. Parking is $5 across the street in the flat lot or try to find street parking. If you're going to park in the lot, you have to remember to get your stall number, pay the machine, then walk back to your car to stick the ticket on your dash. If I see a line by the machine, I ask someone if they're interested in buying my ticket for $3 and if I get any takers, I let them know what stall number I'm in and wait for them to take my spot. I then give them my ticket, get some moolah and now my parking only cost me $2. Don't call me a cheapskate, call me ingenious. ^_^
(4)
Lyn C.
Driving past Uncle Bo's one night, there were tons of people and the line was out the door! Uncle Bo's was definitely poppin, so naturally we had to see what the hype was about. Out of all the places we ate at, this was one of the longer waits. Also, the hostess was quite busy seating people so I had to wait a bit before being able to put our name down. I get quite picky about service, especially at such a contemporary looking place...so the least she could have done was recognize I was waiting and tell me she'd be right with me. But whatever, negative star for that. Got our pager and waited to be called. After doing some quick yelp homework, we knew what to order. Dynamite shrimp- good, but did not have the *BANG* I expected with the name 'dynamite' in it. Tad bit spicy with mayo covering the shrimp. Thai style clams- OMG the sauce was AH-mazing!!! This was a definite winner in my book! The waitress added that the bread was good with the sauce and she was absolutely right! It tasted so butterly good, I knew it couldn't be healthy...but who cares? I'm on vacation!!
(3)
Chris W.
Bar area is definitely alive but for a younger crowd. The back room offers a great place for family away for the loud current music and yelling partiers. The place is more known for the Pupus but all of them are good and can feed a feast. Will definitely come back.
(4)
Ben T.
Pupu's are excellent. Thai clams are probably my favorite item. Nacho's are also good. Service usually decent. Can be busy and parking is a little difficult. But the food is great.
(5)
Michael C.
Uncle Bo's is a really cool pupu bar type of enviornment to chill and hangout with some of your friends after a long day of hardwork and wanna get away from all the chaos outside work. lol Uncle Bo's isnt that big until i found out that there was an extension going to the back of the bar. i entered through the front door, i was like "thats it?! so small" until the server or waitress escorted me through the back where theres many chairs and tables for groups, which was cool. of course coming to a pupu bar youre gonna have to order pupus with your beer right? we got the dynamite shrimp, and was completely in love with it. great taste and a big portion for a group at least 6ish people? i still have to try their fried ice cream, so ill be getting that next time i head there. excellent customer service! servers and waitress are constant checking up to get another round of beer or pupus. and oders get to you real quick! parking on the other hand was a problem for me, you park across the street and pay for the diamond services or find street parking right on the side (good luck) but for me, i parked across the street at zippys and walk through the restaurant to make like im ordering something then walk through the other entrance and head straight to Uncle Bo's. haha i know, lame right?
(5)
Joe K.
This place was real treat. This was our first time here. We ordered their most popular apps. Pretty descent wine menu. Finished the night with the beignet dessert. This place was the bomb. Great food and good service. The only small issue was the seating, you are really close to other diners. Our neighbors on the right and left of us were pretty cool. But the very loud and drunk peeps 2 tables down, well not so great. We will definitely return.
(4)
Annie W.
We initially stepped in and surprise, it's more modernly decorated than what the name insinuates. Opposite to our expectations, we were pleasantly surprised by the L.A. inspired, metal, curtain chains separating the tables from the bar area. The restaurants extends even further and allows a more private setting for larger groups or private functions. Anna D. invited my hubby and I to celebrate her fantabulous birthday. Lots of friends showed up and we pretty much occupied the entire lounge area and hovering over the bar. The food here is dynamite, hands down. The clams soaked in Laotian inspired spices along with big pieces of diced tomatoes and my favorite 2-3 inches cut vegetable marinated in the broth. The clams were so fresh and juicy, it was definitely worth the slurps. Watch out, because it does have a nice kick to it. The pizzas were a decent size, great amount of marina sauce, no skimping on the cheese and it was okay in my books. The crust wasn't too thin nor thick and the amount of meat was decent. The chicken penne was amazing too! The flavors were rich, the cheese was evenly mixed within the pasta and it was nothing typical about this white sauce. The birthday girl nearly ordered the whole left menu and everybody was able to try a little bit of everything. So after this entire review, I've been raving about their food and you're wondering why the 4 stars then? Well my friend, one stall restroom was the deal breaker. The line stretched all the way out to the next room. Once it was your turn, a blast of hot air just oozed out from the room. There were no air ventilation and I couldn't wash my hands fast enough to run out and gasp for air. This place is popping and alive with loud music. You're pretty much screaming over each other with such a large crowd. It is such a beautiful place, with perfect service, great food and NOT enough restrooms to accommodate the massive crowd it draws.
(4)
Jessie O.
I love everything about Uncle Bo's! They have local flavor and great customer service. When visitors come to town, this is our go-to-place!
(5)
Erwin R.
The family atmosphere, the pupus, the drinks, the service, the ahi poke, calamari, ...need I say more! Everything was sooooo good! Arrive early as they will fill up quickly! Enjoy!
(5)
Juliet M.
5-STARS just AIN'T ENOUGH! WOWZAS...so my intense familia and me headed to the great Uncle Bo's after my graduation from UH this past Saturday. DO not get me started about the service. It was out of this world. I am not going to lie, my family is high maintenance, but they were kind and delivered. My family RAVED about the food, the quality of the food, the flavor of the food, the effectiveness of the servers, the yummy drinks, and of course Bo's kindness. We were a party of 8. All of our food was served hot and at the same time. We could not believe it. The appetizers came right out, and were to die for. My mom regretted not ordering the clams for her dinner, she proclaimed "those were the best clams I have had in my life, and I have eaten clams in coastal towns all other the country and world" All and all the legitest of experiences. I frequent this place quite a bit, and am pleased that they were able to enjoy my favorite place to sit down, have a drink, and some out of this world food. Thank you for everything Bo and fantastic staff. Ya'll keep it up and keep the food porn a coming!
(5)
Lynne B.
Great place to celebrate a special occasion. Ive celebrated my anniversary, birthday & bachelorette party here. Their staff is great (reason why we come back). The food is okay. Nothing special. Their appetizers are better than their entrees.
(3)
Tim S.
Great food, nice place. Best ahi poke I've ever had!
(4)
Shirlene T.
Through general consensus we (7 of us), came upon this place after our fist choice was maxed out with so much people, we couldn't get in without a reservation. So we opted to come here and check it out. Parking was a challenge, as there was little to none, in the parking lot right next door. One of the utensils and dish had someone's dinner left on it from the night before. The martini wasn't consistent throughout the night, as was first served in the beginning. The hostess was very accommodating, as she got us a table for seven, even though we didn't have a reservation. Our waitress gave us good service and was always there when we needed her. Now on to the food: We ordered a bunch of pupus starting with he dynamite shrimp, crab and artichoke dip with won ton chips, the Thai steamed clams, nachos, hamachi with jalapenos, calamari, and a couple more. One of the ladies in our party never ate steamed clams before and thoroughly enjoyed them, especially the broth. We ordered more bread too, so that we could sop up the broth with it. All of the pupus were delightful and tasteful. Skip the calamari though, as it was just ordinary. The Boca rota, which was cheese bread strips with prime rib pieces and mushroom in the middle to spread on the bread, was really tasty and blew us away. If you're looking for a place to just kick back, talk story, enjoy drinks and delicious pupus, this is definitely one of the places to go to. We will definitely return soon!
(4)
Jack S.
Uncle Bo's is a delicious find, and while just a stone's throw away from Waikiki, it's light years away in flavor, value, and ambience! We had a big late lunch on the day we went to Uncle Bo's and only had pupus, so I can't comment on the entrees, but the dishes we got were both excellent. My wife and I had the cajun seared ahi ($12) and Bo's big nachos ($14). The ahi was delicious, a perfect crust that was flavorful, the inside was perfect, red, and slightly cool still, and the dipping sauce was delicious with a soy base, slightly sweet, with chopped garlic. The Bo's nachos were the highlight of the evening. The start with perfectly fried and crispy won ton chips and add succulent kalua pork, big meaty chunks of smoked ham, and top is with big chunks of roma tomato, grilled onions, and mozarella cheese. The plate was huge, and every bite was great! This would have to be my top nachos to date! We were going to order 2 pupus and then order a couple more, but after the first two, we were stuffed, the portions were nice and large. Another plus was the Stella Artois on tap, and all of their drinks were reasonably priced. The restaurant was full when we arrived, but we only waited about 15 minutes for a table, and the service was also fast and attentive. It was nice to get away from the bland tourist food on the Waikiki strip, and find a place that had great atmosphere, great value, and delicious food! I didn't go to Waikiki to overpay for a bland meal cranked out of a hotel kitchen designed to satisfy the least common palate, I wanted to enjoy new tastes, and see exciting food, and Uncle Bo's delivered. I can't say enough good things about Uncle Bo's.
(5)
Cathy W.
Had dinner here based on recommendation of the concierge in our hotel. When we walked in I was concerned, but the food was out of this world. By far the best meal I have had since I arrived. The SOS is to die for.
(5)
Levy O.
Dear uncle Bo: I didn't mean to say bad things about you, but you have truly changed. Your low key, friendly and good food establishment has now turned into a tourist trap spot staffed with snooty inexperience waitresses dressed in tight red tank tops and shorts accessorized with bad attitude. And I understand that your place is more popular than ever but there's no excuse for putting extra Costco folded chairs in the back dining room when you charge your customers $10 for a cocktail and $17 plates. I'm not quite sure if a future visit will be worth the chance, especially when Side Street on Da Strip is across the street and they have great fried pork chop and nice chairs. Please Uncle Bo.. I think you can do better than this.
(2)
Tze M.
Located on Kapahulu. Parking is either on the street or the lot across the street for a flat fee of $5. The name "Uncle Bo's" fooled me, I thought it was a moke kind of dive. When I went there for the first time, I was surprised. The place was modern and trendy. The patrons are of a mixed crowd. The staff is friendly and helpful. The menu has a good variety to choose from. If your first time, I recommend sticking to the ones with special asterisk next to it. I've mostly order pupu's rather than entrees. My favorites are THAI-Style Steamer Clams (ask for break for the soup), BOCA-ROTA, and Dynamite shirmp. I've been there a few times, and I've always had a good time there! Great for casual dates to large group gathering. I look forward to going there again.
(5)
Ro C.
Off the Waikiki strip but worth the walk. Seafood fresh and creatively prepared. Wait staff very good. Came with no reservation so there was a wait but worth it. 4, not 5 star because of noise level but all else good.
(4)
Natalie N.
Been to a whole bunch of restaurants in Kapahulu, but WHY have I not bothered to try Uncle Bo's until now?! Been depriving my taste buds of good food for too long. Knowing that most places usually pick up around 6 or so, my friend and I decided to come here around 5:15ish or so. There were maybe like one or two parties in the restaurant when we got there. We ordered the boca-rota and the thai style steamer clams for starters. Our waiter put in our order, and I was wondering why he didn't take our orders for appetizers. Our orders came out and DAMN! That's why he didn't take our orders... we didn't need to order more food! The clams (which were very good) we had no problem finishing, but the boca-rota is like this ginormous piece of garlic cheese bread with pieces of prime rib and mushroom...probably a good appetizer for like 4 people or so. We didn't need more food....but I ordered more food. I felt like both appetizers were pretty rich, so I wanted to order a simple pasta to kinda balance it out. I told the waiter I wanted the pasta marinara, but I received the pasta primavera instead. I wasn't upset because I realized I was pretty congested, so I couldn't enunciate my words well enough. Besides, since I was getting over a cold&a 2 week long streak of eating unhealthy on vacation, pasta&veggies was probably a MUCH better idea than getting just marinara. Everything happens for a reason, right? Never judge a book by its cover! I would've never guessed that this restaurant was sooooo good, just from looking at it outside from kapahulu ave. I'd definitely bring a bunch of friends with me to Uncle Bo's the next time I decide to go out for good food&drinks(:
(4)
Justin U.
Living in Hawaii for a little over 3 years, Uncle Bo's is one of my favorite places to take friends to that are visiting from out of state. The atmosphere is trendy, the staff is super friendly and responsive, and the food is top notch. Although their entree menu is really good, the pupu menu is where it's at. My top three items to order is their sweet chili calamari, thai style steamer clams w/bread to dip into the sauce, and spinach artichoke crab dip w/wonton chips. Maddddd good! Once 930pm hits, the lights dim, the music gets turned up and the atmosphere changes on you all over again. I love. it.
(5)
Mark M.
Me and my friend decided to have some dinner to Uncle Bo's because i've read the reviews about "good place" to hag out blah, blah, blah. We walked in and got a table right away. First of the bat, i noticed that tables were set "pretty close to each other." So, I can totally join in to the next table in their conversation and or listen (take not; NOT EAVESDROP) to the people next to me's personal life or love life. Or in my case, i cannot fit between THESE TABLES, damn it! Our server was pretty nice and friendly, but a little slow. Nonetheless, still nice. We ordered the clams, filet mignon, and fettuccine alfredo. CLAMS WERE DELICIOUS! it was great! I love it because once the Clams are gone, I dipped my bread in the sauce and it was heaven! It was good :] Filet Mignon and the pasta were, aahhhh, BORING and UNDERSEASONED! The filet mignon was tough! My friend ordered it thinking it would tender and juicy but she got dry, tough, and bland. Our server didn't even offer us the steak sauce and our salt/pepper. Pasta. Wait, what pasta?! yeah yeah.. it was forgettable, Bland. Buttery, Underseasoned. Underwhelming. Again, no offer of cheese nor pepper. I ate not even half and brought home the leftover. We had the Brownie A la Mode with 2 mini scoops of ice cream. It was good for the price of 6 bucks. The thing is, i could make a better a brownies at home. not that i'm bragging. If you come here expecting such great food, tasty treats, and overwhelming things, you're in for a big surprise. With the amount that we paid, we could have gone to some places and pain half of what we did. If ever you come here, just order the pupus!
(3)
Sheila Marie C.
I came here for one reason only...and that was the Dynamite Shrimp. Everyone on Yelp keeps on mentioning it and I've seen several pictures of it already...so I decided to go for it! The Dynamite Shrimp was actually really yummy! I loved how cheesy, crunchy, and spicy it was! I would definitely come back for it! Now Uncle Bo's itself is alright. It was super packed the night I went (Friday night). I actually kind of didn't like it because of how crowded it was. If I was in a super "party mode," and wanted to get fucked up....then I would come here most definitely. But I did not come here to get wasted...I came here to eat those damn shrimps...and I wanted to eat it in peace. Ugh...maybe I should have paid more close attention to the comments to see what type of place this was...and gotten the shrimp to go. Lol. Anyway, this place gets a 4 because of the shrimp...and I only minus one star for being overly crowded.
(4)
Kat K.
Came here for dinner with friends on a Sunday evening. Loved the ambiance as it made me feel like I was back home in the Bay Area. Ordered the clams and have to say, it was GREAT!!! Garlic Rib eye...eh..I've had better. The opakapaka my husband had said it was too "ocean-y" for him..to me, that's gross!! Other than that..yes, it's definitely a place you want to go to at least once.
(3)
Imran G.
It was nice and I had an appetizer that was made out of every sea creature I could think of! Whoever Uncle Bo is, this man MASSACRES the sea. Seating is limited but the atmosphere is cool! Uncle Bo is not a dive bar! The wait can be long depending on when you come but it's a nice place. Sidenote: The waitresses are cute. Don't bring your girlfriend. Or bring your girlfriend! Or just post on Craigslist in the Casual Encounters section. Just saying.
(4)
Alyssa M.
I've been to Uncle Bo's twice before. My 1st experience was a little awkward. My cousin & I were sitting at the bar having a few drinks & eating. Some guy down the bar kept buying us drinks & even though we didn't drink it...they were still coming our way. We asked the barista to tell him to stop, or at least to STOP MAKING THE DRINKS...but no...they were still being made & still being sent to us. never have a drink from a random. So we left earlier then wanted because we were just feeling uncomfortable. My 2nd experience was more laid back. I went with my sister & we just sat down & it took about 15minutes in order for us to even place an order for DRINKS. so, we just ordered our drinks & food at the same time because we didn't know when she was coming back. By the time we got our food, it was somewhat still warm...then thought, ah screw it, take it to go already. So we left. *******THIS IS THE LAST EXPERIENCE******* Last night i went with my aunty who was visiting from LA. She's never been to Uncle Bo's so i thought it would be a good small place for her to try. As we were eating our dinner, she was looking at the ground & noticed something moving. I looked down by her feet & there was a COCKROACH!!! Not small either. A party that was sitting in back of us saw the same thing & we all kind of just looked at each other. One of the waitresses that walked by noticed what we were all looking at & all she said was "OMG, Im so sorry. Let me try get it" well...her efforts weren't good enough because she didn't catch it, nor did she return to attempt to get it, nor did ANYONE ELSE in that restaurant try & get it. The whole time we were there we were trying to kill it ourselves, & just watching it crawl all over the place. I've already finished eating, but my aunty was hesitant to eat her food. gross. just plain gross.
(1)
Michelle L.
The food was delicious but our final tab scared the crap outta me. I was hoping for a $40-50 for two night but it ended up being that times two including tip. I blame Boy for ordering the $12 Oriental Chicken Salad as one could get it anywhere and for much cheaper. As recommended by Yelp, the Thai steamer clams were awesome! The broth was very tasty and be sure to ask for more bread for dunking. Yum. The Oriental chicken salad was good and I liked that they used a spring mix of greens instead of cabbage. For the main dish, we shared the garlic ribeye. The steak was huge and very tender. Enough said. I was pretty excited for the fried ice cream but I was kinda let down. It's very doughy since it's practically an andagi with rock hard ice cream in the middle. I like it crispy which this one lacked. We ate at the bar and the bartender was pretty cool. Sole bartender was whipping up drinks for the entire restaurant all night. Come 9:30 pm it is like club night. Low lights and loud music. Meh. I would definitely want to come back here again for probably just pupus and drinks :)
(4)
Pari S.
Awesome food, but its a SUPER busy place... I would NOT recommend coming here as a large group. Came with a here with a group of about 15 people and we all ordered appetizers to share. Large portions, great options, good food. Drinks are decent; I had some type of fruit-cocktail spritzer drink that was good, but not strong at all. My favorite was the pork wonton-nachos, but they do get soggy fast, so eat quick! My only disappointment was that waitress serving us; even though several of us ASKED HER SPECIFICALLY to split the check between each couple beforehand, she failed to do so. I'll try and refrain from calling people names and just say that I hate having to split up checks and try and make it fair for everyone; I wasn't a math major, geesh. Just my honest opinion. Otherwise, great food and great ambiance. 4 stars for food and decor; but 2 stars for service= 3 stars total.
(3)
Guy N.
We tried to get dinner before the dinner crowd during this trip because truthfully, around Waikiki, you do not want to deal with the tourist crowds on a weekend night. We went to Uncle Bo's at 5pm and it was pretty mild inside: quiet, well lit, not too crowded. Well, that all changed come dinner time when the lights dimmed, the music blasted, and the crowd noise was immense. What a transformation. It turned into a lounge before our very eyes and ears. Haha. Luckily, we were done with our food already. Ribs - This is why I love and hate Hawaii. The ribs were a very generous serving of mouth watering tender goodness. I love that they give hefty portions of good food (quality for money) but hate that they give hefty portions of good food (bad for figure). The love outweighs the hate hence, more to love for my wife. :) The rib meat doesn't fall of the bone but are super soft, which is perfect for me. Fork only ribs are tasty but I like to eat off the bone and it still has a lot of bite. Clams - Again, true Hawaiian style. Not those little pebble sized ones but these were healthy sized clams with plenty of meat in them. The Thai style seasoning was perfect and steamed well with the main protein. Definitely a keeper. Nachos - Bar food at it's finest. Kalua pork is the main star as its juice flow over a pile of wonton style chips. All the other sides just complemented each other well instead of turning it into a sloppy dish as is the norm with nachos. Very good. The service was good. Not outstanding. For as crowded as it wasn't, I would expect a little more attention. No big deal. They were all getting ready for the real dinner crowd I guess. With all the restaurants in the area and with limited time, I will probably have to try other places that I haven't been to yet before venturing back here unless someone else picks this place. It's pretty good but just not for the family scene as I need to think about nowadays.
(4)
malia w.
SOS and clams were great. Also tried the baked spicy opah, delicious. The chicken pesto pasta was good, fish tacos were okay. Taro beignets were sooo good! Parking is not great. Staff were friendly. Make sure to make reservations.
(5)
Steve P.
Love the Shrimp Dynamite and the atmosphere! Great places to meet for drinks and pupus!
(5)
Jennifer A.
Wait time for two poeple was 30 minutes on a Wednesday night. Food was not bad but if you are a tourist like me, you are better off going to places that serve traditional hawain dishes, like i said food was just not bad, not great.
(3)
Joel S.
Good drinks, meh food, good service. Honestly, I don't see what the hype is all about. Went with a group of friends. There were five of us. The waitress brought us to a table for 4 (with 4 chairs) and walked away, leaving one of us chair-less! Luckily a nice guy at the next table pushed over a chair. Drinks were quite good, and other than the chair incident the service was fine. I had the fish tacos and they were about the worst I've ever had: some kind of creamy sauce that was both totally unexpected and totally unappetizing. Honolulu is FULL of better options than this.
(2)
Victoria V.
Love this place. Really unassuming from the outside, but pretty nice on the inside and way bigger than it looks. Every time I go I like ordering from the pupu menu so we can all share. The Dynamite Shrimp, Thai Style Clams, and Hamachi Sushi are a must. They can accommodate a big parties which they sit in the back... and it gets loud in there. The acoustics are not helpful. It's so loud and you end up yelling over people. The front room by the bar is definitely quieter which is funny. The service is quick and attentive. The food comes out pretty fast too. Perfect because I'm always starving when I go.
(4)
Wanda T.
OMG! How could I have been to Hawaii so many times and not eaten here before? That's the question I keep asking myself and the reason is - there was no YELP!!! Thank you to all who have gone here before me and left such amazing reviews. My mouth was watering long before I arrived for my 6:00 PM reservation. We were seated immediately at a great table across from the bar. The waitress was really friendly and helpful. We followed the advice of many others and ordered appetizers and cocktails. We flat-out loved the Dynamite Shrimp and the Boca-Rota. Those were both wonderful. Pineapple spare ribs were OK and the pork nachos were also pretty good. When we go back, I plan to try the steak entree - it looked delicious! BE WARNED: Parking is a problem. No lot, no valet. Street parking or illegal parking at Zippy's. It also gets very crowded so go early or be prepared to wait for a table. Call ahead for reservations!
(5)
Aline B.
I just got back from eating here. This is my fourth time. We normally only eat their pupus, except this time we ordered main entrees. Our waitress was sweet although less attentive than I prefer. I do keep in mind that they were very busy. She did gave us a free warm brownie for my fiance's birthday. We originally requested for a 6pm seating. A few hours before, we had to change it to 7pm and they easily moved the reservation for us. There was 8 of us, which usually takes up a big table. They did not seem to mind the change. I gave it one more star than the food deserves, because of how they nicely handled our reservation. They even sat us at the front part of the restaurant, which is nicer than the gloomy back part. Here is what we ordered: Thai style steamer clams- disappointing. It usually is great except it tasted too buttery and greasy. Hamachi shashimi with sliced jalapeno and rice- did they mentioned RICE? when the dish came out, all we saw was a pile of rice. I would rather pay $7 and get the best hamachi at Nobu with no rice. Boca-Rota garlic cheesy bread with sliced prime-rib- WOW! this was truly disappointing. We ordered this dish a year ago. It came with actual slice of prime rib. This time we actually had to call the waitress and ask if they forgot the meat because all we saw was mushrooms. The waitress came back and said that it was done correctly. We dug through the thick layer of cream and mushrooms and counted about 5 tiny squares of what might have been meat. The bread was good and crunchy. Fired seared prime rib with garlic-herb and a side of king crab legs- the prime rib was their best dish tonight. If you love garlic, then you will gobble this prime rib. I am a true medium rare eater and it came out medium. I was still turned off by the Boca-Rota that I didn't want to question my prime rib. Crab legs- dry and and tasteless. I was expecting them to be succulent and sweet. I rather eat Costco's cold crab legs. Rack of lamb- again the cook does not know the temperature of meat. It was suppose to be medium rare. It came out uncooked! The outside was somewhat cooked and the inside was raw. My brother in-law only ate the outside. Sea bass with garlic citrus butter- ok, they forgot to mention CREAM. Luckily my sister told them to put the sauce on the side because she cannot handle heavy cream. It looked like the fish was floating on a pile of thick yellow whip cream. I am sad to say "no more Uncle Bo's". I love supporting local talent. That is why I wanted to try the entrees and let my sister who was visiting with her family, enjoy a meal from a local popular restaurant. After spending that kind of money and enjoying just one dish, we rather call it quits.
(3)
Candace W.
Extensive menu is a plus. Great variety and good follow through with entrees living up to the menu descriptions. My husband ordered the prime rib, med rare, and loved it. I've been twice and felt that service was never as good as it could have been, and seating for two was a little uncomfortable. Overall I'd definitely give it a try - a cool bar atmosphere probably best for when you're just in the mood for pupu's and drinks at the bar.
(3)
Liz T.
I've never been impressed with the pupus, so a few nights ago I went strictly for drinks. I ordered a couple of cocktails and a shooter for myself. Despite being $8 each (i.e., expensive for Hawaii), they had little or no alcohol in them. The lychee cocktail tasted like pure lychee juice, which is delicious but ridiculous. The pear cocktail was equally sweet, virgin, and unwanted. After throwing away money on these two, I asked for a raspberry kamikaze expecting a shot of alcohol and getting what tasted like cranberry and lime juice. The bartender must've thought my guy friend SI was sleazy (his theory, not mine) because the bartender wasn't going to give me anything that would even kill one brain cell. It was Monday night, and he must have wanted me to be sober as Lindsay Lohan's judge. Ughhh.
(2)
Wendy H.
Nachos great. Calamari tough but the sauce they come with was fantastic. Pretty noisy but it was Saturday nite with a birthday party Pretty tight for tables love thy neighbour. Worth a try
(3)
Erin T.
We were in LOVE with Uncle Bo's when we were in Honolulu twice about a year ago, so naturally we were excited to eat there again this go around. But we were disappointed. It seems that there's a new chef and that much of the menu has changed. Our favorite dishes- the carpaccio, the calamari, etc.- aren't offered, at least not in the same way they were before. Unfortunately, the recipe changes aren't for the better. The calamari tasted like it was out of a frozen bag, then it was WAY overcooked. The carpaccio has been renamed and now comes with thick slices of meat. The nachos were OK, but only had toppings on the very top, leaving a whole pile of naked chips underneath. The dynamite shrimp were good, as were the beef garlic breads. All in all, we'd say that they're focussing more on being a BAR rather than a restaurant. They've added flat screen TVs to play various sporting events and have increased the prices of their alcohol. So...if you're looking for a bar, we'd still recommend Bo's (it was packed full of people and very loud, just as you'd expect for a bar), but if you're looking to just relax with friends over pupus and GOOD food, I'd head elsewhere. It's a shame, really, because the old Bo's was SO good on both fronts. :(
(2)
Lili H.
This is a great place for groups. Reservations are definitely recommended though, as they are always packed. I was here with a group on a Monday night and the place was really busy. The staff are extremely friendly and the menu is extensive. It could even be overwhelming since they have so many dishes to choose from. My favorite was the Boca Rota. Everything my group ordered turned out very delicious. The presentation, the portion size and taste was great. I will definitely be going back to try more dishes.
(5)
Brian B.
Excellent food and good atmosphere. I would recommend this place to everyone. I went with a group of people so I got to sample a variety of things and nothing was short of great. I would highly recommend the Boca Rota and the Dynamite Shrimp Pizza!
(5)
Jhoren C.
-Perfect spot to meet up with friends for some drinks and pupus. -fri/sat are the busiest nights -pricey drinks but they make em strong and thirst quenching! -only 2 bathrooms for each gender -street parking or valet
(4)
Paula C.
Mmmmmmm Deeeeelicious!!! Excellent fusion cuisine with a friendly, casual & funky vibe. We loved our dynamite shrimp, steamer clams (best sauce EVER), garlic rib eye and SOS spicy seafood concoction. We'll be back for sure!
(5)
James V.
I really enjoyed this place. Quaint. Food was awesome. Had some homemade hummus and some prime rib...ALL of it was excellent. I felt like licking the plate.
(5)
Jenn W.
I've been wanting to eat at Uncle Bo's for a long time now. Well I finally made it there when I was on the island for my cousin's wedding. Great menu selection all around. Lots of appetizers and entrees to choose from. We had oyster, the cheesy bread with meat (sounds odd) but tastes great. All delicious. Loved the ambiance, local crowd and friendly servers. Definitely one of our favorite places to eat in Oahu.
(4)
Ikki V.
Wait staff is always awesome! for Birthdays, they offer a complimentary "BIRTHDAY SHOT" or a "birthday dessert." And they make big noise and sing to you! Nice to know this place has it's priorities set straight! LOL
(5)
Joy N.
I have been here a few times and have never been disappointed by anything. The service is wonderful, the food is delectable, and the portions are quite generous. The best part of this place is that I can get tasty escargot after ten!!!! MMMmmm!!!! If you are going for dinner, I would recommend reservations, this place can get quite crowded. The last time my friends and I went there it was for a snack and drinks after ten pm. We had the kalua pig nachos, escargot (of course), the hamachi sashimi, and the meat pizza. Everything was so tasty and even sharing with everyone we left feeling full. The wine selection is pretty good, my friends found a bottle or two that they liked. The alcohol selection is pretty extensive and we did not have to worry that they would not have something that we wanted to drink. Our server was pretty good. She was polite and knowledgeable of the menu. I would ask that you try this place out if you have the chance.
(4)
Tina C.
Great atmosphere! Great Service! AMAZING Food! Parking can be tricky on the weekends, but the food is worth it! Order the Boca Rota!
(5)
Mr P.
Sorry, I don't get it. Three stars for the clams, ceviche and oysters. Pizza, pot stickers, dynamite shrimp one star. Service? 5 star for the bus boy, 2 for our waitress. Did that add up to my 2 stars?
(2)
Amie F.
I am a bartender at a very busy bar/restaurant in Waikiki. When my customers ask (and they ask all the time!) where they can go for a great dinner that's outside of Waikiki, I always send them to Uncle Bo's. Without fail, and I mean every single time, they come back positively raving about the food and the service! Thanks Uncle Bo's for making my job a little easier, and for making so many people's vacations just that much better!
(5)
Sara T.
Uncle Bo's was not what I expected at all! Came here with a girlfriend last night (we walked 10 mins from her house) and I thought it would be a dive bar kind of place, but it's actually pretty nice inside. It's definitely a see and be seen kind of place, which is kind of weird considering it's in the middle of Kapahulu. We had lychee martinis for $8. They were tasty, but pretty weak for the money. Most domestic beers are $4 and imports (and Kona Longboard) are $5. The bartenders were not bad, but the waitress who greeted us at the door was not very welcoming. She kind of looked us up and down and it seemed like she didn't want to seat us. I can see how this place would be a fun hangout. We didn't have any food but I heard it's tasty. The parking could be a big problem if you don't live within walking distance. I'll be back, and hopefully I'll be able to bump it up a star!
(3)
Kale P.
I really digged this place, I went here with my wife to meet up with some friends. It was slightly busy but we were able to get seats right away. The ambiance was really calming and comforting. The waitress was really nice and kept checking on us to see if we were doing good. The food is what brings in the Five Star rating. The escargot, the kalua nachos, and the sushi was awesome. Never had escargot prepared so perfect with the garlic, butter and cheese concoction! The Kalua pig nachos was probably my favorite dish because the chips were different than other chips on nachos and the sweet sauce and other toppings put it all together. I would definitely check this place out again.
(5)
Kevin F.
Off the beaten path and don't let the store front fool you! Fantastic pizza and seafood pasta. Slightly pricey, but its Hawaii, right?!
(4)
Vivian A.
Met a local friend here to catch up. I had heard nothing about Uncle Bo's so I was coming in as a newbie. The place is nicely decorated and feels upscale-ish but we walked in after a quick outdoor wash-off shower from the being at the beach all day (still in our bathing suits and cover-ups) and the place is not pretentious at all. There were three of us and we shared the pupus. To drink, I had a melona martini and it was not too sweet, just perfect. For the pupus, we had: 1) Dynamite shrimp. I don't know what was in it but it was AWESOME. A mound of orangey-looking shrimp stuff comes out and it's very tasty with good sized shrimp in it. 2) Ahi Poke. This was awesome. I love poke and this was pretty good. The marinade was not too overpowering and the fish was fresh. 3) Island-Style Fried Noodle. Looking at the dish it seemed very simple but for some reason, we all kept eating it and going in for seconds. It was very tasty and probably came in a close second next to the Dynamite Shrimp. 4) Shaken Beef. This dish was good although something seemed to lack in flavor. Not sure what but.... was hoping for something more being the other dishes were so tasty. Four dishes plus 2 cocktails came out to about $55, not including tip. You can try to find street parking but there is a lot across the street for night parking for $4.
(4)
Anna D.
Oh, me so hungry... Me love you long time! Only thing I can think of here that I didn't like was the dynamite shrimp.... However, everything else is really good. I don't care if I don't know you, I'll join you if you're eating here! If you get to meet the owners Bo and Ho Suk, you'll be surprised with how awesome and nice they are. I love them!
(5)
Jack M.
One of the best meals I've had while living in Hawaii. Definitely go if you're a fan of freshly made food.
(4)
Nathan K.
Located next to irefune and zippys. ~$40/person (pasta ~$15, steaks ~$25, pupus ~$8, drinks $~8). $5 parking, they share the same lot across the street as side street inn. Nice trendy atmosphere, so dress nice. If your looking to just enjoy the food, come early to avoid the young social crowd and line. Decent service, but I think if you look like you're there to party, drink, and tip the service would be very good. Had a nice refreshing drink called Sweet P. Tried the fire herb prime rib. It was good, but seemed like they didn't season it much, some sea salt and a little bit of crust would make this much better.
(4)
Deanna C.
This is probably one of my most favorite restaurants on the island. Service can be a little slow sometimes, at yeah it is a bit pricey....but the food and drinks are just so delicious, we always come back for more! Definitely need to try the Boca-Rota appetizer, so yummy....and the dynamite shrimp pizza is a must have too!
(5)
Joshua T.
Loved the restaurant. service was great, and the food was delicious. My favorite were the clams. We had 18 people in our party and the server recommended a fixed menu for $27 per person. Worth every penny, and i would have paid more. The art in the restaurant was modern and lively...really added to the enjoyment of the meal. I will go here again the next time I am back here.
(4)
Larry L.
From the calamari and the ahi appetizers to the Shrimp Pasta and the fried Ice cream for dessert it was phenonimal. Great service as well would recommend to anyone
(5)
Keola S.
Ive been here 3 times, and Uncle Bos never disappoints. Great service even when they're busy! My favorites are the boca rota and kalua pig nachos. One of my friends got a pizza, the other got a pasta dish. Everyone was happy. Portions are generous. Save room for dessert because the fried ice cream is super ono! The outside looks not so great, but its good inside. Perfect for date night or meeting up with friends.friends
(5)
Eugenia W.
Looks like a tiny hole in the wall, but much larger inside. A hidden Oahu gem. Had large group for a birthday party so we had the chefs special, which turned out to be an all you can eat pupu's for $28 per person. Everything was delicious!!! Lots of seafood. Added on tip of 19% seemed very high and a fee of $2 per person to let us bring our own cake that they didn't tell us about beforehand was a bit of a shock. Definitely will be going back. Also, reservations are a must but be warned....there is a time limit. You can't just hang out. Our group was given a window of 7-9:15 but because they didn't split the check for us it took us longer to get out of there. And they kept bugging us to hurry.
(3)
Mary B.
Everything I've tried has been worth the calories. The dynamite shrimp, meat lovers pizza, Boca Rota, Kalua Pig Fried Rice with Spinach, Nachos, and more ... I was impressed by the Kalua Pig Fried Rice with Spinach. It is my favorite dish! The service at Uncle Bo's is excellent. They are really nice! It can be very crowded at night, so it's not the best place to go if you want a quiet dinner. You may also have to pay for parking. Uncle Bo's is a fun place to hang out with friends and enjoy good food. There's a lot of good energy there. Don't be fooled by the outside either ... It's quite spacious inside.
(5)
Ed K.
What looks kind of like a grungy family diner with the unassuming name on the outside, is actually a fairly trendy looking restaurant/lounge/bar on the inside, reminiscent of anything found on LA's west side. A group of us visiting town were looking for a place to dine and were recommended Uncle Bo's by a local friend. Service is friendly enough and the menu consists of a variety of hawaiian style asian & american fusion dishes. We made a pretty good sampling of the menu starting with the Thai style steamer clams which were well seasonsed and lacked any real fishy flavour and some of the island style fried noodle, which felt more like instant cup ramen noodles mixed with cabbage and spam. The steam chinese-style opakapaka fish was good, but wasn't quite what I expected, thinking it would be more like your traditional steamed fish with soy sauce, ginger and scallions, but came off more like grilled fish instead. Dinner was rounded off with some garlic herb chicken pasta which was also alright but nothing to get excited about. In general, portions were very generous and service was fast n friendly with a clean, classy decor, not to mention prices came out quite cheap once we split up the bill. I haven't had a chance to try the drinks here but that maybe next on my list if I return.
(3)
Michael W.
What a difference a year makes, Last time I was here had the best meal and pupu's this time not so much.... The dynamite shrimp where good the boca not so much the bread was super pale and the dish was luke warm. My crab legs I has where HUGE but the meat inside was over cooked overall the meal sucked... Service was great so that why I gave two stars.
(2)
Hanna N.
You must order the clams!!!!!!!
(4)
Samson E.
Awesome place to have cocktails and pupus! Great place for Pau Hana. Ample parking for $4.00 across the street. The exterior of the building does not do justice for what is inside. The decor was nicely arranged. The bar area was comfortable wit a couple couches next to the one sided bar. We sat at the bar and were immediately greeted by the bartender. It was not too busy yet as it was only 4:30 in the afternoon but I guess that they get busy as the host was asking the guests that walked through the door if they had resrvations. The dining room extended through the back just after the bar. Good times for Pau Hana!
(4)
Kacee K.
Dynamite shrimp is amazing and the cucumber cocktail is good too. This place sounds like a hole in the wall but its actually very trendy and reasonably priced. Great atmosphere for a hot date or a night out with the girls or just casual. Great service and all in all great experience and is a most before you leave island.
(5)
Rob B.
Only open for dinner FYI. Nice spot and and seems to be drafting the Hawaiian version of the tapas craze that has been going on the mainland. Lots of "small" dishes with lots of local flavor. We tried the favorites, Thai clams, firecracker shrimp and the nachos. None was bad, none was great. Clams were the best. Really a little less in each dish would have made any of them better. A big handed chef, left us with huge, out of balanced plates that could have been great. Some times less is more.
(3)
Isaac N.
Tried Uncle Bo's last night and the food was not bad though some dishes were definitely better than others. There were 6 of us and we decided to just order a bunch of different appetizers in order to try a variety of things. We ordered Spinach Artichoke Crab Dip, Uncle Bo's Dynamite Shrimp, Baby-Back Ribs, Thai-Style Steamer Clams, Uncle Bo's Big Nachos, and the Ahi Sashimi. There was only one dish that stood out, and that I really liked. The Uncle Bo's Dynamite Shrimp. Definitely had the crunch and spice that appealed to my taste. The Nachos and Clams were decent. Both of these dishes were pretty generous in size. The nachos could have probably used more a little more kalua. The clams were large in size though the sauce it was prepared in was overly sweet and did not complement the flavor of the clams in my opinion. As for the Spinach Artichoke Crab Dip and Baby-back ribs. I would not at all recommend ordering any of these two dishes. Both dishes really lacked flavor. I can't in fact even remember tasting any crab and barely any artichoke in the dip. The Baby-back ribs tasted as if it were boiled then thrown on the grill with no seasoning then topped with a bunch of chopped onion. I did like the ambiance and the service was good. I also thought that their lemongrass martini was good and refreshing. Though overall this is not somewhere I would feel the need to go back to.
(2)
Dan G.
Another bright spot to visit when in Honolulu. The pupu's are delicious but I really go there for my meat craving. The Garlic Rib-Eye steak is my favorite, with mashed potatoes. They have a full service bar and the locals who frequent Uncle Bo's are extremely friendly. During one of my visits, one couple sitting at the bar bought me a shot of Patron. I bought them one and we all had a very nice evening talking and drinking. Again, highly recommended for visitors to Honolulu. I don't live here, however when I return (every 3 months), I will eat at Uncle Bo's for dinner at least once during my visit. Reservations are highly recommended.
(5)
Derek n.
I went here the other evening with friends for pupus and drinks in the evening and had a great time. The food was great and the service was also very good. I like that it is open late and the kitchen stays open. It is a bit on the pricy side for small dishes and i would not call the drinks a bargain unless you are there for happy hour, but it has a great atmosphere to hang out with a moderate size group of friends.
(4)
Megan M.
The food here is AMAZING!! We got several pupus for the table & all of them were great....especially the Boca which is a MUST try! Prices are reasonable. I took off 1 star because the service here is terrible. We were a larger party & our waitress only checked on us twice, when she did she was very short & seemed to care less we were even there, she obviously couldn't even process simple math as we divided up the check & labeled the cards & she still couldn't handle it correctly. A couple of my friends had been there before & even in a smaller party they said the service was horrible.
(4)
Joe B.
I've been to this restaurant multiple times now. I can say I've had about 75 percent of the appetizers menu.there are some dishes that will blow your mind. And the ones that don't are still excellent excellent excellent. The service is always quick the staff is always pleasant and the atmosphere is nice. The prices are fair and the restaurant in general all the clean appearance. If you're looking for an excellent meal or great place to take a date then you definitely have to try this place.
(5)
Maria S.
I love small plates (pupu's) and this place definitely serves good quality of dishes with generous amounts. Price is reasonable and not too heavy on the pocket. I love the ambiance, even though outside it didn't look to inviting. we ordered: Dynamite shrimp (excellent) Bo's big nachos (excellent) Thai-style steamer clams (very good) Crispy crab cakes (very good) I will definitely recommend this place to my friends here in SF, if they happen to visit Hawaii ;)...and will for sure come back!
(4)
Roland K.
When non-locals ask me for a must-try restaurant during their visit, Uncle Bo's is always on the top of my list! I would describe the restaurant as a hybrid of a 5-star classy restaurant and unclassy dive bar. Some of the deco is super nice, but really, you are sitting on plastic chairs. For people like me, it is fun and just the right mix of casual and fancy. But, really the star of Uncle Bo's is its pupus! I have done some of their seafood main courses, the steak, salad, and the pizzas...all good. But, now I just go for the same few things: Thai Clams, Seafood Trap, and Asian Nachos. All three dishes have this chile/garlic/oyster sauce that I wish they sold in bottles because I would buy it in bulk and give it out for Christmas. I have tried to make it, but it still does not taste the same :/ But, really, my friends and I just keep begging for more bread and dip it in the sauce because its so good. And the Asian Nachos are a trip because it tastes unreal: Special Sauce, Wonton Chips, Ham, Kalua Pig, Cheese, Salsa, Sour Cream...everything I love in one dish. Definitely a place to come with a group of friends (make a reservation!) and just catch up while grinding on pupus for the night. The drinks aren't anything special...or cheap...but I am usually too busy eating to even drink :)
(5)
Rkb B.
4.5 stars Went here for dinner tonight with my dad and was very impressed with the food and service. Came in at just after 6pm with no reservations on a Tuesday nite as we figured it wouldn't be crowded. By the time we left, every single table was full, and a small line formed outside, so go early! The service was very good: waitress came almost right away, intro'ed herself and got our drink orders and came back with them relatively quickly (okay, maybe a beat or two too long, but it wasn't too bad). We each ordered our meals (dad had the prime rib, I had the garlic steak) and split an order of the calamari. At first, I was taken aback by the prices as I was expecting smaller portions, but man was I wrong. Their portions are pretty big! Calamari could have easily served 4 folks - and it wasn't your typical fried rings with marinara sauce either. It came with a serving of a tomato & won bok 'soup' as a dipping sauce - sounds strange, yes, but man was it tasty. We even wondered if they had it separate to serve as a soup! Both the steak and the prime rib were cooked very well and were also BIG. The garlic on the steak was roasted so it didn't have that raw garlic taste to it and was very plentiful. I have a pretty good appetite and even I couldn't finish it (which was good as now I have lunch!). My dad and I could have easily shared one of these and still walk away full! So bring your appetite when you go! The only thing I could say that I didn't like about it is that the tables were just a tad too close. This could be a bad thing for those wishing a quiet evening, but luckily for us, the parties on either side didn't mind being so close, either (and we could share the calamari among them as well, too). Would definitely go back again!
(4)
Deanna P.
Love this place. One of the better lychee martini's on Oahu. The pupu's are always delicious and the service was great. I have never had a bad experience here.
(5)
Swa S.
All the meat eaters loved their food. I liked my vege pasta but didnt love it. Also the tofu dip was yummy. Pricey though. But everything is pricey in Hawaii
(4)
Sara W.
I love love love this place. Great atmosphere, super fun and consistent food. Great bar, good service. Casual with a modern edge, good job!
(5)
Melissa M.
Great food! Great prices! Every person I bring there always want to go back!
(5)
Brian P.
I like this place, but I've had a few bad experiences. The interior is pretty posh and the music might be a tad louder than I like. I hate having to yell when speaking to the person next to me. Food wise, some of it is good. I had some nice spring rolls and pizza but the ribs were terrible. Parking is royal pain in the butt if you are like me and refuse to pay. Sorry, I lived in cities much larger than our fair Honolulu and never, ever, pay for a lot. This leaves the street which usually has plenty of spaces. Of course, last time I went and parked on Kapahulu someone backed into the front of my car and didn't leave a note wile I was at Uncle Bo's. Maybe this is why im bitter about the establishment.
(3)
Adrienne F.
The atmosphere was delightful and the food was simply amazing! The service was a little slower than I would have expected, but not so slow that the ambiance was thrown off.
(4)
Chris S.
Great place to eat. Wide selection of food to chose from. Had a party of six and everyone was able to find something they liked. I tried the fish tacos and fire seared prime rib and both were excellent.
(4)
Darcie I.
Love their pupus. Favorite is dynamite shrimp, and clams. The sauce for the clams is so yummy, I dip my bread in it. The pizza are generous in size, with a nice crispy crust. Bf had the prime rib which he enjoyed, although the crab was overcooked. Surprisingly good place for kids, they have a kids menu which is not bad. Usually pretty busy after 6, wasnt able to seat us without reservations on a tuesday night.
(4)
James H.
I had a pretty bad experience at Uncle Bo's. We had a party of 10 for an Christmas party. The waitress was horrible. For instance, she takes everyones order but mines and leaves to put it in. Through out the night, we had to constantly call her to refill drinks, etc... She also gave us just 3 menus for 10 people which was pretty difficult. Than when we asked what's on the buffet menu, she just said most of the menu! WTF.. All orders come out at different times, meaning either you eat without your friends getting their foods or you let yours get cold. 2 of my buddies get their food close to when 8 of us are all done, 1 friend gets his side order of rice after he's done with everything! What are you suppose to do with just rice?? Food was decent but for the price, I don't suggest it..
(2)
C L.
Really cute little place with two pool tables, and a stage. The music is pretty loud - or it was that night. Lots of tables near the stage for those that would like to just listen.
(4)
Keola m.
Super Friendly Staff. Met some friends from work there and started with Oyster Shooters HUGE almost couldnt get in my mouth. Delicious. Bar is beautifully stocked with all my favorite vodkas and others for shots. Bucca Rotta was delicious (starter) We only did pupus and everything was great. Prime rib with fat steak fries and the Clams was super good. Ill definately go back
(5)
Quadraphonix H.
Monday evening in Kapahulu. Planned to meet some friends for pupus and drinks. Walked into the first place around the "corner" it was quite empty but had a rude bartender say "you have reservations?" when we said no he replied "that's why it says wait to be seated" damn the sarcasm! sorry barboy the sign was not visible to me. Then a nice waiter walks up and says sorry we are fully booked starting at 7:30pm but you can stay for an hour. at least he was nice. My peeps said nah lets go to Uncle Bo's. We got to uncle Bo's and the hostess says "got reservations" of course the answer was no. She said let me find you a table sir! hmm what a difference but they were busier than the other place around the "corner" The experience from there on....awesome! the food, drinks and service was just exceptional. Congrats to the Uncle Bo for running a fine establishment. This place was incredible busy but the food came out so quick and drinks even faster. That is always nice. Will definitely go back to Uncle Bo's. Nice place to kick it with good friends! To the other spot around the "corner" definitely not.
I promise to be faithful one hundred percent. That's my motto my code, my reviews will be honest and bold. Uncle Bo's is one of my favorite spots a little outside of Waikiki so you beat the tourist crowd most days. They serve full menue at the bar and most times I prefer to sit there. I typically start out with the Boca-Rota which consists of cheesy pieces of garlic bread circling thinly sliced prime rib with sauteed mushrooms...simply amazing and enough to split or for a whole meal. Next I order the Dynamite Shrimp not as big of a portion but the flavors are bold and unique it always leaves me feeling satisfied as I order a blueberry lemondrop martini for dessert. The service has always been quick and friendly. The ambiance is modern asain fusion keeping things simple, clean, and a little dim this is a spot you can go with your friends or take a date. All in All Uncle Bo's has my long standing approval. I meant what I said and I said what I meant. That's it That's all The end
(4)
Amanda M.
I went here Saturday around 5pm with my boyfriend, and had no trouble getting in. I was a little turned off, because the outside looked like a dump, but the inside was actually trendy, clean and modern. We started off with drinks. I tried the blueberry lemondrop martini. It was only $7, and had great flavor. I'm used to spending a lot more in Waikiki, so this was a nice treat. My boyfriend had Hefeweizen, which surprised us. Not many bars out here in Hawaii carry it. We went for the dynamite shrimp and boca rota, based on the Yelp reviews. The dynamite shrimp were very good, and the price was just right at $9. My boyfriend enjoyed the boca rota, but I was expecting a little something more. I thought the bread lacked flavor. I know many people give it rave reviews, but I doubt I'd order it again. Guess when you come from the mainland and are used to great Italian, you have higher expectations. We were full after just two appetizers (big portions), but went with dessert anyway. The Oreo Haupia Mud Pie was AMAZING. It was made with kona coffee ice cream. This dessert was light, creamy and very flavorful. Our meal came out to $40, and that's a price you just can't beat. We'll definitely be coming back :) Note: Park across the street. It's $4 after 5pm, flat rate.
(4)
Bradley H.
I went there one evening looking for a chill night of pupus and drinks...i guess at night Uncle Bo goes to sleep and his nephew comes out and runs the joint. Not literally, but this place was really a lot more upbeat (and louder) than I expected. They throw on all the hard driven beats and at times it was a little difficult to communicate with others...BUT... The food there was very good: The thai clams were pretty awesome...and don't forget to dip the bread in the sauce...i think the sauce was definitely the highlight of the evening...and if i wasn't already nervous about all the weight i've gained on this trip, i would have finished off the sauce with more bread. If you don't try this dish, i think you're missing out on something incredible. The nachos were like hawaiian taco bell on steroids. Personally, a little too much liquid from the tomatoes and what not that made the house-made tortilla chips a little saturated, but you can't really beat kalua pig and cheese over...well...anything! They have a pretty long wine list (especially since it seems most bars in hawaii don't believe that wine is significant enough to be sold), but i didn't look at it and don't know if there was anything great or otherwise. They also have a good amount of flavored hard alcohol as well as a diverse martini menu. I was a little disappointed that they only had like 4 beers on tap, but they did have a long listing of bottled beers...i guess i'm just not that partial to bottles. I found that the crowd there was very mixed. From younger people in their 20's, to families in their 30's (please don't bring your kids to this place and make them listen to raucous noise until the late hours of the night for goodness sakes), to the...uh...older generation in their 50's and (dare i say) beyond...or maybe people just don't age as gracefully anymore, but i digress... All in all, i did have a fun time after i got used to the noise. Great company, great food, great beer (well...beer), and i WILL be back when the stars align again in the future. Happy Eating!
(4)
K.C. I.
FOOD: OK...If you want to have a FOOD BABY come here with 10+ peeps (it is a requirement) and get one of the Chef's Choices (either all you can eat "certain apps" for $25 per person or $35 for all you can eat "certain apps"[decided by your waitress] + a [I believe it was a pasta entree]) - HOWEVER the whole party has to agree to do the chef's choice. Our party of 10 people agreed to do the $25 ALL YOU CAN EAT (or try to at least). We had the following: 2 - Pot Stickers 2 - Kalua Pig Fried Rice 2 - Shaken Beef 2 - Spinach Artichoke Crab Dip 2 - Calamari 2 - Dynamite Shrimp 2 - Thai-Style Steamer Clams Bo's Big Nachos 2 - Thai Street-Style Grilled Chicken Wings 2 - Ahi Poke 2 - Boca-Rota Pizza (I think it had Ham, Kalua Pig, & Tomato) We could not finish it all, but we weren't allowed to take any of the leftovers home either. I guess it was good because we got to try a whole bunch of stuff but cost wise & for the sake of not over indulging it would have been more cost efficient if we each order our own entree. Out of everything we ate I though that the Boca-Rota was the tastiest, as well as the Nachos (there is a sauce on the bottom so the chips might get soggy if you take your time eating this), and the Calamari. There was SOO much food some of us were starting to fall asleep at the table. DRINKS: I had a Honey Whiskey, with Lemonade, & Ginger Cocktail which was really tasty and refreshing (not super Gingery at all). I had a sip of my friend's Pear Cocktail which was also very tasty and sweet. Not heavy handed with the alcohol at all. SERVICE: Our server was awesome, really nice, polite, efficient, answered all of our questions before and during our dinner. At the end she kept checking on us to make sure everything was ok and to see if we needed anything else. Great service! Definitely going to come back but to try an entree.
(4)
C L.
Great food. nice place.
(4)
Chris C.
All you need to know is: Get the Boca Rota, the new "SOS", or the Thai Style Steamer Clams. These three are simply amazing. Most of the other dishes are average for the price, a few above average.
(4)
Courtney C.
Don't judge a book by it's cover. From the outside this place looks like a dive bar, but once you enter it's a trendly little bar/lounge. Went on a Friday night and it was packed. Good thing they added that second room in the back to accomodate the dinner crowd. Ordered the Boca Rota Garlic Cheesy Bread & The Ahi Tornado Roll. The Garlic Bread was amazing and I could have eaten the whole thing myself. I especially liked that it had sliced prime rib and mushrooms on it. Didn't really care for the Ahi Tornado Roll because it was really salty. They also had some fun girly drinks on the menu. I can't remember the name of the one I ordered, but it was pear something. And for fun we ordered Hello Kitty Shots. They were sweet, but not bad. Had a really good time with a large group of friends. I think I would like to come back for a full dinner to try some of the other menu items that caught my eye. Favorites: Boca Rota Garlic Cheesy Bread & Pear Coctail (Sorry don't remember the exact name)
(3)
Joe W.
We celebrated my girlfriend's birthday here with about 20 of our friends! This is a great venue for large parties, especially because of their deal where you can get all-you-can eat pupus for $25(?) per head. The only condition is that everyone on the table has to do this, and Uncle Bo's gets to decide what pupus and how often to bring them out. This worked out really well for the most part and everyone ate to their hearts' content! The servers later brought out cupcakes that we brought with candles lit so we could sing happy birthday, which turned out be hilarious because they accidentally switched the candles we brought for trick candles! The experience up to this point was definitely 5 stars! Here's the part that makes me subtract 2 stars, though. We had reserved 23 seats, and only 20 people showed up, which happens with large parties, and we had no control over it. They ended up charging us for 23 seats, saying that they could have made money off of a couple or a party of 3, and that we should be responsible for their loss. WTF? I ended up having to talk to a manager, then one of the co-owners, Hysuk, to straighten out the deal. It seemed like he was trying to punish us for our three no-shows. I eventually persuaded him that we shouldn't be responsible for the 3 empty seats since we just brought him 20 people's business, but not before getting a lecture from him. I couldn't believe it. That BS costs 2 stars, not just one. They're a popular restaurant, they really don't have to nickel and dime people like this. I'd still recommend coming back here, but either manage your group really tightly or be prepared to argue your bill.
(3)
Tony A.
Went on Friday night and there was no wait and plenty of seats at the bar. The bartender was very friendly and helpful. Great drink and beer selection and extensive menu. I got the dynamite shrimp, highly reccommend it, great place to start a night out.
(5)
Julie N.
This is the place where my husband and I would always pick for our date nights. It is our CHEERS bar for those of you old enough to know what I am talking about. It is also a must go to for Friends and Family from out of town. We always get the Boca-Roda, Clams, Crab Salad. Their pricing is incredibly fair for the portion. Parking can be a bummer but so do most places on Kapahulu and Waikiki. I feel that it is not fair for them to lose stars based on parking.
(5)
Christine Mochi K.
Everytime I went it would be late night, servers a nice and food came out on time. Waitress was alway friendly and recommend wines or cocktails to go with meals. I love their Thai calms, escargot, oyster shooters, rib eye steak. Everytime I visit home this is a stop I must make to eat at.
(4)
Darci N.
Love the food! Hate the wait! Can't blame the restaurant, due to their popularity reservations for a Friday night was booked a week in advance! Parking is rare across the street in the paid parking lot. We waited an hour.. very well worth the wait. The staff was fantastic.. especially when Bo himself came out to our table of 12. We didn't eat individual meals we went with the $25/head all you can eat chef's choice. It was the perfect recommendation by Bo himself. Each dish came out quick and at the perfect temperature.Through all the hustle and bustle of the jam-packed restaurant our table became immediately quiet once we started digging into to each delicious dish. Each dish a distinct, mouth-watering flavor of its own. I think next time I won't go with a large group but just me and the Mr. so we can enjoy the other ono entrees I was eyeing on the menu!
(5)
James G.
Here is what my sis had to say about the place. She was just visiting from Guam: The atmosphere and service at Uncle Bo's were superb. Our waitress seemed genuinely friendly and even offered us free shooters at the end of dinner for an earlier mishap she had while pouring our wine. We barely noticed and quickly forgave the small spill, but it was a testament to her concern for her customers that she still offered to make amends. Judging by the descriptions on the menu, we could each order salads and still come away with hearty meals. "Hearty meals" was an understatement. These were huge salads with impressive fixings! The crab salad had real, fresh crabmeat, and the warm spinach salad had generous helpings of feta and bacon. The menu also had an impressive selection of wines, and our shiraz, despite ending up in a small portion on the tablecloth, rounded out the meal very well. All in all, it was a very enjoyable dining experience. -Ann
(4)
Ashley C.
Great place to hook up with your friends to have cocktails and some ono pupus. Parking is tough but once you can get a spot, the pupus are pretty awesome...drinks too yah! The service is great and the prices are very reasonable. It's open late and it gets crowded at times. Still...the place is large enough that you aren't bumping into each other.
(5)
King Hipp O.
The dynamite shrimp!! Wow that was incredible. The pizzas, the poke, the curry all so amazing. If try something new each and every time I came here.... Too bad I don't live here or I would!
(5)
Davis Y.
A very big surprise and another example of Yelp being never wrong.
(5)
Lisa N.
this place was OK. service sucked. i checked yelp. it said they closed at 11. i called at about 1030 and the girl told me they were closing in 15 minutes. i tried calling back about 5 minutes later and no one answers. finally decided to just rush over and try our luck.... we had: oyster shooters.. (mehh... whatever) dynamite shrimp (pretty good) garlic ribeye was ok (pretty good, def not the best) king crab legs (frozen tasted ok) lobster tail (also frozen, also tasted just ok) and 10+ shots the stupid waitress didnt even know what hennessey privilege was. (yet claimed thats what she was selling us, until I called her out, since they were pouring it from a REGuLAR hennessey bottle. -__- )
(3)
C K.
Excellent. Excellent. Excellent!!!!
(5)
Marisa O.
Uncle Bo's. Awesome! Good food, good drinks, and actually, a very swanky atmosphere. So why the four stars instead of five? Parking that you either have to pay for or walk far for. No good. Especially after a bunch of awesome food and drink! My fave? Boca Rota. Do it!
(4)
tae k.
The place definitely has a lively vibe at night. The ahi wraps were ok and the steamed clams, though billed as a must have, were not as amazing as I was hoping. I could see myself trying some other appetizers.
(3)
Olga F.
Great food & service!! Uncle Bo's pupus were SO yummy! My faves: The Dynamite Shrimp & Boca Rota Each pupu we tried tho, was delishhhh, to say the least. off the Grill: GARLIC RIB EYE STEAK FOR $24!!!!? What a deal! The rib eye was HUGE too. Came with a side of garlic mash & veggies. Me & my BF shared & killed it. so yuuuummy, succulent & juicy! The drinks were nice & strong & the atmosphere was grown. For an affordable sit down dinner in Waikiki, this is your go to place!
(5)
Tiana K.
Uncle Bo's has a cool atmosphere. They have good fish and the prices aren't too bad. Plus they are really nice and treat their customers great. I'll definitely come back here again. The only thing I don't like is it can get a little loud because it gets busy, but I guess that is good for Uncle Bo's as they get alot of business! The locals seem to really like this place! :)
(4)
Megan P.
Oh my gosh - AMAZING! Had been told we have to try this place while visiting Honolulu. Looks like a dive from the street, but once inside, it's really nice. We had an adorable and accommodating server! She explained their HUGE menu and we decided to enjoy a few different pupus, along with some wine and beer! We split the nachos which were different but delicious! They are on wonton chips and have shredded pork on top! Very good and filling! My husband enjoyed the prime rib sliders while I had the Dynamite Shrimp. Everything was yummy!
(5)
E F.
Awesome find! Great food, large portions, reasonable prices, great drinks and lots of locals that know where to eat. Pizza was LOADED with fresh toppings, salad was great....Top notch clams and seafood according to my partner....Will be back when I go to Waikiki again. Nice selection of food for all kinds of tastes.....
(5)
Sierrah I.
Two words: BOCA ROTA. That's all. Ho Suk, Bo and all the managers there are AWESOME. I've had about all my birthday dinners here or my best girlfriend's dinners here for the past 3 years. Never fails to please!.
(5)
joe k.
A really nice find where locals eat. Terrific fish and the apptz are killer. The salads are huge and very fresh. I am not sure if they do Organic but I suspect they do for vegetables and salad mix. We go to Honolulu a lot and kept seeing the place heard it was good but never tried it. Last night there we decided to do so and it was terrific. My only warning is that the main courses can be very very rich and heavy. We decided this would be our big splurge for eating rich food when visiting.
(4)
Stephanie S.
I will start with the good. Drinks are good. Food is AMAZING. I was a little disappointed with the beet salad because there wasn't much dressing, there weren't a whole lot of beets in it. My favorites are the deep fried ahi and the walnut shrimp lettuce wraps. I prefer sitting in the back room. Last time I went I was sat in the front room by the bar right next to another table, with waiters and hostesses walking right by me all night, which wasn't very romantic on my date. They could afford to take a table or two off the floor.
(3)
Christian D.
Uncle Bo's has, hands down, not only the best sea food meal I have ever tasted, but also one of the best pizzas I have ever had in my life with the Dynamite Shrimp Pizza. This will definitely be a place I make time for every time I visit Hawaii. The inviting, modern aesthetic (complete with blade-less Dyson fans, no less!) is another nice plus.
(5)
Angela A.
I usually LOVE Uncle Bo's, but my last experience was not-so-great. Our waitress was so very uninterested in our table. She asked us for our drink order and returned 10 minutes later to ask us again because she'd forgotten what we ordered! Who does that? The appetizers were hit and miss: the poke was excellent and the calamari was disappointing. I don't really care for the large, tough rings that Uncle selects and I prefer the traditional marinara sauce with calamari over whatever that sauce is, chili sauce maybe? We got the crab crusted opah to share for our dinner, one of our favorites! It held up to the high expectation and was eaten the next day for lunch, too! Better luck next time, huh?
(3)
Jess M.
If I could rate this place a ZERO...I WOULD. The service was TERRIBLE. When we went in, there were three snotty girls that told us we couldn't check in because not half of our party was there. The tables were ready, but we couldn't sit and had to wait outside. Um, why can't we sit? If no one else is gonna sit there cuz it's RESERVED for US, why can't we sit? The girl who was taking our orders skipped people while taking orders. She was unhappy when someone needed something repeated. She didn't want to tell people about drinks and just said they could look at the menu. She didn't know if the bartender could make a specific drink when asked, and someone from our party had to tell her to go ask the bartender..uh, why can't you use your brain and volunteer to ask the bartender? Why do you gotta make life so hard? Someone on our table spilled water, and no one cleaned it. They brought us napkins to clean it ourselves. So I sat there while water dripped on my sandals through the cracks of two tables. I sat there w/ their stupid paper table covers soaking wet. When brought the check, she took away our menu (which was wet) and splashed it on my boyfriend's shirt. When I gave her my credit card, I got no "thank you" or anything. When she brought it back, she attempted to put the check on the WET table so I took it before she could set it down. I got no "thank you" for payment either... The food was TERRIBLE. I ordered the Chicken Alfredo. I would NOT recommend this dish. It was dry and don't be fooled when you say you would get "white creamy sauce" because there was nothing creamy about it. The noodles had no taste. The sauce had no taste. The chicken didn't have taste. The mushrooms were under-cooked. It was just BAD. My boyfriend ordered the Salmon dish and that was terrible as well. Random...but what is up with the hanging chains? I don't wanna get beat up while trying to leave a restaurant. So yeah, don't go here. I wasted $45 dollars here. I got crappy food and crappy service. So not worth it. I would have been happier buying a $1 noodle plate and 50 cent pork hash from the MANAPUA TRUCK.
(1)
Melissa N.
This place from the outside is very deceiving, it looks run down and old. But once you walk in it has a full bar and a few flat screens to watch espn and other highlights. The hostess greeted us and sat us right away. We were waiting for a few friends but they still kept checking on us. I liked that very much. Service was great! We ordered clams, shrimp, escargot, calamari and this awesome bread and steak dish. Everything here was full of flavor. One of my favorite places in hawaii. Drinks are cheap too. Grey goose and sprite is only 6 bucks. You can't beat that. I will definitely come back whenever I'm in town.
this place is so awesome we came two nights in a row. Uncle Bo's was recommended to us from the hotel we were staying at in Waikiki. Uncle Bo's serves seafood, pizza and pastas, a great variety, especially for a group for 10 people who have different tastes. we liked the decor to this place. its a restaurant and a loungish bar at night. the bar is large, with an impressive amount of alcohol. they have a couple drinks that are exclusive to Uncle Bo's, they smelled awesome. I'm not a drinker, but from what I tasted, the espresso vodka was good, strong, sweet, totally different, and goes down well. the first night. our group ordered a round of pupus, appetizers. everything was pretty good, we especially enjoyed the clams, order more than one pound, you wont be disapointed. the nachos were pretty good as well, its topped with kalua pig, big enough to feed 2. we finish our meal, and stay for awhile for a good time and many rounds of drinks. leave happy. make reservations for dinner the next day. the second night. we were seated in the far back of the room. yay round tables are awesome for big groups. we all order more pupus and mains. everyone enjoyed their meal. we're happy. migrate to the front for more alcohol. we were hoping to meet Bo, the owner/chef. he wasnt in but Ho, the second owner was in. he's a pretty cool guy. he was down to drink with everyone and even bought our table a couple rounds. my friends are social =] great spot to just chill out and have a couple drinks. the service was great both nights we were there. my friends even got the waitresses to hang out with us. what can I say, my boys are ladies men. we will def. be back the next time we're in Waikiki. thanks Ho for topping off our trip!!
(5)
Joson P.
Had dinner at Uncle Bo's on Kapahulu and really enjoyed it. We started out with drinks. The martini I ordered was 'meh', but everything else was delicious! For apps, we got the Boca Rota and the Shrimp wraps. The boca rota was really tasty. I wish I had a plate of it sitting in front of me right now. If you don't know what Boca Rota is, it's garlic bread topped with bits of prime rib, sauteed mushrooms and mozzarella MMMMMMMM! Is that enough M's for you? MMM! For dinner I had the Baked Opah Mauna Kea, with veggies and garlic mashed potatoes. They have a lot of items to choose from, so if you're undecided, I highly recommend the Baked Opah. The Opah fish baked with a parmesan panko crust. The fish was really moist and flakey. I really enjoyed it. It was also topped with two pieces of garlic shrimp. The service was really good. I liked the atmosphere of Uncle Bo's, though it can get loud when they're busy. I would say the ambience was hip/trendy. I really like the paintings they hung up throughout the restaurant. You can pay for parking at the lot right across the street, or you might luck out with street parking down Kapahulu. Looking forward to my next visit when I'll try the oyster shooters and the Steamed Opakapaka or the Crab-crusted Opah. Hmmm...
(4)
Rung T.
I think this place is overrated!! Let me tell you why... 1. Start from the atmosphere. It's just a regular restaurant. Not really fancy (even though they try to make it look fancy). The service is good. No complaint but nothing extraordinary. 2. The food is just okay. Their famous dynamite shrimp is not that great. We also order the Hawaiian pizza, it's $18!!! I had pizza in a high end restaurant in downtown LA which tastes way better and still cheaper than this place. Drinks, nah... Not that great (well, they are not that expensive though). We ended up spent almost $50 for 2 drinks, one pizza and dynamite shrimp. 3. I was lucky got the street parking otherwise may have to pay for the parking. Overall, it's just a normal restaurant, okay food with expensive pizza. I'm not going back. There are other places that have better food and cheaper.
(3)
Kelvin C.
Wow, for the prices...this place can't be beat! The spinach artichoke dip with wonton chips were tasty and so were the hawaiian style ribs (10 bux for a half rack is a steal! mind you, they were pretty meaty) . WIth a black label, lemongrass martini, some blue martini, two shots of patron orange, and a shot of stoli, the bill came to be 45 bux i believe. WOW. Being so close to waikiki, this place is dirt cheap for good quality food/drinks. Uncle Bo's is a MUST!
(4)
Mary B.
Ate last night for first time at Uncle Bo's. Had the Seafood Trap (not on menu) and it was fantastic. Uncle Bo served it himself. It had a wonderful buttery, sweet Thai essence that was delicious. Also had the Crab Crusted Opah with mashed potatoes and a sauce that was so delicious. The crisp crust was heavenly. Go, don't walk to BO's. Go, go now!
(4)
C M D.
Awesome fish!! Great service too...
(5)
Cristina A.
Food was fantastic and a great price. But the customer service was exceptional. There was a delay in our meal and the manger personally came over and gave us all (party of 7) a drink and dessert on the house. We were upset we found this restaurant so late in our trip or we would have been back many more times.
(5)
Bernard V.
I'm really close to giving this place 5 stars. The only thing that stops me from giving a 5 is the acoustics in the room. Yes, the acoustics. When the place gets packed, it gets very very loud. Hard to enjoy your delicious dinner and chat with your friends. Something about the walls, you can hear everyone else's conversation, sound bouncing everywhere and no absorption. Also, when a dinner party gets loud and starts cheehooo'ing or yelling cause their happy, the sound is unbearable. Okay, thats the only negative thing about the place. The food is great and the wait help is great. It's hard to have a favorite because when we try something new, that becomes the favorite. My personal favorite at the moment is that steak with cheese on bread. That thing is winners.
(4)
Edelyn D.
First off, id like to thank all these yelp reviews about this place! Wouldn't have taken a bunch of my friends here if it wasn't for all your reviews about how good their food is. I took a party of 25 for a christmas gathering there and i must say, this place did not fail at all! Since we were a large group we were placed in the back room which (i guess) held larger parties. Though when we got there, another large group were there too. All the food we ordered were great! Almost all the yelp reviews I've read said to try their Boca Rota so of course we had to order it. I must say those reviews weren't a lie, i loved it! The Dynamite shrimp was another best seller with my party, i loved that one too! lol We ordered about 6 entrees but those two were our favorites. Those are the "must try" pupus. Dessert, of course it'd have to be the fried ice cream :) Cant ever go wrong with ice cream and with it fried never tasted any better. The crust reminded us all of Leonards Malasadas because of the sugar coat. With my friends, it was gone just like that! lol Pricing here are very reasonable with the amount given. No complaints about the food here.
I had a fabulous birthday dinner here with friends, and it was the perfect spot for a celebration. Yummy drinks and AMAZING food! We heard that the pupus are where it's at so we decided to order a round of pupus for everyone to sample. Every last bite was onolicious. The seafood cevishe was fresh and light served with fried wontons. The spinach artichoke crab dip was creamy and delightful. The dynamite shrimp pizza lived up to its name and the clams were full of flavor. I am saving the best for last, the boca rota, oooooh that boca rota. It's prime rib, mushrooms, and mozzeralla cheese on top of garlic cheesy bread. If heaven had a flavor this is what it would taste like, from the very first taste it was love at first bite. We ordered two plates of it, and it was gone within minutes. If you're looking for a fun place to hang with friends, enjoy some drinks and out-of-this-world food than this is the place.
(5)
Tammy A.
As said in others reviews, don't be fooled by the outside. The inside of Uncle Bo's is quite fancy & trendy. Myself and 2 girlfriends shared the boca rota, peppered chicken pasta, & pepperoni pizza...and we of course ordered drinks! Everything was delicious. The boca rota is an amped up cheese bread served with prime rib and mushroom- super delish. The chicken pasta and pizza were also super yummy. I would definitely come back! The only downside is of course parking. But, that is always a problem in the Waikiki/Kapahulu area.
(5)
Makakaualii R.
First timers and skeptical but glad though. We had the ahi po'ke for starters and was onolious. Then the Thai seafood and the SOS (soup/stew do seafoodand both were outstanding. Will go again and hopefully soon!
(4)
Kasey J.
Is it even necessary to add another review about the amazingness of this place? Uh sorry but yes! We had a reservation for prime time, Saturday @ 7:30. It was a little busy in the front but really picked up by the time we left. Every table was occupied and lots of people at the bar. And can I just say that this place is so unassuming. The sign does not do it justice at all. I've driven by this place billions of times never even giving it a second thought. That all changed well 1) because of Yelp and 2) my co-worker calls this place his Disneyland. From the moment we checked in at the hostess stand to the moment we got up from the table to leave, we felt well taken care of. And I'm not joking about being taken care of as we got up to leave. One of the servers brought us a round of shots on the house and we took them standing in the middle of the dining room. Orange Dreamsicle anyone? We ordered 6 different apps and Uncle Bo even brought out an additional one-Fried Pork Belly Fat that was cooked to perfection. The stand out has to be the Boca Rota. How can you go wrong with cheese and garlic bread? Add prime rib and mushrooms and you have a party in your mouth. Second fav is the Dynamite Shrimp. Also loved the Honey Walnut Shrimp Wrap. I would say that even if I didn't care for some of the other apps like the Spicy Tofu Dip, I can still appreciate it for it's uniqueness. My hubby got the Rib Eye with Sweet Potato Fries. I thought they would be little stringy ones but they were the purple Okinawan cut like steak fries. Yummm! Perfect balance of salty and sweet. I would say don't be afraid to go pupu heavy and order anything and everything you may want to try. Everything came out super fast once we ordered. Our server had one misstep like forgetting our Clams but we did order this towards the end and it was not on the bill so we didn't mention it. We were stuffed pigs by then anyway so maybe she intuitively knew we didn't need it. But our drinks kept coming and our water was always filled. The food is delicious. The service is attentive. The decor is swanky and modern. You can dress up or dress down. You can have a date or large party. And Uncle Bo is always walking around. Its always cool to see the owner/head chef of a place mingling with the patrons. If you haven't been there yet, get there now.
(5)
Sheila G.
It was our first time coming here and it wasn't a disappointment. Looking from the outside, you'd think that it was a very casual place to eat but it's not. It's pretty hip and trendy in there, something that I am not. You'd also think that it was a small place but wrong again. The place has a back! Mmhmm, a back room that seats more people. Hep hep, hooray! But I'm here to review the food, which I might add was delicious! We came here for a birthday dinner last night and was really blown away with how delicious our orders were. Price is a little on the steep side but totally worth it considering the food we ordered packed a punch to our taste buds. We ordered two appetizer platters and two entrees. I forgot the names of the appetizers but for the entrees, we ordered Uncle Bo's seafood pasta and dynamite shrimp pizza. Yummy in my tummy. The only thing I didn't like was my lycheetini. It was watered down at first, and by the end, it was just alcohol. Mind you, I kept mixing, twirling, and praying so that by doing the aforementioned, it'll taste better. Nothing happened. I rarely tasted any lychee juice in there too. Regardless of that, I will definitely return. Too bad it's on Kapahulu though. Parking is a nightmare. I wonder how everyone else in that place found parking because that place was packed. *Thumbs up for the metal chain curtains. For some reason I was really amused by that decor. I'd really like to try and swing on them.
(5)
Dave W.
Absolutely love this place! This IS my favorite dinning place in Hawaii. Its just on the outskirts of Waikes, like 5 mins away. Service: Love it! Absolutely the best service we've had on our trip. From the lovely hostess telling me that it'll be a 30 minute wait and literally checking if my table will be ready every 5 minutes, to the single bartender keeping up with all the drink orders from the servers to the drinks/food for the customers at the bar welcoming us with a smile to take our order and making sure we're ok, and all the way to the waiter that served us and even moving us to a bigger table to account for all the food we ordered. Food: Hands down AMAZEBALLS! Dynamite Shrimp: amazeballs! Artichoke spinach crab dip with wonton chips: amazeballs! Oyster Shooters: Super Amazeballs! Thai-style steamer Clams: AMAZZZEEEBALLLS! Everything was super good and delicious. My girl does NOT like Oysters or Clams at all, but this place changed her mind. The seafood here is super fresh and lacks the sea taste, which makes the food just that much better. Oh yeah... get the bread and dip it in the Thai-style steamer clams sauce! You won't be dissappointed! Overall: Great place to hang out and get a bite to eat. Super great ambiance, friendly people, and did I mention the food is AMAZEBALLS!!!
(5)
Michael D.
There are a lot of great reviews on this place so I'll keep it simple. Nothing bad to say about this place!!! Everything is excellent. The food, staff, drinks, price, selection, you name it. Great place to have a party, hang with friends, or even a nice one on one dinner. Some of my personal favorites are the Sea Bass, Filet (Not bad at all for just $20), dynamite shrimp, spicy tuna wraps and so much more. There's nothing I've had that I wasn't happy with. Maybe I'll see you there!
(5)
Chris H.
I was getting worried. I'd been eating in excess, taking full advantage of my 'vacation diet', which meant gorging on 'dynamite shrimp' (adequate), plump shrimp slathered in a mayonnaise based sauce. Taking down multiple slices of Hawaiian pizza and cramming in the stoner friendly 'boca rota' (cheese bread w/mushrooms and steak) exceeded my caloric needs for the day. My beach body was threatening to fade into corpulent obscurity after sampling the kalua fried rice (greasy and flavorless unfortunately). My savior came in the form of a single bad Thai style manilla clam, which folded me in half with food poisoning, a position not dissimilar to the offending bivalve. I spent the next 24 hours shivering in a fetal position on the cold bathroom floor, cuddling a jumbo bottle of Gatorade like a newborn baby, and expelling from both ends of my body, any and all of the calories that may have accumulated onto my existing beergut. Shellfish based food poisoning is a painful and miserable experience, but its a helluva diet technique.
(1)
Kristian G.
I always have an enjoyable experience at Uncle Bo's! Although their menu is a little pricy, you absolutely get what you pay for! When my family and I go here, we like to eat family style. We order a bunch of pupu's with the price ranging from 7-15 dollars. The amount they give is perfect and you'll be sure to get full off of them. To me, their Thai-Style Steamer Clams are the best thing on the menu!!! They are delicious! The clams are prepared in a chili garlic and oyster sauce, which is the best part. They serve it with bread so that when your done eating the clams, you can still indulge in it by dipping the bread into the broth. Besides the clams, I also love the escargot. Just like the other dish, the escargot is served with bread to eat along with it. Besides their food, their service is great. The waiting staff was very helpful and friendly, but so was Uncle Bo himself! My family went to eat one night and when we were leaving the chef came to our table and personally thanked us. While I was walking out the door I noticed that he was clearing the dishes and wiping down the tables. I find this rare, to see a chef cleaning his own tables. He had more than enough staff on hand, but that just shows he also cares about helping his staff out. Two-thumbs up for this place! I highly recommend it, and I am sure to be returning in the future!
(5)
Toni N.
Love the food... It was awesome... I had the nachos amazing... Who would have thought to use won ton chips... The prime rib pupu style was cooked perfect.... Definitely coming back yummy... I would have given them 5 stars, but the service was o.k.. Our waitress came by a few times and forgot our drinks and really didn't have time to help us.... But the owner was awesome, and came to check on us... We will definitely be back...
(4)
COURTNEY K.
I love Uncle Bo's. The atmosphere paired with their delicious pupu's is great! Always a good time.
(5)
Frank S.
Hip, trendy atmosphere with some of the best pupus anywhere. Have the Thai Manila Clams, Dynamite Shrimp or Crispy Crab Cakes. For entrees: the Opakapaka or Garlic Ribeye.
(4)
Lisa C.
I live within walking distance of Uncle Bo's, but maybe because it's so close I kept forgetting to go there. Well, I made it there last night. It was a good thing we made reservations cause the place was filling up when we arrived at 6:30 PM and by the time we left with our doggie bags, people were lining up outside to get a table. I did a lot of research before going to Uncle Bo's so I knew exactly what I wanted--Dynamite Shrimp, Boca Rota, Opah Mauna Kea, prime rib, and my expectations were high. The Dynamite shrimps live up to its name. I was surprised at how large the serving was. For $9, I was expecting a serving half the size. For that, I will forgive them for plating them on wilted green:) Boca Rota was delish. It would have been even better if they kept the bread and cheese under the broiler a bit longer to melt the cheese and brown the bread. I put my leftovers in the toaster oven and did just that, and the leftovers came out tastier than when it was served to me in the restaurant.... The Opah Mauna Kea was nicely done--perfectly seasoned and perfectly cooked. Even my husband, a non-fish eater thought it was good. We ordered the prime rib medium rare, but it arrived a touch undercooked. It was good, nonetheless. The sides that came with the entrees were mediocre. You can barely taste the garlic flavor in the garlic mashed potatoes, and the texture was on the fluffy side as opposed to rich and creamy. The sauteed vegetables were unevenly cut and the carrots needed to be cooked longer. The server was pleasant, but I felt she was cutting corners by not offering us a drinks menu or bread and butter... Maybe she thought we ordered too much food (which we did) and we wouldn't want any bread... but then she did ask if we wanted dessert... Uncle Bo's offers large portions of good to very good food in a modern setting at a good price. Despite the minor flaws, I can see why Uncle Bo's is so popular with locals and tourists alike. Although it is just down the road from where I live, and I thought it was good, I am not sure when I will go back. If I do, may be just for a drink and some pupus.
(4)
Mya C.
This place is the BOMB!!!! It was my 1st visit. Don't let name fool ya. Don't judge a book by the cover. When my friend suggested this place to meet, i had doubts & then when i rolled up, i was even more unsure until i went inside. Old skool trendy decor. Great drinks! Bartender made it how i like it 1st crack! No happy hour however, drinks seem to be reasonably priced. Our waitress was friendly. Food, primarily their pupus was delish. I had 2 orders of the kalua pig fried rice since i shared my 1st order. Lol!!! Its a great place to hang with the girls. 2 downsides to this place: 1) they can't do separate checks & 2) parking. Paid parking across the street but if you're like me & hate paying to park, then u gotta drive around side streets & see if u can get lucky. Otherwise, I plan to go back soon!!!
(4)
R L.
Decided to use my gift certificate I was holding for almost a year. This was my first visit and after hearing all the hoopla's about this place, I finally decided to check it out. I actually called in at 5pm to make reservations on that same day and was lucky to get in. We arrived around 6pm and the host seated us in the back room where there was a group celebrating a birthday or something like that which didn't bother me, I was focused on what to order. To quench our thirst, we ordered the Apple Martini followed with Lychee Martini. The Apple and Lychee martini's were both tasted fruity good with a strong punch. We then proceeded with our pupu's, Spinach Artichoke Dip and Dynamite Shrimp. Both were delicious good which I would highly recommend. For my main entree, I went for the Seared Prime Rib done medium with Garlic Herb seasoning. The Garlic seasoning was too too strong for my palate, had to scoop it to the side. The Prime Rib was very tender juicy how a typical Prime Rib should be. Overall, this is good in my books, will visit again to try other items on their menu.
(4)
Daniel R.
Have heard great things about Uncle Bo's from a couple friends from work so decided to go with a couple of my friends for dinner and drinks. Uncle Bo's was pretty busy but had a few tables open, but the hostess decided to stick us in a corner all the way in the back of the restaurant. There were a couple of large parties in the back of the restaurant where we were seated so service was very minimal. Often we were waiting for refills on our drinks, which is a definite no-no. Despite the lack of attention my friends and I got that night, the staff was pretty friendly, the large variety of foods offered at Uncle Bo's was great! I will definitely have to go back to see if service is any better the second time around.
(3)
Nicole N.
Uncle Bo's is one of my favorite places to eat. They are normally busy so if you come maybe you should call ahead of time and ask for reservations. So for the food well everything on their menu is ONOlicious (yes i busted out the Hawaiian, sorry i just had to haha) But really this place is awesome! The parking is right across the street and yes you do have to pay. I forgot how much it is to park already but I know that it's cheap so don't worry. I've been here several times and order various things. If you love seafood you have got to come here! I love seafood so this place is perfect for me. When I'm here I usually ALWAYS have to get the grilled peppered chicken pasta. The only thing is that I have them replace the chicken with shrimp! YUMMY! I also request that they make it EXTRA spicy too! I know...I know...I'm such an annoying customer but I can't help it if I know what I want. =) The grilled peppered SHRIMP pasta is seriously "onolicious!" The calms here are awesome too and so are 2938293 things on the menu! This place is also a bar too so you can drink while you eat. After 9PM they turn down the lights and play loud music. Honestly, I'm just not feeling the loud music when I'm eating my whole course meal. Also it would be nice if I could see my food when I'm trying to eat. I know a lot of people don't eat after 9PM but I'm a muncher so I do! But other than that its all good. As for the service, it's not bad and its not great either. That is why this place gets 4 stars from me. I've had good and bad servers before. I think what makes up for it is the food. As long as I get my food in a decent amount of time and my drinks then I'm one happy camper...at least most of the time!
(4)
jesse g.
didn't expect to give 5 stars to this hidden on the side of the street place. i've passed by this place several times before getting curious enough to see what's inside. mainly because i've passed passed midnight and saw that they were still open. the interior was very clean and gives off a cozy lounge type feeling when you see it. the first thing i noticed was the impressive size of the bar and the wide selection that they have behind it. the bar takes up nearly 1/3 of the floor in the room where you first enter. big screen HDTV's keep you entertained while at the bar. the bartenders are knowledgeable and very skilled at mixing. every single time i've been at the bar they never messed up once no matter who served my drink. consistent, fast, and on point is a must have quality for someone making my drink. the menu is incredible. just the selection in pupus took up a couple pages. they all taste great and are available both in house and at the bar. they have varieties of in their dinner menu also such as pasta's steaks, and desserts only thought to be found in vegas like deep fried icecream. deeper inside past the bar there is more of a restaurant feel to this place that is quieter and better lit unlike the dim lounge-like bar. i enjoyed the fact that they respected and separated the two making it friendly for both family and friends. i suspect that the owner must be somewhat of an art lover since there are several tasteful paintings on the walls throughout the entire restaurant. open late until 2AM great food great service very cozy and friendly atmosphere that's what keeps me coming back and rating this establishment with 5 stars.
(5)
Marissa C.
My boyfriend said we HAD to come here during our vacation in Hawaii and I'm so glad we did! This place is a MUST GO to place when you're looking for some good food besides pork luau. They have a full bar and a lounge type atmosphere with modern decor. Our server was SUPER friendly and always came by with a smile and made great recommendations. We basically just ordered a bunch of appetizers to go along with our drinks. Pot Stickers Shaken Beef Oyster Shooters Thai Style Steamer Clams Thai Street Style Grilled Chicken Wings I RECOMMEND ALL OF THESE! The best ones were the Chicken Wings for some reason. I LOVE chicken wings and I've gotten very picky on the type of wings I eat. These wings were so NOT frozen and the sauce made this dish soooooo good!! I wish they had one of these places in the Bay Area! :(
(5)
Madelyn S.
Came here on a weeknight and it was packed! I had the Kalua pig nachos and it was ginormous (but a bit greasy). The prices seemed a bit much for the quality.
(3)
Charice Q.
Got seated in the back of the restaurant....didn't get any service.Waitress waited on people that came in after us and didn't even acknowledge our table. As our group of 5 left, we mentioned to the manager that we had absolutely no service; he did was apologize, but didn't even try to get us to stay. I guess he didn't want our money. Won't be back here. One star because I had to give a star rating.
(1)
Kody M.
My husband and I LOVED this place! Can't wait to go back it will just take us 11 hours on a plane.
(5)
Melanie N.
A must visit on your next Hawaiian trip! One of our friend who use to live here suggested this place for dinner. He said they have great food and cute girls! He was right! =) The decor is very dimly light but they have screens for tv here? They have a back room for group parties. Here's a breakdown of some of the items i tried. -Calamarie- quite tasty with an asian zing -Ahi Poke- really fresh and seasoned perfectly, onions on top -Baby Back Ribs- nice portion but was ok. Kinda dry for my taste. -Nachos- the best nachos i've tasted. Buried with tons of mozzarella cheese and kaula pig meat, it was served with scrumptious crispy wontons chips! -Clams- Yummy! You'll want to drink the salty, sweet clam juice!!! -Garlic Rib Eye- not great as the meat was kinda tough -Indo Lobster with crab meat- very good- you can taste the lobster and there's plenty of crab meat on here. I would definately come here again to try more things! And the service was great! Our waitress never left a glass empty! Too bad they don't have Uncle Bo's here in Cali.
It looks shitty outside but inside it's really nice! The calamari was whack. It didn't even taste like calamari. The seafood dip was really good-- except the bread it came with was hard. The clams were delicious! Service was good, kind of annoying cause she came to check in on us every 5 minutes.
(3)
Jacqueline G.
Went in late night after a concert for some drinks and pupu's. Our party overdid it with the appetizers. So many great choices but we stuck to, Boca Rota, Kalua Nachos, Dynamite Shrimp, and Spicy Eggplant Tofu. I love the ambiance and decor but it seems so much bigger in pictures (always the case). The Boca Rota was TO DIE FOR! Who woulda thought, something so simple like prime rib, mushrooms with bread and cheese make for an awesome dish. Absolutely mouthwatering.
(5)
Chris D.
I felt like I was playing musical chairs while I was eating at this place. My friends and I were asked to move to a different table to make room for other people in the small room in the back. On top of that, we were given a time limit. The food was good, but between the parking situation, the wait for your seat and the musical chair fiasco...I won't go again.
(1)
Tara C.
We walked in on a busy Saturday night. They said it would be an hour, but something told me that despite the big parties there, it wouldn't be an hour. 15 minutes later our table was ready. Now, this is a pleasant surprise, except, it really drives me crazy when the place so little grip on the way things turn that they miss the mark by that much. None the less, we were happy to sit. I like eating pupus for dinner; its fun, especially as a group. Plus, I was mesmerized by the HUGE bar...what to drink?! I mean, a girl likes to get her drink on a little, right?! Unfortunately, their super-sweet drink menu (I get it, you have lemonade) along with the overwhelming choices just had me ordering my "regular" cocktail of Absolute+Tonic. We ordered the Hamachi with Japapenos, Clams, Tiger Pork Kabobs, Dynamite Shrimp and Escargot. The Hamachi was the stand out, although we've had similar dishes elsewhere that we liked better, and I loved the Manila Clams, but mostly because I ordered bread and soaked up the sauce that came with the clams. I anticipated that the escargo would be rubbery - it wasn't at all. In fact, it was well cooked, but the cheese was completely overwhelming. Tiger Pork Kabobs on the other hand, completely UNDERwhelming; underseasoned even with the sauce-snoozefest 2011. The Dynamite Shrimp was "OK". Again, way too many toppings that make up for overall lack of seasoning; I love cheese, but Parmesan does not a dish make. Our service was "fine". Not great, but friendly enough. In fairness, it was a busy night with several large parties, I think our waitress was doing her best. Its a fun atmosphere, great for a group (or maybe a first date), but if you're a true foodie, I'm pretty sure you can find better food for the price in Honolulu. In fact, I KNOW you can. So, if you go: bring good company, leave your expectations at the door..and be prepared to wait at the door...for less time than they say.
(3)
Vincent K.
It's unfortunate I came here to meet up some friends on a visit to Hawaii only 1 hr AFTER eating at Alan Wong's. You could imagine with a 7 course meal, I was full...like REALLy full. But in anycase, had to say wussup to my friends and join them for a beer........or some snacking. And yes, despite the 7 course meal, I had somehow managed to make room for more eating. SMH The setting is great, with a semi more sitdown feel in the back, but a lounge-ish nightlife setting in the front. The service was definitely attentive and the food was a good balance of asian hawaiian fusion. We were able to fit some of the following into our stomachs: -Kahlua pork nachos - delicious and such a beautiful sight of a mountain-load of pork and other ingredients on a mound of chips. - Shrimp and spicy clams - amazing. great flavor and zest
(4)
Josh L.
Love the rib eye, escargot, and pasta. Soo damn good.
(5)
Justin S.
This place used to be Auntie Pasto's, and the idea of that was sufficient to keep me at bay for a good, long time. And then I noticed that every time I drove by the place, girls and dudes dressed to impress were crossing the street and waltzing into this seemingly-ratty hole in the wall. How could this be? I heard the name of the place a few too many times this week, and was compelled to visit. Luckily for me, some friends had decided that it's where they wanted to go, and off we went. The place is decked out like a modern lounge, with leather couches and chairs, tables, and bar seating. Football on the screen, great looking patrons, and servers, and patrons. And patrons. Drinks are reasonably priced, and the bar has all of the normal offerings. The food wasn't something I was expecting to be notable, and yet it was. The pupu menu is humble, with one- and two-star notations for items of greatest popularity. I especially appreciated this because I'm the kind of person that always leaves my first order up to the server that's taking it. We went with Boca-Rota, a plate full of cheesy bread and marinated stead, kind of like a dismantled Philly Cheesesteak. It was amazing. Next up was a simple platter of nachos...but it was different. There were more Asian ingredients and flavors than you'd expect, and each of them was surprisingly fitting. The last item on the table was something a straight guy wouldn't generally order: Spicy Tofu Dip. There was some allure in the wording that called me over to it, and I took a couple of panty and tampon jokes for ordering it. And then everyone tried it. And it was incredible. Super garlicky, great textures and crunch, and crusty bread to dip in it. I'm curious about the rest of the menu, and the Dynamite I keep reading about seems ever more inviting. Since it's down the street, I'm sure I'll go back again -- no, I commit to going back again. For the patrons. I mean, the food.
(4)
Derek N.
Keep your eyes open or you WILL miss it!!! It looks very small and run down from the outside but its totally different once your inside. From the shockingly giant full bar to the to the great aroma of delicious food, my time and money here was well spent. Call me what you want, i had to stuff my face again before i left to go home and the second time around i was equally impressed, if not more. Just an FYI you'll need to get there early or make reservations because its gets fuller than how i felt when i left! I highly recommend: - Dynamite Shrimp - Clams - Baked Opah Mauna Kea This place is a MUST
(5)
Hailey V.
Good tasting food. Hubby had the steak, he like it a lot. The dynamite shrimp is good but too sweet for me. Oyster shooter is really good. Had the Thai seafood curry, it was ok. The price is really good :)
(4)
Jade N.
Visit: Friday 8/5/2011 @ 7:00 p.m. Purpose: Toney's Surprise 30th Service: Great service serving 30 people. When I called to confirm earlier in the day, they were generous to ask if I needed help making sure the guests were comfortable and if we had planned how we were going to surprise the birthday boy. We were placed in the back room where you can have little get togethers and stuffs. Food: Delish. We did mostly everything pupu. Read my previous review...I think I mentioned some of my faves. What's cool: We also had those birthday blowers for favors and we did not get in trouble once for it. They were really accommodating in making sure that our time there was spent having a great time. This place has such a great atmosphere for sure. It was hilarious walking in with Toney blind folded and the hostesses where very polite and catering making sure we knew where exactly to go. (Perfect for someone who decides to do a first time party in the back room) Recommended: Yup.
(5)
Kevin A.
WHEN WILL I LEARN? That dynamite anything = death by mayonnaise. I like dynamite shrimp, scallops, etc. but the proportion of meat to mayo has to be reasonable. Uncle Bo's version was just too overwhelming for me a ton of mayo and manini shrimp. The Thai wings were good enough to order again, but a little pricey. That said, it's a cool looking place to grab a few beers and the bartender is super friendly and smokin' hot.
(2)
Tony B.
I love Bo's! They got a ton of money from me this year, but it was well worth it. I can say that after a full day of surfing, Koko Head, China Walls and Bikram, the Chicken Ceaser, the Seared Ahi and a few glasses of Opolo '08 Mountain Zin.... I was in SOLD!! I would hit it up after the dinner crowd though and with some friends, more of a local spot to cruz with the group after a day fun
(4)
Lai X.
Clam dip is bomb!!! other that that everything else i tried is meh but thats not the reason for my single star. The few times Ive dined here weather its a date or with a group of friends the service i got was less than exceptional with a dash of attitude and a splash of rudeness...ahha i know that was lame.. But this place needs to step their service game up or just get a whole new set of staff cuz idk but these people are just mean..(mosly girls). idk why and when i tried to order a clam dip to go they gave me artichoke dip and chips.. (soo sad) i didnt notice until i got home and when i called they said to me "nope u ordered the artichoke dip" soo i was like F#@% it im over it.....
(1)
Roxane W.
Uncle Bo's was a great way to end our Hawaii trip visiting friends. It has a trendy yet casual atmosphere, the bar and waitstaff were friendly, helpful and gave just the right amount of attention to our table. There was a short wait for a table so we sat at the bar. The drinks were fun and tasty! Once seated, our table of four shared a bunch of pupus (appetizers) and all of them were really delicious. I especially enjoyed the nachos, which were a fun Hawaiian twist to regular nachos. FYI- I would avoid ordering too many items that include wonton chips (ceviche and nachos for example) because although it was amazingly scrumptious, those chips are soo fried that even after sitting in nachos for a while they were still crispy. Crispy and deliciously fattening that is. Interesting fact, the restaurant dimmed the lights and turned the music up around 10PM, making the whole place feel more like a sake bar then a restaurant. Awesome. I would come back here in a heartbeat.
(4)
Tyson S.
Excellent food. Had the meat lovers flatbread, alfredo pasta with chicken as well as chicken parmesan pasta. Everything was excellent and service was fantastic. Only down side was the hostess at the front saying they needed the table by 8 o'clock p.m. but we arrived at 6 and that was more then a adequate amount of time for us. Great atmosphere as well. Highly recommended.
(5)
Lily V.
Don't be fooled by the exterior.. It's a nice, upbeat bar with great food! Service was good. Highly recommend the pupus. Will definitely be back!
(5)
Cher S.
Food was fabulous! YOU GOTTA EAT THE NACHOS!!! The pizza was awesome too! I am allergic to shellfish, but the rest of my party scarfed the clams. Service was wonderful. The waitresses are friendly and attentive. Gets kinda noisy as it gets later...I'm old, but the youngins in my party seemed to enjoy the atmosphere! I'll be a return customer!
(5)
Russ A.
We were passing through Kapahulu on our way home and always wanted to try out Uncle Bo's. Easy parking across the street. Greeted by hostesses on the way in. Place was crowded but had two seats at the bar. We had excellent full service from The bartenderess (Lisa) I think. Had the Hamachi Sashimi plate and the Boca Rota.....very good! Also had a black n tan with Guiness on top, Widmer on the bottom!
(5)
Merritt W.
The atmosphere is nice and cozy! The owner Uncle Bo was even present! Really enjoyed the firecracker shrimp appetizer. It was delicious! Was not impressed with the opah I ordered. I have never had that fish before, but it seemed to be Overcooked! Otherwise it was a nice experience and good menu :)
(3)
Alma W.
I don't want to be harsh but Uncle Bo's is mediocre at best. The food was just not that impressive. Maybe my expectations were unreasonable but still, ehh. We tried the dynamite shrimp which was good but nothing special. Crab cakes were huge but I always insist quality over quantity. The overly sweet sauce overpowered the crab and it almost tasted like cough syrup? Now on to the entrees. The bf ordered a rib eye steak which was decent but the sides were terrible. Fries were like giant baked potatoes and you know they got the frozen kind from Ralph's. The steam vegetables consisted of carrots and broccoli which is fine but why not just go to Denny's? I ordered the seabass which was served on a bed of stir-fried choy sum and i LOVE choy sum!. There was like soo much excess liquid from the vegetables that my dish looked like soup instead and the flavors we're boring or lack thereof. On my next visit, will I visit Uncle Bo's again? Most likely not.
(3)
Will P.
Doesn't look like much from the outside and I would've driven past had it not come so highly recommended. The inside is much more trendy and nice looking. The food was good. I'm not a big fan of mayonnaise though and its seems like everything we ordered had mayo on it. Lesson learned for the next visit, ask if it has may before ordering. The Kahlua pork nachos was unbelievable. They're on a wonton style cracker instead of a traditional nacho chip and they go so well together. I think about them almost daily. Service was really good and everyone was very friendly.
(4)
WonderWoman W.
First time, Saturday night dinner with a friend. Seated in the front part of the restaurant near the bar. Other patrons were shown to rooms in the back. Not sure if they were private parties or other sections of the restaurant. Want to say up front that the server was friendly, attentive and helpful, in spite of it being a busy evening. Overall, the food was excellent. The only disappointment was the miniscule amounts of crab and avocado in the Crab Salad with Avocado. Small diced ham pieces outnumbered crab and avocado pieces by quantity and weight. Otherwise, the salad was tasty. So was a quesadilla appetizer. My friend liked the Opah Special. There was more than enough and we both took home the extras. Most memorable dish was the Taro Beignets we shared for dessert. 'ONO LOA! Light, airy, crispy, dusted with powdered sugar, like the originals, they didn't even need the tasteless sauce and storebought ice cream they came with. I've had deep-fried poi balls before and they were ono, too. Except for the deep frying, healthier than deep fried wheat products, including Cafe du Monde beignets. The one big criticism is the noise level. Background music was very loud, which made the diners talk loudly, adding to the cacophony. Unless the back rooms are quieter, NOT the place to go and have a nice chat with a friend. It can be done, but with difficulty. Bottom line, I would go again and try something different, saving room for the beignets!
(4)
Kimberly N.
The Hobo dessert was one of the best things I've ever had in my life!!!!!!
(4)
Sean S.
Good drinks and food. Everything there looks good. This was my 1st time and we split nachos and had a few drinks. The nachos are awesome. They fry their own won ton chips and throw the kitchen sink on top!
(4)
Tim S.
uncle bo knows his subtle and complex flavors. but hes also cool with laid back kids coming in wearing board shorts. everything is super good...ask the wait staff if you cant make a decision. but it seems like the place where everything is a great choice!
(5)
Gina K.
This place is alright, I guess. The food was good but nothing memorable about it. The parking sucks and the main reason I am giving 3 stars instead of 5 is because of the seating. When I'm on a date or even just eating with friends, I would like to focus on what my friend is saying. Here, the tables are pushed so close to each other that I spent my whole dinner listening to the guy next to us try way too hard to impress his female companion (who was obviously married!) Sure it provided entertainment but I couldn't enjoy my own company. Put more space! I probably won't return unless there is a party planned here by a friend.
(3)
Sharon D.
Love the pu-pu's at Uncle Bo's. Favorites are the Thai clams and their fried rice. Haven't had anything yet that wasn't delicious. Parking can be an issue but where isn't it an issue on this island?! And you are pretty much guaranteed to be really close to other diners but as long as you know before you go it shouldn't be a big deal. Later at night the line can go down the street. Food is always wonderful and service good.
(4)
Lora H.
From the outside, and the name... makes it seem like just a typical dive bar. But, it's certainly no dive bar! Such a cute little place - good vibe, great ambiance, easy parking across the street, large menu. I've been here a few times now - it's just a cool place to go, whether on a date or hanging with friends. The food, there's a little of everything for every palette. And I have to say, the Lychee Martini here is pretty good!! Definite must try and good option for when you're just looking for a place to grab a few drinks, kick back, and hang with friends.
(4)
Malia H.
Clams, nacho, bread with steak, ahi katsu, beignet, and haupia ice cream pie is the bomb.
(5)
Maria G.
A great little tapas place in the restaurant haven that is Kapahulu Avenue. Nice tapas place. Chic yet fun atmosphere. Great for birthday parties or group gatherings. Absolute best dishes are the clams, wonton nachos, but really most of the dishes are winners here. Customer service is very accommodating. They didn't even batt an eyelash when we asked to split our checks between 7 of us. Great job! A plus (well maybe to some, maybe not to others) but Dog the Bounty hunter came in while we were eating and sat next to us.
(4)
Trip S.
Went with my girlfriend for her birthday dinner. We started with the Boca Rota which completely lives up to the hype, as well as the Dynamite Shrimp. The Dynamite Shrimp was a really good shrimp dish, but I think maybe I would have enjoyed the consistency of the flavors if they had butterflied the shrimp. We then had the S.O.S., a super savory seafood bisque. We told our waitress that we were going to share this as an entree and when she brought it out, they had already split it into two portions. We finished with the Oreo haupia mudslide for dessert, really delicious, and the coconut is so subtle that you really need to search for it. Our waitress, Natasha, had the most intuitive reaction. Anytime we needed or wanted anything she was right there. She was friendly and polite, yet she was very professional and had everything coming and going in the most expeditious way. The industry needs more waitresses like Natasha! The portions for food are very generous, make sure to make reservations
(5)
Paul K.
Delicious food, great service and perfect location!
(5)
Anj D.
love the pupu's!!!
(5)
Steven Z.
Good food, service, ambiance. Bo is always on the floor interacting with guests and staff. Nue(?) is a good bartender. Order the Calamari, Warm Spinach salad. Hip atmosphere.
(4)
Aldora K.
good place to hang out and have some onolicious food, but the only thing that bothers me is the wait time and street parking.
(3)
Tyrone H.
Beat the crowd by getting there early. Have the oyster shooters, not the chicken wings. The beer selection is great, the bartenders are nice and mix a mean martini. If you like beautiful waitresses who know how to smile, this is your kind of place.
(4)
Mark S.
I'd have to say that my overall experience at Uncle Bo's was pretty good. The two pupus we ordered were presented beautifly, especially the shrimp cocktail while the Cajun Seared Ahi With Honey Glaze was deemed "right on" by dad as well as another patron who frequents the restaurant. For dinner we had two pasta dishes, a pizza dish, and a seafood dish. There wasn't really that much to write home about on the two pasta dishes we ordered, Chicken Piccata and the Chicken Pesto. The Meat Lovers (pepperoni, italian sausage, bacon, kalua pig) pizza, which is an Uncle Bo's specialty, was better than other kalua pig type pizzas I've had. And the seafood dish got rave reviews from my dad. For dessert we got the Warmed Fudge Brownie Ala Mode which was pretty good. The atmosphere was great and front room of the restaurant looks pretty trendy. While they have a variety of menu choices, I think what they excel at is their seafood dishes. I definitely want to go back to try more.
(4)
Kim-van T.
I found Uncle Bo's on Yelp (yay!) and the bf decided to have his company group dinner here on our final night in Hawaii. Uncle Bo's is off the beaten path - 3 miles from Waikiki right up the street from Rainbow Drive-in. I was super skeptical when we drove by this place because it really doesn't look like much from the outside - in fact it looks like a hole-in-the-wall Chinese restaurant - not exactly a place you would want to take your boss to. HOWEVER the interior is actually more along the lines of what I thought it would be - minus the mismatchy decor. They need a new interior designer - STAT. This place is pretty intimate though - there's a back room for large private parties and a smaller dining area and bar area in the front. This place is super accomodating to large groups and can handle big parties - there's even a special children's menu for the kiddies. Service was very attentive and for the most part on top of things. What I was surprised to find out was that despite the hodgepodge menu the food is actually pretty darn tasty and the portions are HUGE with reasonable prices. The bf and I split the crispy potstickers - decent and crispy. The bf had the filet mignon which came with steamed veggies and his choice of the pasta of the day. The filet was cooked the way he wanted it which was definately good. The pasta of the day however was watery and runny and definately not so good. I ordered the Baked Opah Mauna Kea - a parmesan crusted HUGE piece of fish with garlic shrimp and steak fries (of course). The fish was yummy, the panko crust gave a slight crunch to the delicate texture of the opah. Steak fries? Uh, how can you go wrong?? Would I go out of my way to eat here again? Probably not. But if you're looking for a restaurant with reasonable prices and lots of choices on the menu within reasonable distance to Waikiki - I'd say give it a go.
(4)
S. T.
Food was great and would have given it 5 stars had it not been for the service and parking. We made a reservation for a party of 6 and got there in time. We were greeted with "Will you be able to finish dinner before 8pm as we have another group coming in for your table?" Hmmm - not the best way to welcome first-time customers. We were done by 7:45pm. Our waitress did not refill our glasses even once. We ordered the Warm Spinach Salad with bacon on the side. It came with bacon mixed in. She took it back but clearly the bacon was hand picked out as we found several pieces still mixed in. (One person in our group did not eat pork.) What if someone had been allergic to bacon? Waitress came and shouted over our conversation twice to ask if we were ready to order dessert - no excuse me. They have one restroom for women and for men. One of the ladies in our party who was waiting in line to go to the ladies room was encouraged by a waiter to use the Men's Room! She declined. We ordered a bunch of puupuus (Dynamite shrimp, walnut shrim wrap, seafood ceviche, Nachos, Boca Rota) and salad (spinach salad, crab avocado salad) - they were all excellent. Salad portions are generous. Parking is across the street $5. Not so convenient on a rainy day.
(3)
Guillermo H.
I was on Vacation in Oahu with some friends, and someone recomended this place. I must say that the food was incredible. We tried the seared Ahi tuna, it was so good we ordered 2 more.. we also tried Opakapaka, and one more fish they were both delicious..... I also tried the mussells in a red sauce they were so fresh and so tasty..... and the best part was our server ROSS he so atentived and so good to us.. Great place great food, A must go while you are in Honolulu... Thank you Uncle Bo,
(5)
Lourie A.
Cute,modern restaurant on Kapahulu, close enough to Waikiki but far enough from the traffic. I was suprised when I walked in because you would never assume it to be so modern from the exterior. The have an extensive drink/bar menu which is definitely a plus, our bartender was very accomadating and made our drinks exactly how we like them, when me order an extra extra dirty martini we mean exactly that. As for the food, their pupu selections were wonderful and it said they can make their entrees pupu sized too. We ordered several pupus and I remember the poke being scrumptious! We also ordered entrees but would recommend having just several different pupus and you should be satisfied. Would definitely be a good happy hour spot, don't know if they have a happy hours menu!!
(4)
Michael Edward J.
I went to Uncle Bo's for the second time and it was really good! They just needed a little time to kick out the kinks, but the appetizer menu is great! I had the calamari which was outstanding; and I don't use that term loosely! The scallops were very tasty too(they had a couple of sand grains) but the flavor was really good! I'm not going to give them 5 stars because I ordered the lobster and it came out looking great but I had to use my hands to pry it away from the shell.(nobody's perfect) I think they've got a good thing running! Mostly all the patrons were neighborhood goers and that says a lot!I've already recommended UB's to three people and they all liked it as well!! Kudos!!
(4)
L W.
Went here with my mom and her co-workers from out of town. Extremely apprehensive at first since the place is named "Uncle Bo's". I envisioned a shack with over priced not so fresh food. Boy, was I wrong! PUPU DINNER: Walnut Shrimp: Four tiny shrimp in sweet condensed milk sauce topped with walnut halves. Very tiny, and not what I wanted for that price, but overall taste was just like any other Chinese kitchen. Black Bean Shrimp: MUST ORDER! Jumbo shrimp, bell peppers, onions, and beans in a thick tomato-spice sauce. Great seasoning and just the right portion-you'll be ordering more! Crab Cakes: Two, soft, four inch in diameter patties of deep fried crab, (a little too much) mayo, and vegetables. They were alright, came out steaming hot with a sweet sauce glaze. Dumplings: Tiny morsels of chicken and pork loosely placed in sticky dumplings. Taste was again like any other chinese restaurant, but presentation was lacking. Pot Stickers: Came from Costco. Ahi Poke: SO FRESH! Rough cut onions, green onions, hawaiian seasoning, along with huge chunks of ahi. Definetly a staple. Hamachi Carpaccio: Basically just hamachi (white fish) sashimi
(4)
donnie b.
Food is alright; however, the service is horrible. The bar is full of bartenders that are more interested in trying to hook up with chicks rather than provide service. Good place to go if your a chick, but if you are a dude, then forget about getting a drink very quickly.
(1)
Jamm K.
Not a very good experience here! I have been wanting to come here because of the good buzz this place has had but I was really disappointed at their lack of professionalism. I had some guests from out of town and we were looking for a late night place to drink and have some pupus. My friend reminded me about this place so we called Uncle Bo's at around 11:00 pm to see what time they close and they told us at 2am. We got there at around 11:45 and thought we would have a good 2 hours to enjoy our wine and pupus. The service was friendly enough but very amatuerish. I can excuse bad service if the server is friendly but when I'm spending $100 for a couple of appetizers and wine, I expect a little bit more professionalism. * I don't expect the server to take our plates away when it's only half eaten without asking us if we are finished with it. *I don't expect them to do last call at 12:45am when they are supposed to close at 2am. *I don't expect them to serve us our last call drinks and then turn off the music and turn the house lights on five minutes later. *ESPECIALLY WHEN THAT LAST DRINK IS WINE!!! *I don't expect to be double charged on my credit card for the tip. My guests even were totally disappointed that they just suddenly turned the lights on without notice. I especially hated all that time I had to spend with my credit card company to delete the double charge on the tip. It does make me wonder if the server put an auto gratuitiy on my bill.... All in all, I tried to be upbeat while I was there for the sake of my guests, but it was the kind of experience where the more I think about the place, the memory becomes more and more negative!
(1)
A R.
Walked a mile to eat here. Didn't seat us right away we had to approach someone but it was late. We have the crab dip and clams for apps both excellent. I had linguine and clams excellent as well.
(5)
Laraine Y.
Ever since they opened, Uncle Bo's has not had to advertise. In Hawaii, word of mouth or coconut wireless is the best. The prices and the quality of food cannot be beat. Owners Uncle Bo and Hosuk have found a formula that works. People will return if the food is tasty, the service great and the prices right. And we return often! Other reviewers have listed their favorite dishes, so I don't need to reiterate, but we like to order several pupu dishes and share them family style.
(5)
Jeff H.
Parking- on the street for free, you can valet for $5 Reservations- you should make them. I didn't, still got a four-top. Great service! Apps- the big nachos: won ton chips, kalua pork, ham, onions, cheese, I am a nachos fan, but these were incredible. I got my huge rib eye to go, because the nachos were so tasty! Original, great spices, perfect serving! The Wait Staff- Kinda like the Seinfeld episode with all busty beautiful servers! Nice to look at, but great at what they do, they all deserved to be there with there skills and service! Dessert- I had the fried ice cream, as recommended in a previous review- it was right on! Delicious. Simple and tasty! Atmosphere- Office party-like until nine, then the hoochies and cool dudes came in. A very hip place. Decor- Hate the stupid chain mail hanging near the bar. The bathroom wall was very well done (50s & 60s moviestars) I would go back here in a heartbeat, too bad not open for lunch! I would recommend this location for parties and just to hang out.
(4)
Wakako U.
When I visit Hawaii, I go to Alan Wong's and Uncle Bo's. Uncle Bo's is a hip and cool hang out. And, who are those cute owners?!
(5)
Allison N.
Don't let the exterior or name fool you. The ambiance and interior of the place is modern and kinda trendy. The food was delish! Pretty much ordered dishes based on past yelp reviews. Ordered the thai steamer clams, dynamite shrimp, boca rotta, and kahlua pig fried rice, all of which were amazing. You have to dip or soak the bread from the bread basket they give you in the sauce of the clams. I tried to eat the fried rice along with the shrimp but there was so much flavors coming from both dishes that I wouldn't recommend doing this. The fried rice should be eaten by itself. The only downfall was the timing of the boca rotta. This dish wasn't ready until a good thirty-forty minutes after the other dishes came out, and by that time we were all full. It was really good but, kinda wish it came out all around the same time so I has some more space in my stomach to eat some more. All in all this was probably one of my better meals on my trip.
(5)
Justine G.
Went here with my family for my birthday dinner. The service was not very friendly or helpful at all. In fact they were very rude and not very accommodating. Our waitress even forgot to put in my sister's dinner order! The food was good which is what got the two stars... but for me, service is the BIG part. If service is terrible, I'll suffer on not eating the food again. Probably won't go back.
i love uncle bo's!!! the food is great! the people are great! and the service is great!! such a wonderful place to go for drinks and hangout with friends or go on a date for great dinner!!! everything on the menu is wonderful!! i go every time i come home!!!
(5)
Amy C.
Absolutely Divine! After 28 years of being a food fanatic and enthusiest, I have found my ultimate favorite restaurant. And Uncle Bo's Pupu Bar & Grill is the one! My friend recommended this place to have my birthday celebration admist our 10 day Hawaiian vacation and eating tour. Thank you Rick! What a birthday surprise! Uncle Bo's doesnt look like much from the outside, but step inside and feast your eyes on a lavish bar. Our party of 15 were seated in the back room and to our surprise, only had 1 waitress to wait and serve on all us. She did a phenomenal job and didn't miss a beat. Our waitress was cute, sweet and kept our drinks flowing like there's no tomorrow. I give their customer service an A+. Now let's talk food. Every mouthful was exploding with asian fusion flavors. My absolute favorite kind of food. On your visit to Uncle Bo's, make sure to order the Sweet Chili Calamari, Kalua pork Nachos and the must have Thai Style Steamer Clams. You will have an orgasm with every bite of the clams. The sauce is so luxurious, I smothered every peice of food and bread in the sauce. I couldn't get enough and basically ended up drinking it like a soup. Being that it was my birthday, everyone was very generous to let me taste a bite of their meals. From the Opakapaka Chiang Mai macadania nut panko crusted fish, to the Indo-Lobster stuffed with crab in a parmasean crust, every bite was like the best birthday present I've ever received. I look forward to my next vacation to Honolulu. Not only to experience skydiving, kayaking, cliff jumping or shark cage diving... but mainly to eat at Uncle Bo's Pupu Bar & Grill.
(5)
Porky T.
Another over-priced overrated eatery place in Honolulu. Found this place from Yelp and decided to try it. The dynamite shrimp was average. Do not order the crab cakes or the island fry noodles as they are terrible. Not coming back for sure.
(1)
Cynthia A.
My Beau and I were expecting a sports bar type of place based on the name of the restaurant and the font that was chosen for the sign. We were a little surprised when we walked in because it's got a really neat, lounge type atmosphere reminiscent of Panya's in Ala Moana. I believe The Lion King was playing on several flat screen TVs on the wall, which was strange but weirdly cool. My fiance said that the sushi appetizer was REALLY good. My specialty drink was not great - it was a lemon grass infused martini. I love lemon grass and sadly could not taste it in the drink, and it was just generally not a great martini. They didn't seem to have any other specialty drinks. The pizza was REALLY good - it's made from scratch. The crust was the best ever! I really enjoyed this dish, which is saying a lot because I prefer to avoid pizza. We are definately planning to return.
(4)
R T.
This was our favorite restaurant and the one we miss the most. Uncle Bo's means pupus. Which mean lots of tasty appetizers. I can't remember everything we ordered, but I do know that everything was extremely tasty. Maybe it was many cocktails I had with the food that makes the evening a bit foggy. A common theme that we found when we left the touristy areas of Waikiki was that the people were very friendly and always eager to help out. This place was no exception. Skip the hotel restaurants and walk up to Uncle Bo's and Ono Hawaiian Foods (very close to each other) for some truly amazing food.
(5)
Ellen Mae V.
When I have out-of-town visitors and they ask for a nice place to go for dinner I usually recommend Uncle Bo's. It's a nice, non-franchise, non-commercial restaurant with good service and character. Despite its proximity to Waikiki you definitely get that "local" feel when you come. It's nothing like Cheesecake Factory in Waikiki, you don't have to fight your way through crowds of tourists. (Thank goodness for that.) Food-wise, Uncle Bo's has a variety you can choose from. My friends and I usually do family style everything and we often find that a few pupu plates fill us up. I'd recommend the calamari, crab cakes, kalua pig nachos, and the pan fried opakapaka. Yummy. There's also a bar in the restaurant, so if you're looking for a nice casual or more formal establishment for dinner/drinks Uncle Bo's is suitable for both. If you plan on coming in a group larger than 4 be sure to make reservations. I'd give it 5 stars but parking is rather difficult. I always resort to parking at the Zippy's parking lot. =/
(4)
Grimeater A.
Pretty chill place. The waitress was very friendly and helpful. The drinks were a little on the small side but at least there was enough alcohol in them. Only ate the cajun seared ahi since I'm on a diet but everyone's food looked pretty damn good. Will definitely be back when I can eat again.
(4)
Blythe S.
Fun atmosphere, nice decor, friendly staff, and delicious pupus and cocktails.
(4)
Natasha H.
What's not to love about Uncle Bo's. There firecracker shrimp on a bed of mixed greens is amazing - have to get it every time. They have a great selection of things and a fun atmosphere. Definitely a place worth checking out. It is the only restaurant to survive in this location since I can remember, which proves that they must be doing something right!
(5)
Gina V.
I'm in love with Uncle Bo's Dynamite Shrimp! It is so yummy and never disappoints! Uncle Bo's looks like such a dive from the outside. You would never guess that inside is a sleek and classy restaurant that caters to locals. It's very trendy and offers a large selection of reasonably priced menu items. The pizza is excellent, salads are good too. I have also tried their seafood and that is great too. As for previous reviews saying $12 for a salad is expensive...I would have to say that being a regular salad eater that price is pretty standard. I also work at Chili's where we have awesome salads and I think the cheapest is around $11 (and come on it's Chili's). The service is consistently good. And my favorite part is that it's open til 2 am. The lounge area is very cool. The bar is very stylish with a very interesting wine rack, metal bead curtain separating the bar from the eating area, and a more casual back room that would be great for large parties. Over all I highly recommend it!
(5)
ElDiablo A.
Great food and drink. Casual atmosphere. the Dynamight shrimp was a let down...i expected a bold dish and got a creamy what seemed like a mayo based one instead. My steak was really good and the vibe was really right about the place. Defiantly a must go while in Waikiki.
(3)
Brandon U.
I love Uncle Bo's! It is an awesome placed to go after work for drinks, or on weekends with friends. The pupus are very tasty and reasonably priced. The main dishes are great, and I have never had something that I did not like! Their fish dishes are by far one of the best things on their menu. The only issue is parking, which is a common issue for all restaurants on Kapahulu. Overall, I highly recommend it!
(5)
Rita A.
From the outside, Uncle Bo's looks like pretty non-descript. On a whim, I looked up the reviews on Yelp and decided to try it. Totally worth it, this place is great. The food and service is excellent and the ambience is fun. It was the best meal we had on our vacation and far exceeds the restaurants on Kalakaua Ave. Enjoy!
(5)
Meep M.
I love this restaurant's layout and decor. It's different and modern. The food is yummy. The broth their steam clams come in is UNBELIEVABLE! I definitely suggest sopping it up with bread. Their escargot was eh...okay. I'm not a fan of escargot that is covered in mozzarella cheese.
(4)
Jaci K.
one word... CLAMS!!! they have awesome pupus! if you have a big group you can pay $25 per head and its all you can eat pupus! totally worth it.
(5)
Patti S.
We found Uncle Bo's on TripAdvisor and I am glad we did! We were there for my birthday September 17th. The food was amazing and the service even better! We had this amazing waitress that was beautifully pregnant! We had 4 in our party and decided that by the size of the meals we could share 2 appetizers and 2 entrees. We had the Dynamite Shrimp and Spinach salad to start and the Lamb Chops and Ono! WOW! the tastes of all the dishes was beyond compare!! Then, in birthday style, they sang to me and provided a complimentary dessert. On the way out, we met the owner whom was headed to Las Vegas to get married, congrats! **We drove up in a limo....looked at the outside exterior and said, "doesn't look like much", good thing, or the line would have been out the door with hours of wait time!!! We love your restaurant. I have already recommended it to my brother and family for their visit in December. Rod, Patti, Ronda and Jay from California
(5)
Angel L.
Uncle Bo's is great! The ambiance is really nice and service is superb! I was really impress with everything. The food is good! We've went out with our friends just to hang out, I believe its the best place to just chill and talk story:) This is the place you got to go!
(5)
stephanie l.
wow, I can't get enough of this place! First time I went, I was mesmerized by the decor and then the food. The overall vibe of the place rocks and makes you want to stay until late night! Unfortunately, the secret's out and it's tough to get a place to sit. But my friends don't mind standing at the bar with me and enjoying the ambience while sipping on an ice cold drink and downing mouth watering pupus.
(5)
Noni Y.
mmmm seafood trap. it was so good we walked our asses in the dark, over a mile, to grub. we did this twice in a week. we also tried the bbq ribs ( too sweet), sashimi (bad presentation, too much rice, but nummy flavors) and the panko covered dynamite shrimp ( very rich and deeeeelicious).
(4)
Annie P.
This restaurant is a hole in the wall place. The outside didn't look appealing but when you walk in the atmosphere inside is totally hip. I wouldn't have gone on my own but a friend of mine who lives in hawaii highly recommended this place and told me their dynamite shrimp was to die for, I didn't mind trying out good food esp one that is recommended by a local. The wait wasn't that long and the food plus service was A+. After coming back home to Cali, my husband realized our cc was over charged and didn't match our receipt, we had contact the restaurant right away and the manager took the time to research and called us back, they told us we will be reimburse the difference and for the trouble they had caused, he was going to send us a $ 25 gift card, My husband just wanted to tell them that I loved their shrimp platter, the manager automatically raised it to $ 50. That's what I call customer service. This is the one joint that I will for sure go back when I am back in the island.
(5)
Peter H.
The pupus and entrees were hit or miss... The chicken wings and calamari were phenomenal, but the salads and pasta left a lot to be desired. Prime rib and pizza were fairly decent. Portions were ginormous and great for sharing. This is definitely not a fine dining experience, but rather a great place for starting the night out with a bunch of friends. Awesome space for groups and larger parties. Relatively upscale ambience for Kapahulu.
(3)
John L.
Big thumbs up for Uncle Bo! Best restaurant I ever been to in Hawaii, the dynamic shimp was killer(same as the fircracker shimp I suppose?) oyster shooter was good, but not used to the thai flavor, maguro sashimi was ok, wouldn't expect it to be better than those japanese restaurant when it comes to sashimi anyway , I also tried the chicken pasta and the meat ball one, both were beyond expectation, the decoration was fun, and my waitress was friendly and fast. I heard the restaurant will turn dark after 9? but didn't the day I went,bump... and only 1 dislike was the table was too small, not enough place to put all the food!!^^
(5)
Nicole D.
I've never left disappointed. Although I see that some reviewers disliked the pizza, I really enjoyed it. It wasn't too thin or too thick but more importantly, it wasn't oily. I really enjoyed the fish, they made it perfectly! This is our "go-to" spot when a bunch of us can't decide on a pau hana place. Great food, great drinks, great atmosphere. The entire staff is amazing. Can't wait to get back there...
(4)
Jessica H.
This place is super cool. The Thai Steamer clams are so tasty, it's hard to talk over a bowl of deliciousness like that! Also the strawberry salad is not your average appetizer salad, it's chock-full of crispy bacon, walnut chunks, and hearty pieces of feta. It's accented with fresh slices of ripe strawberries. Deeeelish!
(5)
Kristy d.
If I had given this review right after dinner it would have been 4 or 5 stars. My apps were fabulous and I quite agree that the outside does not do the inside justice. Unfortunately, my boyfriend had food poisoning the next day from the fish he ate there. He originally said it smelled a little funny, but we were so impressed by everything else and he was so hungry, he thought it would be fine. It definitely was NOT.
(1)
kevinho c.
the pupu's were awesome, fish tacos were only OK... Guinness on tap is a major plus
(4)
Beau M.
Had driven by this restaurant a hundred times over the past couple of years, and a friend and his wife invited my wife and I out to try the place. We waited in the cramped bar when we first arrived, but had a great time people watching and enjoying the solid bar selection for a couple of cocktails. Once we were seated, each couple ordered two appetizers and they were out of this world! We could have ended the evening then and been content, as the appetizers (escargot, calimari, seared ahi, garlic bang-bang shrimp) were out of this world, and HUGE portions to boot. The entrees came, and I was honestly beginning to get stuffed, but dug into my ribeye steak with gusto and enjoyed every forkful. My wife had the the Chilean sea bass and loved the texture and taste...we didn't want to leave the place! The owner/chef makes it a point to visit every table to check on the meal and the guests, which is a very nice touch. I want to go back to Uncle Bo's in a big way! Highly recommended! One of the very best meals I've experienced in Waikiki.
(5)
K N.
My husband and I went to Uncle Bo's for the first time in a long time. For starters, we had the steamed clams and can I just say AMAZING! The clams are steamed and served in a Thai sauce which is sort of sweet and spicy. It reminded me of Thai curry but even better. They are also served with warm, soft bread which you can dip in the broth. We enjoyed every last bit. We also shared the crab salad and curry. The salad was light and refreshing. It had chunks of real crab, ham, avocado and drizzled with a vinaigrette. The curry was great as well especially because there was a lot of seafood including clams, shrimp, fish and scallops. The only thing, we were expecting it to be on the sweet side since it had coconut milk in it but it wasn't. Nevertheless, it was enjoyable after we got over the fact that it wasn't like yellow curry that we usually order at Thai restaurants.
(4)
Breanne Y.
I'll preface by acknowledging that I've been here on a number of occasions, special and casual alike. But each time has gotten progressively less rewarding. We last visited about a year ago, when the menu was smaller and our car was nearly towed in the paid lot (we put the money in the wrong slot). Little inside has changed, with the exception of an expanded menu. Prior to heading down, we called ahead for reservations (it was 5:30PM on a Friday), and the waitress told us that even though there were only 2 of us, that they weren't taking reservations that night because it was a busy night. They would take walk-ins though. I asked if we would even be able to get seated if we arrived in half an hour, and she said, "oh yeah, we aren't busy right now." o.O We'd actually tried to get into Side Street first before coming here, but they had a 45 minute wait and I was starving. We got in there and didn't have to wait (BTW, parking is $5 at the lot...doesn't matter if you're there for 5 mins or 5 hours). Were seated right away but were pushed into the back room, and sat right next to the kitchen entrance. That's a really awkward and uncomfortable spot - make sure to ask that you NOT be seated there if you've only got a party of 2. It's noisy and you have the heat from the kitchen at your back, but the AC blows right at your food - cooling it when you don't want it to. Difficult to really get settled, and left me edgey the whole night. We had the dynamite shrimp to start, and that was pretty meh. I'd read about all the yelpers who loved it and thought that it would be the most redeeming thing there, but it was pretty average. Everything else on the app menu was more suited for pupus with beer, than as an appetizer. I ordered the shrimp pasta and BF ordered the prime rib. The waitress was really nice....but she didn't understand when we asked if the meat was cooked on the fire or if it was fried. At $20+ per plate, I definitely expect her to have the answer to that question. She did the right thing and said, "i don't really know....i can ask though." The food itself was pretty boring - the shrimp pasta was pretty watery and didn't have a whole lot of taste. I remember ordering this in the past and thinking that it was the best pasta I've ever tasted! Either my tastes have changed since or there are just better things out there. BF's meat was way over-cooked (he ordered his medium-rare, but there was no pink to be found). He did like the dipping sauce that they served, but said that the sauce definitely didn't compliment the meat. We never did get that bread that they gave to all of the other tables. Two days later, a friend told me that this may be something that you need to ask for, like at CPK. We opted to go elsewhere for dessert, as the meal in itself was pretty disappointing. About 2/3 of the way through the meal, a girl arrived who was obviously a part of a larger party and was setting up '21st birthday' celebrations. She was waaaay overdressed for a $20-head dinner and looking around, I realized that EVERYONE was dressed that way. That's when I understood that Uncle Bo's isn't a place that you go to for the food, it's somewhere that you go to be seen. BF put it best when he said, "this place gets old fast." The decor is nice, but it's become pretentious, and if you're there for the food, then this isn't the place that it used to be. To their credit, they get 2 stars because the waitress was kind and prompt and the food came out on time.
(2)
Waynele Y.
don't be fooled by the exterior.. they've done such awesome renovations on the inside, it's hard to believe this place used to be aunty pasto's... i dunno who the hell uncle bo is, but he did an awesome job delivering a very upscale looking restaurant without the upscale prices. it's hard to describe their menu.. upscale local food?? in any case, it was all quite tasty. i highly recommend the teriyaki black cod (aka teriyaki butterfish). my husband had the steak and he said that was good too. the spicy tuna wraps, crab cake and calamari were excellent too. while the service was pretty good, you can tell they're still not quite organized. they came over to our table about 3 times with stuff that wasn't ours... but maybe that's their marketing ploy.. did you order the seared ahi? as she waves it past everyone's noses so the delicious smells waft by... doesn't it look good.. don't you want one? if you come on the weekends, it's best to make a reservation. parking is a little difficult. there's that dirt lot across the street, but it fills up pretty quickly.
(4)
Demur E.
Uncle Bo's is a welcome addition to the Kapahulu Street family. It is a great alternative to late-night snackers who are tired of Denny's and Zippy's. They're open from 6p.m. - 2a.m. and if you have the parking mojo (must find street parking), it will put you in a happy place before going home. Food: There are a bunch of appetizers, pastas, salads and a few steak and prime rib choices on the menu. It's a solid menu that is well-executed. We ordered the garlic black bean shrimp ($8) that came with 4 shrimp and some nice stir-fried veggies. My friend G noted that black bean sauce can sometimes be overly salty, but this sauce was awesome. Our waitress suggested we use it as a dipping sauce for the complimentary french bread...and it was delicious! She even brought extra bread for us, as we are the type of people unafraid to sop up sauce in public. The spinach artichoke crab dip ($7) came with won ton chips and had chunks of crab and artichoke hearts in it. Too often, these dips get pulverized and you are unable to recognize the individual ingredients. The won ton chips were an interesting twist to the normal flat bread or cracker option. We also tried the Thai Street-Style grilled wings ($8) which was a particular favorite at our table. The charcoal grill taste (and crunch) really added to the lemongrass and herb marinated wings. The cajun prime rib (14 oz., $19) comes with your choice of starch and sauteed veggies (carrots, haricot verts, summer squash and zucchini). You can order the steak and prime rib dishes "pupu style," which we did. It came cut into strips. It was not very "cajun-y," but the meat was tender and flavorful. We got it with french fries which were steak fries fried until they were incredibly crunchy on the outside with just a hint of fluffiness inside. *sigh* I love crispy french fries and deplore soggy, starchy fries, so I pretty much hogged the fries at our table. It came with 4 little ramekins: ketchup, mustard orange marmalade (yum!), creamy horseradish, and au jus. Dessert was a must, (even though I was super full), so we shared two: fried ice cream ($5) and warm fudge brownie a la mode ($6). Frankly, I was not that impressed with either dessert. One friend thought the brownie was too chocolatey (I do not think such a thing is possible). I thought the fried ice cream was too doughy and not crispy enough on the outside, although the flavors were cinnamon-y goodness. If you have tried the fried ice cream at Sansei, then it's hard to go back to run-of-the-mill fried ice cream. Service: Excellent. Our waitress was really helpful in going over the menu and specials and always kept our water glasses full. It was also a stellar tip re: the bread and black bean sauce. Very friendly. Ambiance: When I first walked in (wearing shorts and a knit top), I felt a little under-dressed, until I looked at the other patrons who were similarly dressed. There may have been one or two couples who looked like they were dressed on a date, but the rest were friends or families in boro clothes, like me. The tables were spaced out nicely so you do not feel too cramped or part of your neighboring table's conversation. It had a good feel to it. Overall: I would definitely go back again. Sharing the food family style is a great way to try different dishes. Their hours are a real plus and I hope Uncle Bo's is here to stay.
(4)
Scott R. D.
Where Uncle Bo's excels is in the Pupu menu. Stick to that and you'll be very happy. Our entrees were fine, but the appetizers were way better. The decor is pretty nice if you're in the front room. I'm not a fan of the back room.
(4)
Todd L.
This is a great place to start or end you evening out! Really cool atmosphere, ono pupu's, and great drinks. Sometimes we start our night there and I don't want to leave. A very relaxing place with great food, drinks and cool people
(4)
Jenny H.
This was the best dinner my friends and I had during our entire vacation in Honolulu. The drinks were delicious and the food was even better. Everyone was able to order something that they were craving and it was way more affordable than we'd expected. We spent $23 per person when in Boston we could have easily spent $50 per person for Asian Fusion Tapas and drinks.
(5)
storm o.
I was very impressed with Uncle Bo's. It has the right ambiance, the right service, the right drinks, the right food, and the right price for what I'm looking for. I went to celebrate my birthday here with my BF & a couple GFs this past Saturday. The Thai Style Steamer Clams was ordered twice because it is so delish! Mmmmm...it's making me salivate just thinking about it again. LOL. The Dynamite Shrimp is also a must order. We also ordered the Walnut Shrimp wrap & the Calamari to go along with our alcoholic beverages. KA ordered the Opakapaka Chiang Mai which she very much enjoyed. We also ordered the Fried Ice Cream & the Brownie Ala Mode, both of which are also a must have (even if we didn't think we'd finish it, we actually did!!!) It was a Saturday night so the "Sex in the City" ladies are out & the men come in varying from very local boy attire to the dressed up we're going to the club after this. We didn't need to go to a club, the music (which I think is just running on the venue's system) as I saw no dj was a good selection of top 40's and hip hop. I don't need a dance floor if I got my good friends, my drinks, & my tummy is happy. My BF had been here twice before during the weeknights and he didn't see it packed like it was on Saturday. I will definitely head to Uncle Bo's again!!! Thanks, KA, for taking care of everything! Muah!
(5)
Clay M.
It was my first time here and friends and I shared buffalo wings to start. I prefer them spicier, but the flavor was good. I had the Hawaiian pizza but couldn't taste the kalua pig, which there didn't seem to be much of. Also, the pineapple chunks were large and few; it would be better if they were smaller and more plentiful. I enjoyed the thin, crispy crust, but the flavor wasn't impressive considering this is supposed to be a bit fancier fare.
(2)
R R.
This place was really cool! I've always heard about the place and seen my friends checking in on facebook, but my first time here was in March. It's a small place at first, until I realized there was a whole other room in the back! Around 9pm, they dim the lights and turn up the music. The atmosphere was great. I had their lycheetini and was disappointed. I'm in love with the ones from Indigo's, so I was expecting it similar. And while some people wouldn't complain about this, it was just WAY too strong for me. I couldn't taste anything lychee, it was like straight vodka. My friends tried it and agreed. My other friends liked their drinks though, so I just know next time to order something else. Our waitress was also slacking big time so unfortunately for her, she lost out on her tip from me. Luckily for her, my friends weren't as harsh. Other than that, we had a good time and I would come back, though hopefully we have a different person serving us!
(4)
crown r.
Been here a few times to eat, been here a lot more times to drink. The food here is good...not great but they do get an "A" for effort. This past time, had their Thai style chicken wings which were great. The meat melted off the bone and was on the sweeter side on taste. Ordered up the kalua pork nachos which had a unique flavor and was pretty well executed. Shaken beef was fair but I've been spoiled by Crustacean in BH...had their chicken parm...decent but far from great. The place looks sketchy from the outside but once you get in, you'll see that they try to make it look pretty hip in there (at least the front room). I recommend this place for the overall experience either in a group setting or on a date.
(4)
mINCe I.
have been twice and have enjoyed it both times. the pupu's are great as well as the entrees. some of the standouts from the appetizer are the dynamite shrimp, steamer clams and escargot. for the main course i had the crab crusted opah. one of my friends that was with me claimed that the fish served here is far more superior than the fish she had at Hoku's at the Kahala Resort. the drink were also good. on another occasion i was there i tanked four glasses of their moscato; should have order a bottle.
(5)
Ninja N.
ok....we have a 2-yr-old
(3)
Nate K.
If you are familar with Honolulu, you know that Kapahulu is a street on the up and up. What was once a street filled with struggling local eateries that couldn't compete with larger restaurants and fast food places that made the strip between town and the beach something to pass through - Uncle Bo's is part of a small restaurant scene that is looking to reclaim a strong nightlife. When you enter Uncle Bo's you will immediately notice a lively scene that makes you want to sample the menu. For starters, Uncle Bo's offer's an awesome spicy tuna wrap that will only make you more hungry. Then you can move on to a juicy prime rib or rich pasta that will fill the stomach. But wait, to end the night Uncle Bo's offers a fried ice cream that is the perfect topper to a great meal. And if you need something to wash down all that food - try one of there house martini's. Here's to a new hip night spot on Kapahulu!
(5)
Amanda S.
seriously, get the kahlua pig nachos. they are insane. sister brought us here our first night on the island and it totally was not what i expected. from its name, i totally thought it would be this mom and pop hole in the wall but totally turned out to be this nightclub-esque feel especially when they turned down the lights at 11 and started playing the club jams. i must diverge from some of my fellow yelpers and say that i found the food pretty darn tasty. not only were the nachos good but the dynamite shrimp was fantastic. actually, the shrimp was my favorite - creamy, crunchy, savory with a little kick and totally decadent. we also had the ahi poke (which was ok but i'm pretty sure you can find better on the island) as well as the hamachi carpacio. the hamachi was absolutely not what i expected - it was more a deconstructed hand roll that you assembled yourself and enjoyed. it was totally tasty. i also had a fantastic glass of their cheapest riesling and boyfriend sampled the longboard beer. a great dinner of pupus for our first night!
(4)
Kitty Y.
a nice spot to grab some beers and eat some pupus. we ordered some heinekens and newcastles from our awesome waitress (she has a star tattoo on her neck and angel wings on her back, she was a total sweetheart, very helpful and accomodating), as well as the crabcakes, spinach crab & artichoke dip, and fried oysters. the crabcakes were only 2 pieces but were huge and FAT. and very, very delicious, they came on a bed of red lettuce, spinach leaves and chili sauce. there were 4 fried oysters, each served on a leaf of lettuce, they were delicious too! and last but not least, the spinach dip, served with FRESHLY MADE won ton chips. verrrrrrrrrry impressive, and very yummy. overall the experience was great. the one downfall was the hostess at the front, she was kind of bitchy. sorry. but our waitress was fab, and totally made up for it, and so did the food. oh also i have to mention, the food came out literally at lightening speed! we were so shocked, and everything was hot and fresh. we would definitely return ;)
(4)
Jimmy L.
Parking: I usually park across the street. Note, I heard it was illegal for them to boot your car now without warning, but that lot is known for doing so if you're 5-10 minutes late. They've gotten around this by TOWING cars, so be sure you pay extra ($4 total) for 4 hours to avoid paying a $120+ fee to get your car back from the tow yard. Do NOT park at Zippy's and walk over. I used to work there 8 years ago and they do occasionally tow cars when customers are not eating inside. And trust me, we know. Some people walk in one door to buy a donut and walk out the other door. We're not that stupid. Service 4.5/5: We were greeted when we first got in. Dinner on a Friday night was about a 20-30 minute wait. Orders were taken in a timely manner. Food took a while to come out for me, but apparently pizza's are made by god in that kitchen and I will tell you why later. But nonetheless, our waitress knew how to handle things very well on her own. Food 4.5/5: It seems like most of the people in our party were able to enjoy their meal. Although, I opted for the pizza instead of the ribeye, I think I made a good choice. While they are known for their steaks, they don't prepare it the way I prefer. It almost seems as if it was grilled over a stove top grill with no char... though I could very well be wrong. Anyway, my pizza was probably better than anything you'll eat from CPK or any other places you may THINK have high-quality pizza. Or maybe it was perfectly made meat lovers pizza for the perfect meat lover. Who knows? Dessert, was fantastic. You have to understand that even when you feel full, you still have room for dessert. Why do you think americans are so fat? They FIT IT. Okay? Ice cream melts. Don't have room for solids? There's your answer. Overall: I would highly recommend this place. It smells great every time I drive by at night and the food really does match. Just try to stick with the steak and the pizzas. MAN FOOD. Alright? Peace out.
(5)
Amanda J.
The boyfriend and I came here after we got a recommendation from someone at our hotel. We made the walk out to the restaurant from the hotel and promptly found two seats open at the bar. We started with drinks - the honey bourbon one for him and the pear lemonade for me. It was good, but a little sweet for my liking. Since we read that the portions were huge (not kidding about that one!), we ordered to pupus and one main. We got the boca raton -- cheesy garlic bread with creamy steak and mushrooms; ultimate non-diet, comfort food -- and the six little piggies. The piggies were good, but nothing special. The boca raton, well, let's just say that you shouldn't eat that every day. It was so rich, creamy and down right ridiculous. We ate the whole thing. Finally, we split the fish tacos, which come with a 3-cheese dill sauce and avocado. Super tasty and loaded with steakhouse type fries. Way too much food! The vibe of the place is really sports bar like with big tvs and lots going on. If you're looking for more of a romantic meal, I wouldn't really recommend here, but if you're looking for a place that's less touristy and more fun, this is the place to try.
(4)
Kristina C.
The seafood was delicious, fantastic and on point! I would definitely come back for more! Aloha and cheers!
(5)
Peter G.
Destroyed the pupu menu! Most all were winners. What a genuine surprise for the commercialized Honolulu. Don't go here! (you might take my seat in this small venue) ;-)
(4)
Sarah A.
First time here. Was recommended by the guy checking us in at the hotel. Told us to go get the boca-rota and that this was the pre-game spot. The outside fooled us and we were not dressed for how nice it was inside. We came directly from the beach. We ordered the boca-rota and the hamachi. They were both really good. The only set back was the price. I felt the prices were a bit high but I would Def eat here again.
(4)
Coleen F.
I feel bad for not being impressed with this place. It was just OK for me, nothing too special. I would return to give it another try, seeing as how the reviews are great, but maybe my first time didn't give me that "WOW" factor most people experienced. I came here with my friends to celebrate a birthday. We were seated right away because we made a reservation. It looks small on the outside, but they have a backroom that seats more people. The front area is more like a lounge where people can drink by the bar. The food was all right. I enjoyed my grilled salmon and the calamari was yummy. They really know how to present their food nicely and I really appreciated them bringing a birthday shot for my friend.
(3)
Tony R.
Best restaurant in Honolulu Waiki. Awesome food and amazing service, the best in Honolulu by far!! We came here the last two nights of our trip because the food, the service and prices are WAY better than anywhere in Waikiki. Come for sure:) Bo, Raina, and Noy are the best!!
(5)
Julianne C.
Oh Uncle Bo's where do I begin?! This is my favorite pau-hana hangout spot on Kapahulu. IMO it's the perfect place to grab a few drinks/pupus with some friends and colleagues after work or on the weekends. However, reservations are recommended because it gets super crowded sometimes. The servers walk around in cute red outfits and are super efficient and friendly - great service even with a large crowd. Some of the must haves include a handful from the pupus menu: hamachi sashimi, boca rota, ahi katsu, crab cakes (even though I'm allergic), and the thai-style clams. Sometimes it hard for me to choose a few because the whole menu sounds delicious! My choice of drinks? - The peach lemonade vodka with less ice/ My main issue/annoyance is the lack of available parking after 8pm....ugh it's such pain :/ Although there's usually street parking (if you come early) or that big parking lot across the street, I'm still bummed that I have to spend 10 minutes going up and down Kapahulu and end up paying $4.00 for parking almost every time I go here. I guess I'm just spoiled by other places in town ;p
(4)
Melissa G.
We absolutely love Uncle Bo's. Anytime we can make it onto Oahu we make a point to visit at least once. My mouth waters just thinking about visiting. Love it!!!
(5)
Eric L.
The name doesnt give this place justice. I thought this place was some hole in the wall spot but its actually pretty upper class good food .... I had some amazing fried rice and shrimp .
(4)
Ashlee E.
Went here last night, and while the food was good, a few things left a bad flavor in our mouths. Mainly, the front hostess stand--or at least that is where it started. First, we called and tried to make a reservation and the host told us that they weren't taking reservations. We asked if it was busy and she said no. So strange..She was not polite --very rude. So we kind laughed it off to her just having a moment, and still decided to go because friends from NYC and Cali were with us. When we arrived, there were two hostess. One brunette and one blonde. The blonde promptly greeted us and was pleasant. The brunette---RUDE. I assume this is the one we talked to on the phone. She continued talking on the phone, didn't acknowledge us..it was fine, however, because the blonde was there to take care of us. She was desperately trying to check the table seating and taking a look as to where she could seat us. The brunette brushed her a way as she was trying to look. So rude! The blonde waitress stood there, looking annoyed...After standing around, the brunette finally "gave her permission" for us to be seated..next thing they said was so annoying as paying customers -- " We can seat you here, but you can only stay till 8pm".... You know, maybe if it is true--you don't give deadlines to customers! Besides, it was 6pm.That was the second problem. My friend--her silverware (knife and fork) was so filthy, they were STUCK together.. Next friend ordered a lychee martini---a long strand of hair was wrapped around the stem..It was very visible--they weren't busy, so I am not sure how they didn't catch a black hair on a white drink. I was embarrassed at bringing my out of state friends here. While the food may be good, the cleanliness--and especially the hostess bar - is one of the worst I have experienced on this island. We felt incredibly rushed. No sense of customer service. The front should always have a nice smile and a friendly disposition. As someone who works in service, I know that good customer service is important. No excuses.
(1)
Rj S.
Got the peach and pear lemonade with alcohol, Boca de rota, S O.S and chicken parmesean. Everything was amazing. Even the pre - meal bread was very good. Prices are fair and staff was nice. The place doesn't look like much on the outside but is very nice/modern on the inside. I rarely give 5 stars but this place earned it.
(5)
Andrew k.
A must stop for anyone hungry for great cuisine. The dynamite shrimp is the bee's knees!
(5)
Jessica-Nicole U.
Try the clams!!! Amazing! I went here for a party and I never realized how nice it was inside! People raved about it and it really is cool. I parked on the meter street parking. Went inside and was greeted. They lack on customer service. Our waitress was super cool but the other chick one could've been at least nice when we asked her questions. All the food was super good. Nothing to complain about. They were even able to accommodate such a large group. We sat in the back and were even able to dress the place up. Prices are reasonable. Great atmosphere. Perfect pregame place or place to kick back and chill with friends, catch up,etc.
(4)
Melinda H.
My kids came along and waking in, it looks more like a bar than a restaurant. Wasn't sure if they allowed kids but the hostess didn't say anything. It's a pretty loud place. Food was really good. A little salty but could just be that night the chef had a salty hand. Lol I'd definitely come back.
(4)
Jake K.
This place was interesting...a trendy spot with some great appetizers, Uncle Bo's will have you scratching your head at first if you've never been to Hawaii. My favorite here was the nachos - a unique spin on this ball park staple, these Hawaiian nachos will use won-ton chips, ham, Kahlua pork, cheese, and an oyster sauce to make your mouth water. Use chopsticks and you'll be one step closer to being kama'aina. Drinks are drinks - I ended up drinking a lot of beer after getting sick of sweet drinks (I'm not a big sugar guy). Service was great though and we weren't left wanting. Will be back again.
(4)
Mike P.
Oh uncle Bo you are my favorite uncle! Because you're such a damn fine chef! This is an outstanding restaurant/bar. But two very important things to know: first - make reservations. This place can pack up pretty quickly. Second - there is plenty of street parking. Just down from the restaurant a bit on the main street. I am pretty sure that the meters stop at 6 o'clock. This place is loud but fun. If you're in the mood to celebrate the great meal this is the spot for you. I would not count on a quiet dinner. A must try is the steamed Thai Clams. This dish and a loaf of bread is a meal. Sap it up! The Kailua pork nachos are great, and as mentioned in all the other reviews the Boca Rota is awesome. I will admit after dining hear you will be shopping for a new bathing suit the next day.........in a bigger size! Everyone always seems to be enjoying themselves in this restaurant, so I hope you do too .
(4)
Merry L.
The first word that came into my mind as as took my first few bites of the nachos was "foodgasm" I would definitely come back to this place. I still daydream about this food I don't quite remember what I had exactly but I had their version of their: Nachos Oysters Shrimp
(5)
Ellen P.
Oh, Uncle Bo ! Your restaurant is definitely one of my top eats in Waikiki with a bar. Very cool and trendy and super quick service. MUST GETS: -Boca-rota: garlic cheese bread, prime-rib, sauteed mushrooms and mozzarella cheese -Dynamite shrimp -Spicy baked opah mauna kea: fish baked in a garlic chili aioli, topped w/ parmesan panko crust -Uncle Bos kalua pig fried rice -Thai-style steamer clams: sweet manila clams simmered in a mild chili, garlic oyster sauce.. make sure to eat alllll the sauce with the bread! so goood ! -LIttlle Piggies: my favorite!!!! pork belly on crispy bread with a sweet maui onion relish on top We also tried their special martinis, so colorful & good! Perfect amount of alchy ;)
(5)
Jerrene T.
Restaurants on Kapahulu are normally not my thing. Lack of parking and the fact that most restaurants are hit or miss for me make it not worth my time and stress level (from lack of parking). Well I changed positions last year which resulted in my new department/office deciding that we would come here for our holiday party. Since I just go with the flow, I was okay with coming here. Heck, I was even happier when my coworker offered to drive us! We came here on a Friday in December for their all you can eat (in an hour and a half?) food spree. We got our 10+ people in tow and ordered like crazy. There was a flurry of food and by the time 30 minutes passed, everyone's belly was full and everyone was moaning about their food coma babies. The waitresses were on top of it in doling out beverages, refilling waters, and filling our table with food. We had some special requests (leave it to my son to ask for a plate of cucumbers, which he gobbled up) and they were more than happy to oblige. The crab cakes were good. There were a lot of pupus/dips but I guess this is a "Pupu Bar & Grill" so it was understandable. I never saw the menu but we all loved the food. I would definitely come back (even if I had to park in the lot... with the crazy attendant). Make sure you put more than enough time in the meter, as they do tow. The bar/restaurant itself is very welcoming. The workers were really nice and easy to flag down. We paid around $27 + tax and tip for all you can eat. It was quality stuff... not just your average or so Makino Chaya. I loved it! You do need 10 or more people. I had a great time and I can't wait until 2014's work Christmas party! Oh and those lychee martinis are awesome!!!
(5)
Rachel M.
This place is amazing! The boca Rota is phenomenal!!! The drinks are also really good and reasonably priced. This was our second visit here and we will be sure to come again!!
(5)
Christian H.
Just an overall nice experience if you're looking for a fun and refreshing bar to enjoy as a couple or group. They also have a bar if you want that kind of night. Nice ambience with a romantic setting. They know allow to accommodate groups of all sizes. The place isn't that big and you may have to wait to be seated. But, once you are, it's a great experience. Menu has an over abundance of selections to choose from, so don't get caught up on "what" to eat. Just enjoy what looks good to the eye is my advice. Mahalo for reading!
(5)
Juliann C.
The Good: * Appetizers are the only things worth going for........! * The cheesy steak garlic bread thing... TO DIE FOR OMG!! *must order! * The atmosphere is nice * Interior decor is clean, well-lit for the most part * Service is served by women with delightful upper torsos :) The Bad: * Location is convenient but parking is just UGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH The Weird: * .....nahhh
(4)
K. G.
Stopped by Uncle Bo's on a Wednesday night (recommended to us by my local friend) was still pretty busy for a weekday but we were able to walk in and be seated shortly after- about a 3 min wait. Restaurant itself is small and trendy (lots of indie music playing) - bar area was small also w/ not many seats (all full) otherwise that's were we would have sat. Menu itself was quite extensive (lit up upon opening). Ordered: Crab Avocado Salad- HUGE salad- lots of toppings all delicious! Dynamite Shrimp- very good, don't know why I expected it to be somewhat spicy but for me at least it was not (asked server for some type of chili sauce , which she remembered about at the end of our meal :[ ) Pig Fried Rice- I love fried rice and this did not disappoint one bit! Even though our server was a bit "spacey" (can't think of a better word) the entire night , meal was still great and staff was friendly. I don't see it as a "family" restaurant but there was a good mix of younger and older customers. Menu prices were reasonable and would most definitely revisit!
(5)
Joanna Y.
I haven't been to Uncle Bo's in maybe 5 or 6 years, but my Dad had a birthday and my brother made us convinced that we MUST go to Uncle Bo's. We went on a weekday night at 5:30pm without reservations. LOCATION Kapahulu Ave., right before Zippy's and a block away from St. Mark's preschool (I used to go there haha). You can park on the street (meters), along the back roads, or in the small parking lot right next to Bo's. ATMOSPHERE Walking inside you don't get a view of the place from the window, but apparently there is the front room and a back room. The front room has a bar, tables, and lounge area. The back has only tables and seems much more secluded/private, perfect for parties. SERVICE Besides the hostess giving us attitude for not having reservations, our waitress was fantastic. She totally made up for the other girl. I should have got her name, she was extra pleasant, helpful with deciding what to order, and timely (she came often to check on how we were doing, delivered our food timely, etc.) FOOD Overall I was blown away by most of our food choices. Since my brother was the regular here, he did all the ordering for us. The menu makes it easy for us with 2 hearts for the faves/most popular, and 1 heart for the kinda popular? Here's what we had: - BOCA ROTA: My brother swears by this. He said every time he goes to Uncle Bo's he MUST order this...and I'm glad he did! Everyone in our party loved it. Who wouldn't love cheesy bread with steak and mushrooms in a mozzarella cream sauce for dipping?? - THAI STYLE STEAMER CLAMS: This was my fave! I love scampi style clams!! But this one was different because it came in a soup broth that was just so amazing! Hogged this one up. - S.O.S.: This is a seafood dish that comes in a thick sauce and served with a side (they recommended rice). Man that sauce was good. It was a tie between this and the clams for my fave but I think the clams was just a little better. - HOBO (dessert): Super yum. These are chocolate malasadas that come with a dip and ice cream. Another top fave that my brother recommended. - AHI KATSU: It's a seared ahi with katsu breading. Super light breading, goes great with the sauce. - DYNAMITE SHRIMP: This was OK. But probably wouldn't order this next time. - CRAB SALAD: Least fave dish of the night. Not because I don't like salad, its just that it wasn't anything that special as compared to the other dishes lol.
(4)
Jeanine J.
One of the best places I've yet experienced in Honolulu, amazing pupus (appetizers). The oyster shooters, six little piggies and boca-rota were amazing. Very limited draft beer selection and adequate bottled beer, and good wine selection. Lots of tasty fun cocktails. Pupus average $12 each and are shareable amongst two at most. Lively but comfortable atmosphere, locals highly recommend. Now that I am a local I will definitely be returning! Service is great, about 5 min from order to served sitting at the bar.
(4)
Nancy H.
Delish!! Four of us went and split a bunch of pupu small plates and all of them were sooo good. Plus the cocktails were really tasty, too. My Mango Mui martini was fantastic. Our favorite small plates were the chicken wings, wonton nachos and above all the nut wraps--yummy spiced nuts and sauce in lettuce wraps. Those were my favorite but everything was really good. The service was fast and very friendly. This was definitely worth driving the extra mile away from the touristy area in Waikiki.
(5)
Yasmin S.
This is one of those places that you can't call yourself a local if you don't love. The clams are absolutely amazing and I can't live without them. If you don't know what to eat, trust your server. They know what's good and what most people order. The cocktails are also well priced and delicious. DO IT.
(5)
Joe S.
I hate to be the barer of differing opinion and bad news, though I didn't completely have a good experience with Uncle Bo's. Please allow me to explain my experience: My wife and I called at 4:55pm on a Sunday and to make a 5:30pm reservation, as we were driving there already and had forgotten to make a reservation. We were told we could arrive at 5pm and stay until 7pm because the place was reserved at that time. No problem, we just wanted to try the 1 pound of "Manila Clams" that everyone has raved about as well as the "Boca Rota". Sounded great! We arrived and found the place practically empty in the front room and back as well. The TV and music in the front area was loud. Almost too loud for a normal conversation, so we opted for the back room. That was silent aside from the 4 other customers talking. Great :-) When the waitress came and I asked if the bourbon pours were decent. She said he, the bartender, is very generous, so I ordered a double bourbon. That's my usual drink of choice. My wife had an ice tea. I tasted the tea when it arrived and it was delicious with a slight fruity taste. My disappointment was that the bourbon came in a cordial glass and barley covered the bottom of the glass. It was definitely measured and at $12, I wasn't very happy. I'm use to a decent pour, and for $12 it wasn't worth it. Two sips later it was gone. Another disappointment was that water wasn't served. I suppose I had to request it and hadn't expected to need it with a decent bourbon. So... I shared my wife's ice tea. Ok, not the end of the world. Then the "Boca Rota" came. It had cheese covered garlic bread pieces in a round fashion with the most delicious meat and mushroom mixed in a mayonnaise sauce. Wow, that was SO DELICIOUS!! You must order this. Take my word, order it. It was $14.95 and worth every penny. The "Manila Clams" came next in a funny dish and looked delicious. There were tomatoes and greens. I wasn't impressed. The clams were average and the sauce was, in both of our opinions, too sweet. I am from New England (clams and lobster are our mainstay food there) and expected something else. The bread, although a small portion, was soft and nice. We soaked the bread in the sauce and although some people may like something a little sweet, we didn't. It was also $14.95 and I don't recommend it. The service was very good. From the moment we entered until we left they were on top of everything. Also, the food and drinks arrived quickly. That was nice. The place was casual, seeing other people were wearing T-shirts and shorts. They have cloth under a paper table cover. Very clean place. I think the overall experience was nice though not up to par with all the rave reviews. I think the "Boca Rota" was worth the trip however. I think it is something I've never experienced and I've been around the world many times and nothing compares with it. So, order an ice tea (or beer, not bourbon) and enjoy the variety of dishes they have to offer. I have attached a copy of the menu in the photos and you can see they have a lot to offer. I just suggest you avoid the "Manila Clams". Oh, if you like my review, please check the "Useful" button below. Cheers!
(3)
Al D.
Been here for drinks and pupus with friends before. It's alright. Not a place I would pick myself to meet up with friends but I would still return.
(3)
The C.
This place is fantastic. It's got character and good food. We went on a very busy Monday night. We hung out at the bar and got seared creole ahi. It was nice. We also got the pupu tuna and it was amazingly good. For dinner I got the chicken pasta with mushrooms. That was great. It's very crowded like every place in Honolulu. You have to wait. And around 9 they turn on night club music which gives it a different vibe. I'd definitely go back.
(4)
Brandi A.
Amazing as always! Boca Rota is theeee bomb service was great, she was very attentive and sweet. Love it here!
(5)
Michele S.
Get the boca rota but ask them to replace the bread with spaghetti noodles - it works out excellent as a pasta dish! Everything else has been said hundred times :)
(4)
Steven K.
Don't judge a book by its cover. Walk through the door of its mustard painted storefront and walk into a cool and trendy eatery. Uncle Bo's breaks that image of local plate lunch with two scoops of rice with one scoop of mac. It offers a variety of amazing foods served by a staff of beautiful servers. Had a great time with friends on the 11th of August.
(5)
Myron M.
A tradition for my staff and I to always come here when we are in town for our World of Dance Tour in December. If you must order one thing, it's the Boca Rota. We always order two, because it that's amazing and delicious. Everything we have tried on the menu has been great. Love the atmosphere and service.
(5)
Kenneth R.
I really love this place. I don't come as often as I'd like, but each time has been a delight. I have always wanted to just come and chill at the bar, but it is always so crowded not sure how I would enjoy that. Anyway, the food is the star here although their cocktails are really good as well. Fish tacos are always a favorite here, I had their steak and lobster one night, and have tried many of their appetizers. Anytime I am in a celebratory mood I come here and should have come for my birthday, but when I close my next RE deal I will be here to celebrate. I always bring out of towners who are always impressed and rave about the place long after. Make a reservation if it is a special night, otherwise you should have not problems the wait has never been crazy for me. Mahalo!
(4)
Mike R.
A locals and tourist favorite. My wife and I did a smorgasbord of pupu (apps) and it was awesome. Would definitely go back. Get a reservation though, they are busy!
(5)
D L.
This place is awesome! I'm going to state the obvious and say that this is a restaurant and a lounge! The food is delicious and we need more fusion places like this.
(5)
Ward K.
Don't be fooled by the outside. It may look small, but it opens to be a pretty big place which matches the big flavor of their food and drinks. This place is pretty busy on the weekends and during dinner time during the week, so if you want a guarantee seat it's best to make reservations especially if you have a large group. The last time I went, I had to get those OH SO DELICIOUS CLAMS! If any one of your friends say that they want their own and don't want to share, not even one... please do not take offense but rather just order your own as you probably wont want to share yours either. If I were at home I would definitely lick the bowl dry. That sauce is Oh Sooooo Good! Yes it was an OH MY MOMENT! The things I did share was the Spicy Tuna Wrap which come 4 to an order. If you like spicy tuna, you will LOVE this. Open Korean nori wrap with rice and a nice amount of spicy tuna on top. Next was the Crab Cakes. Two nice sized crab cakes with a generous amount of crab with a nice fried to perfection crust. Yummy! Then we had the Oyster Shooters... The oysters were swimming in a sea of some kind of ponzu sauce with a hint of cilantro and garlic. Although I had better, this one was delicious. Oh did I tell you that we ordered one more order of those clams??? Well we did and it was gone in a heart beat. Normally someone would ask if anyone would like the last one... well not in this case. It was everyone for themselves. As my friend would say, "eh get your own!"
(5)
Trevor B.
Amazing Food!!! Dynamite Shrimp was fabulous and our meals Daily Fish prepared Chinese Style & S.OS. were absolutely the BEST!! We ended with dessert. Must try Hobo's! I was Leary but completely sold. Thanks for the Great Food & superior service!
(5)
Taylor W.
NEVER GOING BACK HERE EVER AGAIN I gave it two stars because the food was okay and our server was nice but she did forget our ahi poke and we only ordered 3 things! The decor is ok a little confusing, kind of modern but kind of boho. I don't know what they were trying to aim for. The guy in the chef outfit (uniform) seemed to me was the manager/owner. He seated us and the while time all I could hear besides the loud music was him and his friends or regulars laughing obnoxiously. I guess because they were drunk and it's okay to have fun and stuff but not whole you're working, as the owner wouldn't you try to engage with your customers? I saw him the first time I came here for my friends birthday too and same shit. AND THE CHERRY ON TOP OF THIS ALREADY IRRITATING NIGHT WAS THAT NO ONE, NOT ONE SERVER NOR THE MANAGER/OWNER SAID THANK YOU AS WE WERE LEAVING! Well fuck you too.
(2)
Darick M.
The service and the food is awesome! Among the dishes I tried, my favorites were the Boca Rota and Taro Beignets. But so much cheese and starch! I had a sugar crash that night and slept well:) I will definitely make it a point to go back and try the rest of the menu!
(5)
Adelle K.
i love everything about this place. the food and servers are great. dont need to say more. except the prime rib, PASTA, PUPUS, JUST EVERYTHING IS GREAT
(5)
Tracey K.
This place is packed but i don't understand why! The food was not good. It was swimming in fish sauce. I like fish sauce but not on everything we ordered and so much of it, so salty, even on salad. I drank a gallon of water afterwards
(1)
Victor K.
First of all I love this place, not because of great food or exceptional service but mainly because its open late, and has great atmosphere. Food quality is inconsistent, I've ate here before when the food came out great other days food taste terrible, also not to be picky but they serve hefeweizen with a lemon, not an orange slice. Guess small details like this separate great establishments from decent ones. Also, if you're gonna be open till 2am, why does the kitchen close at midnight?
(3)
Michael C.
I'm not exactly sure what else I could write or mention about Uncle Bo's that hasn't already been written, spoken, or photographed. With 300+ reviews on their Yelp page, I will humbly offer my review of my first and CERTAINLY NOT the last visit to the home of the Boca Rotta. I have a terrific group of friends that try, amongst our busy and hectic life and work schedules, to meet at least once a month for happy hour or dinner to catch up with each other. This month's "meeting", by a unanimous decision, was held at Uncle Bo's. I myself had never been here and so, like the nerd I am, I scoured various Yelp reviews (thank you Thomas O. and Kim. M.) for suggestions on what to order and tips on where to park. PARKING: Like many before me, our group chose to park in the parking lot directly across from the restaurant. $4 flat rate after 5pm fyi. OR try your luck at finding street parking. Although we did not have a reservation, we were fortunate that we didn't have to wait that long as they were able to bus and clear a table for our group of 4. CALL: I tried to call the day before for a reservation (on a Saturday no less) but was told they were not longer accepting reservations for that day. If you are able to make reservations I would recommend it, not only because I was advised to do so, but in order to avoid a lengthy wait time as well. FOOD: After looking over our menu, we decided to order "family style" to be able to sample more items from the menu: 1) Boca Rota (MUST order) 2) Spicy Tuna Wraps (generous portion...4pcs) 3) Seafood Dip (not bad) 4) Ahi Tornado Roll (nothing was left on the plate. totally devoured) 5) Vegetarian Pizza (Absolutely delicious!) All of our food was outstanding and delicious hands down. I made sure that the Boca Rota was one of our orders as it seems to be a favorite of other fellow Yelpers. And yes it's as good as everyone says it is!! Do order it! Aside from the Boca Rota, the Ahi Tornado Roll and Vegetarian Pizza were my next favorites. I was so impressed with the flavors of the pizza. All the ingredients and components to make the pizza combined to make one fantastic food party your taste buds will surely thank you for! DESSERT: 1) Fried Ice Cream (generous portion....you'll definitely get a workout trying to slice this orb of dessert into pieces) 2) Orea-Haupia Mud Pie (MUST order.....didn't really taste any haupia though....) Thank goodness we saved room for a sweet treat! Both of these desserts were great! They were the perfect ending to a wonderful meal and evening. I would have to say my favorite of the 2 was the fried ice cream. It's sinfully delicious. SERVICE: Excellent customer service was provided by our server as she was patient, friendly, and polite. And I truly appreciated that, despite the restaurant becoming busy and crowded as the evening progressed, she always made the time to check up on us. Water refills were also provided in a timely manner throughout our meal. Lastly, I do have to mention another thing that impressed me was how quickly our orders came out......we didn't have to wait very long. Bottom Line. Great food. Great service. I'll definitely be back!!
(5)
Chad Y.
My Brother Loves This Place. I Just ... Like It... :-/ Just liking this place is not a bad thing! It just means that I didn't have an OMG moment! Here are things that I liked: -Great Waiter service! We never had to wait for anything! -The food came out super fast! -It looks cool on the inside, except for those chains hanging from the ceiling! I almost got knocked out by a clump of them! This is not a sex bar! Or is it!? :O LOL! -There is a bar and lounge area -Also cute waiters ;D -The steamer clams are the only good things here. The rest not so special... Here are things that I didn't like or could do without: -Parking is all paid! I had to pay $5 for night time parking! Not worth it if you aren't crazy about this place. -I don't know why people are crazy about the food here. I had three things here that didn't blow my mind. Not bad, but something to give you a Yelp Boner. This is the second time I have been here. -Garlic Rib Eye- Just fine for steak, but I had better steak at Side Street Inn. -Dynamite Shrimp- Not much dynamite to it. I would prefer honey walnut shrimp from Little Village. Still no spice, but at least it tastes better. -Fried Ice Cream- It was just a andagi slit open with vanilla ice cream inside. That Does sound delicious, but you could taste the oil the andagi was cooked in and it was burnt. I like the fried ice cream from El Mariachi in Aiea! Delicious!!!! Maybe I have to give this place a third try. Wait...I think this was my third time... Maybe I have to try it a fourth time? I am perplexed, but maybe one more time. Nothing was bad, except the parking situation. The food is worth having. Not a bad place, but next time bring it Uncle Bo's! LOL!
(3)
Yuko A.
Sometimes I wish I wasn't such a foodie so I would go to a restaurant and 1. be indifferent by the menu 2. not be so greedy Unfortunately, I am the biggest foodie and despite having dinner at work I proceeded to stuff myself with food for pau hana with some co-workers including Dan M. I was pretty excited to try Uncle Bo's after reading some rave reviews by my fellow yelpies. It turned out to be a perfect time to go to since there was no line and the place wasn't too crowded.. We ordered Oyster Shooters - yummmm. I have been obsessed with eating oyster shooters since this (just ask my friend James G). I guess the one shooter wasn't enough...They oysters were a decent size too. 4 for $9 Dynamite Shrimp - I'm not a huge fan of dynamite shrimp but this was good. Not too too oily, with plenty of sauce on top. I bet it would be BOMB with a bowl of rice. Thai-style Steamed Clams- Oh my gawdddd. This is a must. Seriously. The clams weren't griney and so flavorful. They bring a loaf of bread so you can soak it in the broth....its seriously addicting. i couldn't stop. I could probably have eaten the whole 1 lb bowl of clams by myself.... Boca-Rota - Its like a heartattack waiting to happen but its so ono. Cheesy garlic bread that is served with a side of sliced prime rib and mushrooms. Oh mannn. If you are a glutton like me they you must get this. The prime rib was cooked just right, not at all dry just juicy and tender. I had their lemonade vodka drink. It was good, not too sweet. They have a good sized drink menu so there's plenty of choices for everyone... The service was great! When we were trying to pay for our bill, I guess the computer system was down so our waitress gave us a free round on the house....What? Just for a glitch in the system? It didn't even take that long to get our check. That is hands down A+ service which probably keeps the patrons returning for more. Definitely will be back but with an empty stomach so I can try some of their other dishes and have like 8 oyster shooters by myself. :) YELP 365: 229/365
(5)
Rich M.
Great place. The Dynamic Shrimp was just fantastic. The SOS was equally outstanding. All in all, one of the best meals I've had.
(5)
Anu M.
Pricey joint but very eclectic menu compared to the usual tourist catered fare around Waikiki. Dynamite shrimp lived up to its name was out of this world! Seafood curry was normal fare.
(4)
Hayley K.
Uncle Bo's has a pretty nice atmosphere and staff look professional in their red and black attire. The restaurant is a little dark for my liking, but I guess that's the feel they're going for. The food is delicious and I'm always satisfied with what I order. I've been here a few times, but this time we came to celebrate a friend's birthday. I ordered the filet mignon, which was cooked to perfection :), the bota roca, dynamite shrimp, escargot, and of course an alcoholic beverage (honeydew melon martini, bf had beer) ($90). All great dishes. However, I do have to admit that I remember the escargot being a lot better. Maybe it's just me... since I had Hy's Steakhouse a couple weeks back. The parking for Uncle Bo's isn't the greatest. I believe it was $2 for two hours and $4 for four hours. There are other options if you need all day parking, but I doubt you need that if you're only having a meal. The parking lot is DARK, but at least there's someone walking around. He's not security, but I'd like to believe nobody would want to break in to a car with a dude scoping the lot 24/7. This guy is actually looking for cars to tow if they have run out of time so be aware of how much time you have left! All in all it's a good place to eat and it's worth trying at least once.
(4)
Chaulcey C.
The food was ok. It wasn't Amazing. The service was annoying. Had go flag down our waitress every single time. The hostess never smiled and acted like she was important walking back and forth to the front of the restaurant. Usually you get a "thank you" when you leave, but not here. Well Fuck you too then. I work at a restaurant so I would know. The only person who gave us good service was the bus boy. Spent $100+ for two people and we tipped pretty good too(Bitch is lucky I even tipped at all).
(2)
Isa R.
I feel like the name "Uncle Bo's" completely doesn't match the ambiance or cuisine that they serve. First thing first: parking kind of sucks. It's pretty much either street parking (not good for people like me who can't parallel park well) or private lot parking that is about $5 flat fee at night. I've been here about 3-4 times, and have had great experiences each time. The only things I've tried so far are the crab and spinach artichoke dip, dynamite shrimp, and the boca rota (cheese bread with diced prime rib and mushrooms in a special sauce). Everything is delicious! I just had a birthday party dinner of 27 for a friend, and we were seated in the back room. Surprisingly, they fit three square tables together to make a long table and put a large circle table at the end, so 27 people all basically got to sit together at "one" table. (Great for bigger parties who don't want to be split up). There are SO many things that I want to try on the menu. The crab and spinach dip is great, dynamite shrimp is a must, and the boca rota was good too (although I'm not sure I'd order it again). The menu is amazing and fairly affordable for the type of gourmet cooking you're getting. I saw what my other friends ordered and wanted to try so many different things, but my budget and tummy won't allow it. I definitely want to go back to try everything else on the menu. They even have fried ice cream!
(5)
Kenson K.
Met a friend here for happy hour/dinner. Pretty decent menu: predominantly pupus. Had the poke, cajun seared sashimi thing which was excellent, and the rib eye steak ,which we shared. A good spot to pound back some beers and kick back after a hard days work.
(4)
Michael Y.
But pricey but then again the food is supposed to be like escargot clams etc. It's bit like fusion Japanese Thai Italian. It gets crowded so if possible make reservation
(4)
Lei D.
Went for a birthday dinner last night and service was excellent. Do Not order the chicken Cesar salad as it's very bland and the chicken tastes like it is from a can. I thought I'd order it because it was simple and easy, so I was sure it would taste good, but I was disappointed at the lack of flavor. I tried a few friends dishes and they were excellent though! Pasta, steak, some sort of cheesy garlic bread... all delish! The main reason for a low rating though is because the salad was just so disappointing. The quality of all their other food was excellent which made it that much worse. An important note is parking across the street is brutal! There was a sign on the door of the restaurant that the parking lot across the street allowed NO grace period. Greeted at the door by the hostess, she kindly informed us if we parked across the street, we had to be sure we paid, put the ticket face up on our dash and got back BEFORE our time ran out because the parking company tows cars if you show up 1 min late. That was a little off-putting, but I definitely was grateful for the warning. Sounds like they've had their customers cars towed a bunch before. They weren't joking either. As I left and got to my car there was a tow truck that pulled in and was hooking up to a vehicle. Overall, the food and ambiance is great and the staff were all friendly and provided good service.
(3)
Dan M.
WHAT THE HECK IS THIS PLACE?! ...is the first thought that ran through my head upon entering Uncle Bo's, or as I call it, the "AMAZING FACTORY." I've passed by this place so many times, writing it off as a mom and pop type of place. But holy hell, looks can be decieving. Inside you're transported to a nightclub/modern-style restaurant. Arriving in shorts and a T-shirt, I immediately felt out of place, but I never got the impression I shouldn't have been there. But it wasn't just the style of the restaurant that threw me off, it was the food. Hmm, is there another adjective higher than incredible? That's how good their food is. The clams, the bread, and the almighty Boca Rota. I could live on that stuff. If you're indecisive about ordering (I know I am), start with the Boca Rota, and then decide from there what to get after that. Servers were way chill and even gave us a free round of beers because it was taking a long time to get our check. If they didn't have to kick us out because they were closing, we could have easily stayed for another couple hours. I don't know if there's an actual guy named Uncle Bo working there, but I love him.
(5)
Ramfis B.
I just have one word to describe Uncle Bo's Pupu Bar & Grill: UN-BO-LIEVEABLE!!!! The food,drinks, and ambience here is just electric and i have to say i thought Home Bar and Grill had the best looking cocktail servers, now i have to go on record and say Uncle Bo's has some real lookers out there as well and the asian hostess who watches the front is simply stunning. Oh wait a minute, let's get back to the food here. I have been here two times and the first time i came with my guests from the hotel i work at, the service here was excellent but as time progressed, it was a little difficult finding the server for drinks and our bill. But that didn't discourage me from coming another time because i knew the food here was excellent so i knew what to expect the second time around. Now initially i had made a reservation for five the second time around at six o clock on a Friday evening, but they were booked and only had a reservation available at 8 o clock. So i asked the hostess if i could come in early and sit at the bar andhave cocktails and i something opened up earlier maybe we could get sat earlier an she said yeah, no problem. I believe her name was Aubrey?. She was very accomodating an gracious but that one asian hostess was just....WOW!! Ok, back to my review again. I have to tell you about something about sitting on bars. I can personally tell you, being in the industry for 23 years now, sitting on a bar when there is a place as busy like Uncle Bo's is just your ticket to getting great service and your drinks ASAP. And with my bartendress Alicia and Noy servicing me, i was just praying the barstools would open up so we could sit at the bar and have them serve us. You know all about Hawaiian time when it comes to reservations. If you have a reservation at 8 o clock, you have to tell them the resrvation is at six o clock. Catch my drift? Well all the stars must have been aligned because we were able to squeeze the five of us on the bar and i knew it would be the start of good things to come... Now for the food.....These are my must orders: THE BOCA ROTA: This my fellow yelpies, you gotta order here. It's sliced Prime Rib with Sauteed Mushrooms and Mozzarella which you put on this soft,garlic,cheese bread which is just an orgasm waiting to happen as soon as you take one bite of this....AMAZING!!! yelp.com/biz_photos/sv5X… THAI STYLE STEAMER CLAMS: These are a pound of perfectly cooked Manila Clams served with a mild chili, garlic oyster sauce and tomatoes. You better make sure you have some bread on hand to sop the juice up with or ask for a straw and sip it till it's gone.. yelp.com/biz_photos/sv5X… BAKED OPAH MAUNA KEA: Ok this is not an appetizer, but an entree that has to be ordered here. The Moonfish here is oven baked with a dynamite sauce and served with two pieces of tiger shrimp with your choice of starch..So Yummy!! yelp.com/biz_photos/sv5X… ESCARGOT: Oh my lord, the escargot broiled with garlic butter and loads of Mozzarella Cheese served with bread is just......... yelp.com/biz_photos/sv5X… BO'S BIG NACHOS: These are crispy wonton chips served with Ham,Kalua Pig, Onions,Mushrooms, and Melted Mozzarella with sour cream on the side yelp.com/biz_photos/sv5X… SPICY UNCLE BO'S DYNAMITE SHRIMP: It's parmesan panko crusted shrimp tossed in a garlic chili aioli....Delicious yelp.com/biz_photos/sv5X… SLOW ROASTED PRIME RIB WITH STEAK FRIES: yelp.com/biz_photos/sv5X… HAMACHI SASHIMI WITH NORI UMBRELLA: yelp.com/biz_photos/sv5X… SPICY TUNA WRAPS WITH KOREAN NORI: yelp.com/biz_photos/sv5X… UNCLE BO'S OYSTER SHOOTERS: yelp.com/biz_photos/sv5X… Now i'll let you in on a little secret fellow yelpies, if you have a party of 10 or more, it has to be at least 10, you can have an all you can eat pupu which includes every pupu on the menu and you can order more if you please. But you all have to have the menu and the cost is $25 dollars a person if i'm not mistaken. That is one hell of a deal if you ask me. Just call Uncle Bo's and they can tell you more about it. Now i have to tell you, Uncle Bo's is just a place to go for a few drinks and pupu's before you head out to the night clubbing scene in Waikiki and i have to tell you gentlemen out there, the eye candy here is simply
Pros: delicious food, great ambiance, great service. Favorites: calamari, fried ice cream hands down. Will definitely come back. Cons: parking. $5 next door, $4across the street, 25 cents for 20 min street parking on extremely busy street. Fills reservation book and then only takes walkins. We took a chance and despite having only one table occupied, they hesitantly sat us saying we had to be out by a certain time. We took it, no one filled the tables, but by the time we were told to leave, the place was getting full. We were lucky.
(5)
Laurence K.
Cool place nice vibe sat at the bar has some local beers primo ordered the hamachi sashimi with yuzu and jalepeno ( which I had last night at Nobu) which was just as good! And half the price! After that we had the pig fried rice which was the best fried rice I've ever had! Smokey pork with a great flavor man was it good! After that the Shaken Beef which is Wok-fried steak w/ thai herbs, onions, tomato Dam Good! The food rocks here you must try!!
(5)
Jennee G.
I'm going to review on a few different things. I'll start with the bad and finish with the great! The ceviche with won ton chips is a big no no if you don't like fish sauce! Although there is lots of yummy components in the ceviche that I would love to taste, you can taste nothing but fish sauce:( major bummer! We also had the clams which are delicious! A very generous portion for the inexpensive price point! We also shared the Steamed Opakapaka, Holy yummy! Such big portions for such a great price! (My bf is 6'5" and can eat like a machine) we were both full! Of course we left a bit of room for desert! we went with the servers recommendation of the Hobos. OMG let me just say, best dessert I've EVER had! Even if I hated everything about this place I would go there just to eat this dessert! They were fried taro donut balls tossed in powdered sugar, with a icing dipping sauce and vanilla ice cream on the I side. They are served hot and are the most tasty treat in the world! I'm in love:) overall it was a nice dinner. Our server Jenny was simple, helpful and attentive on a very timely matter. Much appreciated and hard to find! The bf will make sure we eat here once a week at least due to the great dessert:)
(4)
Bianca V.
Uncle Bos has a pretty awesome menu. The bf & I met up with some old friends & had a few drinks & pupus. Being pregnant, I couldn't indulge in a cocktail but he enjoyed his. We ordered the kalua pig nachos, the manila clams & the kids pasta. They were all pretty good. I actually like my kids pasta the best! It couldve just been my craving being satisfied that made it soo delicious. But it was really good.
(4)
William H.
Had an early dinner 630 pm Resturant was not full had 7 adults and 3 kids food service was slow and inconsistent. Food was ok for 360 dollars I would have expected more. Would I go back probably not
(2)
Wendy A.
This was my first time to Uncle Bo's, which I heard nothing but great things about. The evening started out great with a yummy Pear Pleasure cocktail and the Dynamite Shrimp. However, the Ribeye was overcooked (even though I had ordered it to be cooked medium) and had little flavor. The Garlic Mashed Potatoes and veggies were great! My friends and I were enjoying our meal when about 15 minutes in to eating our entrees, we were asked if we would like boxes. This was only 45 minutes after we had been seated at the table. We told our waitress that we were not finished with our dinner and within 10 minutes, a second waitress came to the table to clear dishes. We felt as though we were being rushed through dinner and out the door. We were prepared to not only order another round of drinks, but also dessert, however that quickly changed when we felt pressured to get out. One other thing to note is that they do not provide separate checks. We were told that their policy is one check per table and we can let our waitress know how to split it at the time of payment. Such a hassle!!! I may return sometime for drinks and pupus, but definitely not for a full meal. I will also be sure to try to go at a time when I am not being pushed out the door.
(2)
OGRAYDAY D.
Thanks to the homie for taking us to this spot! The wait was almost 2 hours but Id have to say that it was pretty worth it. We ordered a bunch of appetizers that were all unique and bomb as heck. They had this dynamite shrimp which was so Good. One of my favorites is The cheesy garlic bread and steak thing! Omg that was such an unusual combo but it was so gooooood! I could eat the whole thing if I wanted to lols mans. But we also had the beef slider thingys which were on some purple pan de sal looking thing and they were cool. For my main dish I had the garlic rib eye which was super sarap! Lols mans...well I dont exactly remeber everything we had but please dont pass up this spot that appears to be a hole in the wall. Its across the street from the famous side street Inn as well (they had an even longer wait tho...we actually put our names for both and just went to the one which called our cellphones first) I will def be coming back Here on my next trip to waikiki.
(5)
Sara L.
Friends and I came for dinner and we shared the tomato beef stir-fry, dynamite shrimp, boca-rota and seared ahi. The boca-rota was everyone's favorite and the rest was average, but good. As for dessert we got the new item, which was a half green tea half vanilla ice-cream cake and it sucked. We also got the brownie with a scoop of vanilla ice-cream. The ambiance was young, hip and lively as well as the interior/bathroom. Next time i'd come back for drinks only though.
(4)
Joel K.
Wow! Best crab cakes ever! Steamer clams were great! Beet salad was great. Food was fabulous. Service was great!
(5)
Daniel V.
The best restaurant in Waikiki!
(5)
Juliene C.
I have been dying to try Uncle Bo's for the longest time! I finally came in on a friday night at 5pm right when they opened. There were already a lot of people there. We didn't have a reservation, so the hostess told us she can seat us as long as we are out of there by 7pm. Fine. It was a small & chic restaurant. I like the ambiance. The service was ok. Nothing special. The food was just ok for me. I expected way more being that this place is so popular & everyone raves about it. -house salad: simple. Nothing special. -bocca rotta: garlic cheese bread w/ some type of cheese dip w/ mushrooms & sliced prime rib. It looks so good. This is the reason i wanted to come here, but sadly it was just ok. It didn't blow me away like i thought it would. -dynamite shrimp: panko crusted mixed in w/ some sort of sweet chili sauce. Very good! One of the best dishes of my dinner! I just thought it would be a bigger portion. -garlic & mushroom pizza: not a fan at all! Too much sauce. Ended up giving it away to our neighbor. Never again. Little Caesars taste way better! -taro beignet: taro beignet w/ some sort of yummy white sauce & a scoop of ice cream. Now this is what made my dinner happen! The beignets were so crisp & fluffy. The white sauce was amazing. I could've just ate the sauce as soup! It was like a cross of white chocolate & condensed milk! So bomb! I'm pretty sure i'll come back here again to try the other pupus on the menu. Hopefully next visit will be better!
(3)
Susanne A.
Thus place was fantastic. Service was superb and every fish was perfectly done. We loved the Dynamite shrimp, the hamachi appetizer, the seafood pasta were all fantastic. The Pork stir fry was a large portion and also great.
(5)
Joe E.
Interesting spot. Would have never expected the interior based off of the exterior. Outside it looks like a dive, but inside, very contemporary and trendy. We had four of us, and the seating was a bit tight (you better like your neighbors). We all ordered apps and a couple ordered entrees. I went for the Bo's Big Nachos (damn tasty) and a pork belly something that I can't recall the name of (also pretty tasty). The others at the table had items from Prime Rib to Dynamite Shrimp. Nobody left unhappy, except the one who had ordered the Prime Rib on the recommendation of a friend and then ordered it well done..... Glad we stopped in, glad someone told us about it, because I probably would have driven right past if I hadn't been looking for it.
(4)
Stephanoodle T.
This is a pretty chill spot - looks like a shack from the outside and transforms into an intimate, trendy space inside. It's pretty small, but I think the owner is doing SOMETHING right. It's always packed. The menu is extensive, though not complicated and cluttered. Even though it's a small space, it would be a great place to come with a group of friends since a lot of the dishes are large and made for sharing. Two of the dishes that stood out most to me are the Bocca Rota and Uncle's Bo's Catch of the Day (it's a seafood pasta). Bocca Rota is basically chunks of garlic bread sprinkled with herbs and splashed with cheese, all of which surrounds a valley of cubed beef sauteed to perfection with mushrooms and other yummy stuff. The seafood pasta has generous chunks of salmon, clam, shrimp, scallop, and mussels and is tossed in a creamy, seafoody, tomatoey, garlicky sauce along with a generous amount of linguine as well. The best part is, it tastes even better the next day. Add some sriracha on dat and you're good.
(4)
Kristen K.
Ahh, Bo's. One of my favorite go-to places. It just never fails me. The 2 owners are awesome, and the waiters/waitresses are super friendly. They can get REALLY packed though, and when that happens, of couse service gets a little slower and the volume of the restaurant get a hell lot louder. Not the best place for a "romantic date night", but more-so for a pupu's and drinks night with a big group of friends. My only "gripe" (which isn't even a gripe) is that I usually end up having a little too much fun here, if you know what I mean.... =)
(4)
Hannah A.
OMGODNESS!!!! I miss uncle Bo's so much!!! Everything about the place (except sometimes the music is too loud during dinner can't hear each other talk) I AM OBSESSED WITH BOCCA ROTTA!!!!! If you haven't tried it your insanely missing out !!! Bo himself is such a sweetheart and he loves his Jameson! Mahalo Bo for bringing such a amazing place to Oahu !!! Can't wait to come back and eat more !!
(5)
Jaime K.
Good food, good ambience, just a really good time! Definitely going back again when I'm in town. Yummy!!
(4)
James L.
Heard about this place from a friend last year and then my friend heard about this place from their friend, so we had to check it out. We didn't have reservations (I guess it is recommended), so we were offered to sit at the bar. We ordered the Thai clams, boca roca (prime rib with mushroom with cheesy bread), fish tacos with purple yam fries, and crab salad. The Thai clams and boca roca came out first and they were so good and flavorful. These were considered small plates, but they were huge for 2 of us to eat. The fish tacos came out next and the purple yam fries was the best fries I have ever eaten. I could not stop eating them to be honest. We were already full and asked our bar keep if we could cancel our salad and they did...thank goodness. We just didn't realize how big the portions was here. Everything tasted really good here and the service very attentive. A definite place to hang and eat in Oahu. It was a nice surprise.
(5)
Davin-Jay C.
Looking to impress a special someone or just have a nice dinner out? You found the place!! Although the outside may have you fooled to what kind of place you'll be eating at, you will not be disappointed at what they have to offer! Very clean and nice and inviting atmosphere. Start with a glass of wine! Don't forget to try the calamari (be carefully not to get full off it!!) and don't forget to try the pesto pasta! Prices are at a normal for Hawaii and a normal for the area being near Waikiki. Prices=worth the amount of food! I ALWAYS leave with a to go box!
(5)
Kate Y.
Love this place. It has such a great vibe. I've usually walked in and even if they are busy gotten seated rather quickly. My favorites are: SOS seafood dish, Little Piggy's and Boca Rota pupu's! Would definitely recommend and will be coming back often!
(5)
Ryan Mae S.
I sometimes forget about this place, because its kind of tucked away in Kaimuki area, but I met a girlfriend over there and sat at the bar last Friday and we had an awesome time. The atmosphere is relaxed and there are a lot of local people that hang out at Uncle Bos, despite the fact that its located right there on the edge of Waikiki. If you are in the mood to strike up a conversation and meet someone new, everyone who goes there and sits at the bar seems to be friendly and outgoing. The food is so flavorful and the portions are generous. It was the first time we tried the taro bignettes and they were heavenly. I would highly recommend this place to anyone who I liked :) The only thing I wasnt so hot on was the way all the servers pile their purses in back of the bar in full view of all the customers. I think this is something that would be easy to remedy.
(5)
Bj D.
cool, rockin' hot spot. great locals food and vibe. don't miss it. loud, crowded, tables close together; everyone chats. we had huge pupu platters, plenty for four to six: dynamite-style crispy shrimp $9.95 boca-rota sliced beef, in mushroom sauce, with mozzarella toasts calamari wth veg curry sauce crispy won ton nachos with meats, salsa, cream wonderful fresh island fish dishes incredible light crusty taro beignets served with creme anglaise and vanilla bean ice cream. awesome server,Yim, had a beautiful aloha smile, and provided swift attentive service to our needs. full bar, strong lychee or pineapple martinis $8.00 and lots of beer selections. tapa on over! pay parking lot across the street. a fave spot.
(4)
Daisy D.
Nothin really special. We shared the dynamite shrimp, steak garlic bread, fried rice, and prime rib. They were ok. Not enough for me to rave about. I was excited bc it was on our list of foodie hot spots for our HI trip but unfortunately, it was my least favorite. The drink we ordered was way too sweet and completely unbalanced. We only had a couple sips of it and the waitress didn't notice or care to ask about it. The service was ok too. They have a nice, somewhat chic ambiance. Definitely something you wouldn't expect considering where they are located. I didn't really like how it felt like a club with the music they played and the staff attire, but I can see others liking that if it's a birthday celebration before a night out in town or something like that.
(2)
Edward W.
3.75 stars. Ok, so Uncle Bo's is a pretty good restaurant. I'll give you that. Kinda funky in a shabby chic kinda way. Dishes that please and sometimes excite. But let's look at the bigger picture, 'cause there is more to the story. Make reservations. UB's is sometimes booked up days in advance. Parking. What parking? That's the lowlight of Uncle Bo's. It all goes up from here! The interior of the space is dimly lit. A busy bar greets you upon entering with hanging beads separating it from the bustling dining room. Concrete floors. Low budget tables and seating that includes a mish mosh of wooden backed and folding chairs. White paper serving as tablecloths. The acoustics are quite loud. A young, attractive serving staff is pleasant and efficient enough. The food. The stars of this fun and diverse menu are the pupus. These small dishes are all very good, and I would suggest making a meal of just them for all but the hungriest. Order lots of them and share. Don't forget your adult beverages. That pupu/drinks combination alone could create the perfect night out with friends in Kapahula/Waikiki. 4+ stars. Baby back ribs in a pineapple BBQ sauce were fall off the bone good. The pot sticker gyoza, fried, were perfectly prepared. The dynamite shrimp is terrific. The walnut shrimp wrap was creative, healthy and tasty. All a solid 4 stars. And they are just the tip of the proverbial iceberg... The pupu menu is extensive and quite looooong. Salads were standard, main course quality fare. The entrees were maybe 3.5 stars - simple, good, but not as exciting as the pupus. The Opah Mauna Kea and the Opakapaka we're both nice pieces of white fish, but they were both a little dry. A drizzle of what appeared to be the dynamite shrimp sauce on the Opah lent a spicy, moist kick to that dish, and I would highly recommend asking for that preparation for those who like spicy. These dishes included fire-grilled zucchini that were inconsistent in their done-ness. Some were over cooked, though some were done nicely with a charred outer skin. Penne pasta is one of the starch accompaniments served with stewed tomatoes. This was a simple, flavorful side, though you can opt for rice, garlic mashed, or fries, too. So in my opinion, go for the ambience and the pupus. Plan on an adventure in parking, know that the space is eclectic and loud, and know that the cuisine is often creative, often really good, but sometimes misses the mark by just a little.
(4)
Tiffinie K.
6/16/12 visited Uncle Bo's. We parked across the street in a self pay lot near Side Street Inn and Prudential's parking lot - this was about 7:30PM, and it was full. It was $6 for 3 hours, which is more than enough time. The stall we parked in wasn't a stall, but the security guard said we could park there and enter stall #1. YAY, thank you! The wait at Uncle Bo's was supposed to be 45 minutes, but it didn't seem like it. We found a spot at the bar, and enjoyed about 2 drinks each. Hrmm, on empty stomachs, maybe that's why the time went by so quickly? About the food - I'd say go only for appetizers. The entree's we had were not good at all. I had the opakapaka; though the sauce was good, the fish was slightly rubbery. Other entrees tired were pepperoni pizza; it was too cheesy for the amount of sauce they put on and fish tacos. So, the appetizers were good. We only tired the clams and something wrapped in raw ahi. Excellent. The clams were really good. Try the clams - hehe, did I say I really liked it? The ambiance was OK. Restaurant noisy, but to be expected. Service was just OK. Nothing spectacular.
(4)
Lynnette S.
Went there with friends on a Friday night. It was quiet & the atmosphere looked calm & relaxing. Had the Steak which was really good. My friends loved their dishes too. About an hour into our dinner it got so loud & crowded. Seems a lot of the college kids hang out there. Don't get me wrong....it's a great place for them to be social...but, for someone who wants to just have a nice dinner & relax with good service...I must say...that this place isn't for you! If you are looking for a good time to party & meet people....than this place will do you good!!!
(3)
Elisa M.
I like healthy food, so this review may be biased. I am not Hawaiin, I am a tourist who has visited the island a half a dozen times. This restaurant takes fresh delicious ingredients and drowns them in off the shelf ingredients. I ordered based on the yelp reviews and that was my mistake. The boca rota everyone raves about is basically beef stroganoff in mayonnaise and with cheesy toasted white bread instead of noodles. The Manila Thai clams wer sickly sweet in a teriyaki like sauce which drowned out the fresh taste of the sea in the clams. We also triad the greasy noodles which were way too salty and topped with imitation crab meat. The 45 minute wait, for me, was not worth it. If you want to try it, go for it, but I think the Side Street Inn is way better value and flavor. The staff was friendly and the service was fine at Uncle Bo's, but I am not likely to return.
(3)
Nixon V.
Decided to try this place out since we saw all the high reviews from different websites and forums. Honestly, this place looks like a bar, which been renovated to be a restuarant/lounge. The place is really crowded with local and tourists people so arrive early if you want to get a spot. What to know: Service - The staff are friendly and nothing over the level as top notch. Just order your food, they will provide recommendation and hand you the bill. Food - We decided to order their pizza and the dynamite shrimp. The pizza is just ok, but it is way over price for the portion and taste. $18 pizza. hmmm You can get a better quality pizza at your local CPK location. As for the dynamte shrip - It was very tasty so I can give this a thumbs up but nothing more. Drinks - Their Lychee drink was just ok. I would not recommend getting it at all. You taste more of the Lychee syrup then a real mix drink. This was a total bummer. Overall the food price is to high for the amount of food you are getting. Expect to pay a lot for all of your extra stuff.
(3)
Megan N.
nice place, good food. The inside of this restaurant was not what I expected, it was pretty trendy and packed; I'm glad we made a reservation. My boyfriend and I ordered 6 lil pigs as our appetizer and they were delicious we split some kind of seafood curry and it was also very good. My ONLY complaint is that the tables are too close together, you kinda have to coordinate getting up from ur table and I could hear the conversations the couples on both sides of us. I would definitely go back just don't expect an intimate setting.
(4)
Jordan S.
This place is fantastic. It is frequently busy, but the food is AMAZING. I regularly go with a group of friends, and we do the chefs choice special. Each person pays $25 (or $35) and they bring out food until you say stop. For $25, you get all of their appetizers, and they really are phenomenal. Their Kalua pork nacho's are insane, the pizzas are amazing, their seafood is perfect. For 35 you can also get their main dishes, their Filet Mignon is simply amazing., seriously one of the best in the state. I have also had larger parties (20+ people) there and the staff is highly attentive and everything goes very well. They also have a full bar, which is a requirement for most of my friends and I.
(5)
Sara S.
I have a love hate relationship with Uncle Bo's. I love it because the food is always super good, but I hate it because I always eat a BEEPload whenever I come... I feel incredibly stuffed and disgusting albeit satisfied after. Why not exhibit some self control you may ask? I CANNOT RESIST UNCLE BO'S. Take last night for example. I was just going to get a salad and share an appetizer with my bf. I ordered the CRAB AND AVOCADO SALAD. Harmless enough. We ordered the BOCA ROTA- garlic cheesy bread with sliced prime rib and mushrooms. HOLY CRAB WHAT A HUGE SALAD I RECEIVED. There is no escaping the huge portions of this place even in the salads. The salad itself was okay, the lettuce kind of had a funny taste but I liked the dressing. They also use REAL CRAB folks, none of this imitation crab stuff. The BOCA ROTA is EFFING delicious... who doesn't like crispy cheesy bread with meat and mushrooms? They give you like 20 pieces too.. DANGIT. My bf got the OPAH MAUNA KEA. Holy eff biggest portion of Opah I have seen, covered in cheese-spicy dynamite sauce + 2 shrimp + huge mashed potatoes... Gosh. Other things I have tried: UNCLE BO'S NACHOS: HOLY (#*&$(#*$&! This thing is huge and taaaasty. Crispy fried wonton chips, kalua pig, ham, cheese, mushrooms, tomatoes, sour cream...... EEK i can feel my arteries clogging but at least my stomach is happy!!! DYNAMITE SHRIMP: I know this is supposed to be one of their must try's but it wasn't anything special to me. Maybe I'll have to reevaluate. CALAMARI: I've actually never been to a place that had disappointing calamari. This was no exception. The service is pretty good, basically all female servers.. lol. Make reservations because it's always really packed, especially the weekends!! I would suggest coming with a large group of ppl to share (as a lot of ppl do) or just come when you're freaking starving and ready to pack it away.
(4)
Cedi R.
WORST NACHOS I'VE EVER TASTED! None of the flavors or ingredients made sense to me. It had mushrooms, 2 types of sweet meat, HUGE tomato blocks, sweet salsa, and the mildest mozzarella I've ever tasted. Felt like I was eating a dessert. Plus, the wonton chips were too dense. It was a complete fail at an attempt to recreate nachos. The shrimp pasta was incredibly bland. Felt I was just eating...substance. Service was better than average. Quick and friendly. Atmosphere is awesome! Pretty cool inside. Go to drink and chill, NOT to eat.
(2)
Tabatha P.
I love Uncle Bo's!!! The plates are delicious, some of the best sea bass and pupus, and a nice environment.
(5)
Lynn C.
I asked my brother what to wear to Uncle Bo's. He said, casual. My friend asked her brother what to wear to Uncle Bo's. he said, you should go shower. We were both right in our own ways. It had that clubbing kind of feel, with girls in sequins and mini dresses, booming bass and fancy schmancy lighting. But there others in tank tops, shorts which contributed to a more casual feel. Parking sucks by the way. You'll have to find parking on the street. Crossing Kapahulu Ave. is kind of treacherous; just gotta wait for the light to change near the Zippy's and then run and pray that no one runs you over. We got the boca rota (cheesy bread with prime rib) and Uncle Bo's nachos (won ton crispy chips with kahlua pork, parsley, tomatoes, etc). I could've eaten five plates of that boca rota if allowed. The nachos were plentiful but felt oily (my heart was like ehhh ehh). Still as far as pupus go, both were very tasty. I had two lycheetinis; both were considerably strong. My other friends enjoyed the full bar and drank beer, gin and tonics, and more beer. Our waitress was 1) gorgeous and 2) very attentive. She checked up on us every 10 minutes which made it seem like she was taking care of us and yet not being pushy. It wasn't just her serving us either, some of the other waitresses came to check up on us (and they were all pretty gorgeous too!). One downside was the noise. It was pretty difficult to talk to each other and there is no way you can talk on a cell phone in that place. I'd come back for the food and drink but not for a date or catch up.
(4)
Julie N.
My girlfriends planned my bachelorette dinner here. They called and was told that they DO NOT take reservations here. So we planned to come early which didn't work out cause we were running late. One of my friends got there early to order first until we arrived. Then they told her they had a party coming and we had to be out by 7:30! I was like wtf they told us they don't take reservations?! My Friend kept calling & telling us to hurry cause the workers kept looking at her. The rest of us got there at 7, we rushed and scarfed our food down. Then they told us they had a party coming and that they could move us, but we just left. Overall the food was good but I was just upset cause they told my friend they don't take reservations when they do!
(3)
Shayna K.
It all depends what you're in the mood for--if it's a night on the town at one of the most happenin places on Kapahulu Ave., then ask to sit in the front by the bar. If you'd like a quiet dinner, ask for the back room. There's also a private room in the way back good for parties. Must-have dishes are the Thai steamer clams, calamari, dynamite shrimp, chicken picatta, fried ice cream. The free bread is great, too. :) We like to each order either a pupu or entree and eat family style. Oh, the poke serving is very generous--we were surprised! Parking is kinda junk--either $4 in the paid lot across the street, or on weekends they have valet parking. Hardly any street parking. But, it's worth it. The atmosphere and style of the place, the good food and drinks, the warm, soft bread and clean bathrooms (don't mean to pair those together) make it a great place to get together with friends any night of the week.
(4)
George S.
Asked the bartender for a local place to go and she recommended Uncle Bo's. No tourists (except those given the pass) and great food, drink and the local scene. We went twice and will return next year.
(5)
Michela K.
Every time I come here, it's always amazing. I am in love with the boca rota. I seriously dream about that stuff. The steamed clams are amazing. And the oyster shooters are the best I've ever had. Service here is always on point. Tiffany we had tonight, and Jennie the other night. They are amazing. I will always come here.
(5)
Terinna R.
Went here on a Tuesday night and the bar and decorations were breath taking :) definitely a nice to have a birthday dinner or a casual get together :) the waitresses are super friendly and pretty quick. The portions are pretty hefty although a little Smaller than the Cheesecake Factory. Pricing may be a little more expensive but for the quality of the food, I wouldn't mind the extra couple of bucks. The upside? The wait for seats is pretty quick and they take reservations for party of any size!! :) However, street parking is very limited so you pretty much have to park across the street and pay :( no validations.. We had the garlic rib eye.. Chicken pesto pasta? And fir deserts the three of us split the fried ice cream and the oreo mudpie :) the ribeye was very flavorful and not too heavy on the garlic :) side of sweet potatoe french fries, a little on the dry side but still not overly oily or fried. I had my steak medium rare.. And Lo and behold it was medium rare!! Hehehe :) super nice and juicy inside and not chewy :) my friend said his pasta was a little too garlicky for his taste but still very delicious and filling :) So overall 4 stars! Definitely a place to try :)
(4)
Gemma R.
Cam and I brought our friends here a few nights ago and I was pleasantly surprised at how easy it was to get a reservation on a Friday night for a party of four at 7:30pm. The seating is pretty tight but there's still enough room between tables so you're not feeling like you're on top of each other. We ordered a round of drinks and decided to share a few plates. The bartenders are amazing and we all loved the drinks we ordered. I had a lychee drink and even though it was strong, it didn't have that overwhelming 'tastes like rubbing alcohol with a dash of lychee juice taste". The food started to come out and Uncle Bo's has changed the way I see nachos forever. All nacho's should come with won ton chips. Always. I loved it. I seriously think I ate the plate by myself. We had other food too - shaken beef, dynamite shrimp, fried rice and a lot of other plates. I love Uncle Bo's and can't wait to come back again. I wish they had a better parking situation but it's mostly street parking.
(5)
Natacha M.
This place is freaking amazing. You must make a point to come here.,,,MUST!!! We had a group of 9. We walked from the strip which wasn't too far. It was well worth the walk. Our group ordered mostly pupas and a few entrees but we shared everything. Every single dish had us making noises....ummmmm......aaaaaahhhh! OMG!!! Here is a list of what was ordered: Uncle Bo's Kalua Pig Fried Rice Uncle Bo's Dynamite Shrimp Bo's Big Nachos Bo's Pork Belly Hawaiian Style Pizza This was our most memorable meal. Staff & bar was on point. Good service all around.
(5)
Don D.
I went to Uncle Bo's to have a drink or two and some appetizers with some friends who were in town. While I normally dont like the smaller bars, for the "catching up" type of atmosphere we were looking for, this place didnt disappoint. Parking is across the street in the paid parking lot. Its $5 for 8 hours. Oh, and looks are deceiving. The outside of Uncle Bo's does not match the inside. The outside says, "diner"....while the inside says "classy bar". We arrived during the later hours and were seated right away. The server came by pretty quickly and since we were there to talk story and catch up, she actually came to our table a couple of times before we even looked at the menu. She was probably thinking, "oh great, these guys are gonna take up my time all night!" Anyway, we ordered drinks and food and they came at appropriate times. We ordered 3 appetizers. The clams, the ahi sashimi, and the shrimp. I think the shrimp was awesome. The clams and the sashimi were good but I could order 2 of hose shrimp appetizers just for me as a meal! Our server checked on us often and was pretty attentive. Most times the service in late night bars suck. I'll be back to check the rest of the menu because there are a lot of things on there that I havent tried yet.
(5)
Trevor T.
Normally awesome place. Great food, good drinks. One server though, Jenny, was terrible. We had a 8-person group with a big tab ($400+), but we got super slow service, a grouchy attitude, then waited about 20 minutes to get our check to leave. Besides that one incident, always love going Uncle Bo's. Get the shrimp dynamite!
(4)
Tracie F.
Just as the 5 stars denote, this place is "woohoo! as good as it gets!!" What is there not to love about deliciously irresitable food paired with a fabulous bar and the best wait staff around? NOTHING!! This place is the bomb baby (am I showing my age?)!!! Uncle Bo's is fabulous for pupus, drinks, dinner, catering or "d" all of the above. Pupus are wonderful! You can not leave without trying the Boca Rota. This wonderfully cheesy prime rib laden garlic bread is insanely delicious! I am not a fan of tofu but their spicy tofu dip is awesome! Anything I have tried here has been awesome, and believe me I have tried just about EVERYTHING! Now let me explain why (it's not simply that I am porky pig...well kinda)... Uncle Bo's catered our wedding and we could not have asked for a more professional caterer with impeccable service and delicious food. Our guests RAVED about the grub. Bo was personally involved in the whole process and made sure that everything was simply perfect. I really liked the fact that he basically served us a sample of every dish on the menu at our tasting. He then helped us to create a personalized menu that suited our palettes and the theme of the wedding. If you have ever planned a wedding (or special event) you know how stressful it can be. Bo took the stress out of stressful...and then we were simply left with ful. Yes I know that was cheesy but oh so true. Bottom line...looking for pupus and drinks? This is the place to go!!! Looking to take someone special out to a delicious meal? This is the place to go!!! Wanna cater your next special event? You can NOT go wrong with Uncle Bo's!!!
(5)
Nicholas L.
Outstanding Food, Great Ambiance, and a Top Notch Staff! You can spend a lot more at other places, but trust me, you'll be back for Uncle Bo's Seafood Catch, the Boca Rota, or the Opah + Opakapaka dishes..Happy Eating! PS: No one orders the lamb, but trust me, the peppercorn reduction sauce is one of a kind. You can tell they not only import the best New Zealand raised lamb, but they also carve the rack up so you only eat the most delicious medallions of perfectly cooked meat. I'm already getting hungry!
(5)
Livery H.
I was here with a large group and we wanted to eat sharing-style. The drinks came about 20 minutes after we ordered them. The restaurant was full and the waitress told us the bar was backed up and that all of our drinks would take 15 minutes at least to come out. For me, that was it. The drink I got was sweeter than fruit punch with three packets of sweetener added to it. The next time i wanted a drink, I almost had to tackle the waitress (literally I had to yell since the restaurant was too loud). and the drink came out as not-punctually as promised. The food came out all at the same time and tasted good for the price. In summation, the atmosphere was too loud, the staff was not that great, and the food was blah blah. Maybe I would have liked it if I had the same amount to drink as the people next to me singing Hawai'i Pono'i at the top of their lungs. Not coming back.
(1)
Cindy L.
I can't imagine looking for a place to eat on Sunday night can be so difficult on Kapahulu, we went into several restaurants and most of the wait time was like 45 minutes to an hour. Luckily, there were seats available at Uncle Bo's. This was the first time I came here. Yes, even though they opened since 2006. There were a few of us, so we decided to sample different items on the menu: Uncle Bo's Oyster Shooters ($9) - 4 pieces of oyster in separate shot glasses soaked in cilantro sesame-ponzu sauce. Walnut Shrimp Wrap ($8) - 4 pieces of shrimp individually served on lettuce. Kinda like the Chinese honey walnut shrimp. Bo's Big Nachos ($14) - Huge huge portion of crispy wonton chips served with ham, kalua pig, onions, mushrooms and melted mozzarella cheese. Crab Salad with Avocado ($14) - Mix greens with Mama Bo's special sauce. A good amount of crab meat and a nice cut of avocado. Uncle Bo's Fish Tacos ($19) - 3 tacos with dill sauce and sweet potato fries. Not very tasty nor worth its price. All in all, I thought that it was a nice place to hang out with the girls, however, the food was just okay for me. My favorite was the crab salad because I just love the dressing. The worse dish was probably the fish tacos, since it was expensive and you can barely taste the fish in the taco.
(3)
Sherylynn S.
Not really my first check in but a great place to check in sometimes!!!!
(5)
Lina F.
This place should be right on the beach with all the other great restaurants. Make sure to make reservations though. Great service, UNBELIEVABLE food, love it, love it, love it!!! Gem to find!
(5)
Brandon K.
as always the all you can eat menu for 10 or more people is just amazing. Service was EXCELLENT and the food equally EXCELLENT. I took some friends visiting from Japan, and they were all amazed by the portions for the price. Awesome bar, friendly staff, and the awesome food is a trifecta of goodness. "boca ratta" is my favorite thing... in the world thank you for everything uncle bos!
(5)
Erin Y.
I wish MY uncle cooked like this. We went for our annual Christmas dinner with the girls. It was such an amazing flavorful experience. To start, a friend and I had the warm spinach salad. It was by far the best spinach salad I've ever eaten. The spinach was not limp like I expected it to be, and had generous servings of bacon and walnuts. For dinner, I had the special, which was a crab stuffed salmon with shrimp and scallops. It was a creamy white sauce on a bed of house made mashed potatoes (which were excellent). The scallops were slightly under-done, but overall it was a good dish. Dessert was the pumpkin crunch ice cream cake. Ohhhh, this was so delicious! I finished the entire thing. It had a slightly gingerbread tasting crust, with whipped cream and a light pumpkin flavor. The food was excellent. I do have one gripe - the tables are so close together that you're practically sitting at the same table as the rest of the people in the restaurant. I could not even get out of my seat without having the lady next to me (not in my party) scoot over a seat (which in turn the person next to her had to scoot over). Parking is sort of awkward, with you having to walk across the busy street. Also, the parking lot machine thing was broken and would only accept credit cards, no cash. Shady.
(4)
Chelsea L.
Best of best! Uncle Bo knows what's up. Awesome food made that you can't taste anywhere else. My favorite restaurant. My husband and I always come here for special occasions. We live out in the west side and don't mind the drive to eat here. We love all the food served there but our favorites gotta be the baked Opah, boca rota, dynamite shrimp, prime rib and rib eye. The service is awesome, good teamwork to make sure we are always comfortable. Food is always quick to come out regardless if we come with a big or small party. Chef special is highly recommended for big parties. Uncle Bo himself comes out to talk story and make special occasions personal. Reservations a must here, never have to wait.
(5)
Jeanne L.
The place was crowded when we got here and we encountered a 40 minute wait so we made our way to the bar naturally. One thing I love about Hawaii is that the drinks are cheap compared to the Bay Area. I had a lychee martini which is one of my favorites and I asked the bartender not to make it too sweet and she was more than happy to make my order they way I liked it. The Hawaiians are so nice! Now onto the food. We chose items with the stars next to them which were the restaurant recommendations. Our selections were the oyster shooters, sea bass, boca rota, blackened chicken penne pasta, dynamite shrimp, and hot chocolate fudge brownie a la mode. Everything was pretty good but the the dynamite shrimp which was only okay but I guess it is a favorite here. It reminded me of Chinese mayonnaise shrimp. The oyster shooter we a bit on the salty side and the saltiness stemmed from the sauce. If i had to recommend any of the dishes I would have to say the boca rota, sea bass and the chicken penne are my top picks. The service was good, the ambiance was settling into lounge mode around 9pm (turns into a lounge at night), and the one thing I dont like about this restaurant is that there is a long wait for the bathroom. There are two bathrooms, one for each gender with a single toilet in each room.
(4)
Debbie L.
I finally came here for dinner and drinks after hearing all the good comments about this place. We started off with drinks. Our friends got there before us, so when we joined the table, our waitress asked us if we wanted something to drink. We looked through the menu and finally ordered. Since this is our first time here, it took us awhile to decide what to eat. In the first 10 minute, our waitress came back about 5 times to ask if we were ready to order. We felt a bit rushed. Or it seemed like she wasn't sure if we wanted to eat so she was trying to push us to order food. We ordered the bota roca, clams, kalua pig fried rice, and some beef dish (don't remember what it was called). My absolute favorites are the boca rota and their clams!! We ordered off the pupu list, and the portions are huge! Good thing we stopped ourselves from ordering more. The service is really quick. After we finally ordered our food, our waitress stopped coming back as much. I love the atmosphere in there. It's like a bar/lounge with dim lights and good music. Your best bet for parking is to find street parking. We parked right next door because there wasn't any street parking available and it was starting to rain. Parking was $5 -_- I think this is one of my new favorite dinner bar/lounge spots. It's close to where I live and their food is delicious!
(4)
K D.
I have eaten at this restaurant many times over the last several years. The food and service are outstanding! Love the dynamite shrimp. All the dishes are quite savory. If you want a fantastic meal and great appetizers, I highly recommend a visit!
(5)
Sheryl G.
what: restaurant/bar with an eclectic design, hip crowd and a 5 star menu : ) something good: the food here is really good. when i first came here i didn't have high expectations but everything we ordered was so good!! it was plated well and seemed like a lot of thought was put in to it! the design of the place is really hip and trendy~ i love the art and the small design elements~ what appears on the outside does not translate to the inside. from the outside it may just look like a rugged restaurant but on the inside is a little gem : ) ! i would definitely come back for more food!!!! something not so good: not sure if i would go to drink at the bar here but as a restaurant it is one of my favorites~ something to try: uncle bo's dynamite shrimp & spinach artichoke crab dip
(5)
Rebecca C.
another voucher use visit. second time here. we decided to go pupu style and ordered the crab cakes = moist and filled densely with crab oyster shooters = yum and they were huge dynamite shrimp = meh there was no spice kick hamachi sashimi = good and sailboat like presentation was cool all washed down with a shock top and honeydew martini
(4)
Steve G.
Was told about this place by a local, take a cab there is no parking. The Claims, The the food was super. A reservation is a must,,,,, we sat at the bar and had a great time
(4)
Letitia L.
The perfect place to eat before a night on the town in Oahu! My friend and I were here over Xmas break and loved their friendly, fun service staff (who gave us club recommendations) and their full bar with Asian fusion drinks. The vibe here reminds me a little of Vegas, or AsiaSF in San Francisco. The food was delicious, they have good seafood here and gave generous portions too. Uncle Bo's definitely contributed to our wonderful Hawaii vacation.
(5)
Alyssa B.
Everything was wonderful here! From the service to the food to the ambiance I give uncle Bo's 5 stars. The outside looks like a whole in the wall, but once you enter the atmosphere sets the mood for a great night. We went there for dinner and split 4 appetizers for 4 people to try what was recommended from our awesome waitress Tiffany. She was extremely helpful and recommended delicious appetizers that everyone loved. We got the ahi Katsu, dynamite shrimp (favorite out of the 4), bocca Rocca? (Forgot the name but was a cheese bread), and shrimp & walnut lettuce wraps. For dessert we got the hobo which was sooo delicious. They were 6 taro beignets with a side of dipping sauce and ice cream. HIGHLY recommend that. You'll leave uncle Bo's with a satisfied stomach!
(5)
Mathias H.
I really loved this place -mainly for the food but also for the lively atmosphere with many locals there. It is located around a15 minute walk from Waikiki (on Kapahulu Ave) or it is also possible to take the short drive (or taxi/bus). Uncle Bo's is a mix of bar and restaurant and the longer the night progress the more lively the bar part gets. I do recommend the pupus (appetizers) to share (3 are more than enough for two to share). The nachos are great as well as the fried rice and the dumplings. In addition to the great food the prices are good and the service is friendly and quick.
(5)
Carissa Y.
We decided to eat at this place an hour before we had to be at the airport for our flight back to LAX. Worried about our time constraint, we called in on our way over there for a table for 4, and put our order over the phone. Luckily, we received our food RIGHT when we sat down. Amazing timing, right?!? AMBIANCE Fancy. Trendy. Service was great, especially because they saved us a table and put in our order over the phone. It was pretty packed in there, too. FOOD DYNAMITE SHRIMP *Bamb. This was so good! I would have eaten this by myself, but you know, three other people at my table might have wanted some so...GET THIS! BOCA ROTA *Hot damn. This was bamb! We had two orders of this and wow. Good thing we did. The cheesy bread, mushroom cream sauce...WOW. GET THIS! SHAKEN BEEF *Not a fan. This was pretty chewy. Could have definitely down without. Maybe an extra dynamite shrimp or something. We also got a fried rice of some sort. But I don't remember what it was called. OVERALL: 4/5
(4)
Randy L.
My go-to spot- The Clams and Boca Rota are a must for me.
(5)
Shaun S.
This is definitely a restaurant not in tourist row... so that's the great part, wish we hadn't walked from our hotel... on the plus side, they nicely called us a cab when we were wrapping up! So even after our long walk, we really felt like we didn't want pasta, so we went super heavy on the "Pupu" or appetizers. The pot stickers were fantastic... we ended up with two orders. The Dynamite Shrimp were just that! And the Kalua Pig Fried Rice w/ Spinach while a tad salty, was amazing! Definitely make the journey away from all the ABC Stores and check out Uncle Bo's.
(4)
Ana J.
Absolutely Amazing. Great quality
(5)
Lauren K.
Uncle Bo's Pupu bar & Grill makes me feel... happy and f a t and happy and drunk and happy. Did I mention happy? Theres a front room, a full bar with seating, and also a back room. The staff is super accommodating for large parties, so it's great for birthdays. They've got this $25 unlimited appetizer option which you really, really need to take advantage of if you're with a group. The darker atmosphere makes it date night appropriate, too. Service is always on point. You -really- have got to order: *Boca Rota- juicy prime rib and mushrooms surrounded by ahhhhmazing garlic bread to soak up all the juices *Thai Clams- clams in the best sauce ever, order extra bread for dipping *Hamachi Sashimi- with jalapeños, nori, rice *Uncle Bo's Nachos- fried won tons, kalua pig and the usual nacho suspects Finish it all off with an oh so necessary brownie sundae and I think you're good for the week.
(4)
Olivia D.
Before I start, check out my photo of the veggie pizza--the worst and most hilarious pizza you may ever encounter! Who puts gigantic chunks of celery, carrots, and green beans on pizza? When my friends and I saw it, we burst out laughing. It was the topping on the cake for us, in a night filled with hilariously bad food. More on the pizza later. Dinner tonight was, at the very least, entertaining, plus it gave my co-workers and I an opportunity to bond over how bad the food was. I wasn't sure what to expect from Uncle Bo's because half of my friends love this place and the other half told me the food was terrible. I am agreeing with the latter. Laotian fusion cuisine is not for me. The food at Uncle Bo's is too sweet and garlicky for me, and this is coming from one who loves garlic and cooks with it liberally. We were part of a birthday party of 20, but 5 of us were the first to arrive and very hungry, so we ordered some appetizers to tide us over. I asked our very pleasant and helpful server (who was a doll) what she recommended, then ordered the dynamite shrimp and dry-rubbed baby back ribs. My friends got kalua pig nachos, spinach artichoke crab dip, shaken beef, some kind of pupu-style prime rib with cream sauce and cheese all over it, ahi tournedos on the house, and Thai-style steamer clams. At this point, I was STARVING, so anything that came out should have tasted really good to me. The first dish to appear was my dynamite shrimp. It was okay. The shrimp were on the small side, around 31/35. It didn't have a lot of flavor. The ribs were also okay. The meat was tender but had no flavor and was barely salted. I doubt there was even a dry rub on it. It didn't look or taste like they put a rub on it. All the flavor came from the big chunks of onion, clilantro, and raw garlic on top of the meat. The onion mixture gave the meat much needed salt and flavor, but was packed with MSG and the large chunks of garlic were too strong. At least the ribs weren't sweet like the dishes coming up. The nachos have ham, kalua pig, onions (they really love onions here) (and garlic), mushrooms and mozzerella on top of fried won ton chips. It would've been okay like that, but they drizzled some sort of sweet syrup or sauce on top of the chips, which ruined the dish and made the chips soggy. The shaken beef came out next. My friend who ordered it took one bite and passed it around; it was just too sweet for her. I've never had shaken beef that sweet before. It didn't even taste like shaken beef; it was more like a beef tomato in a thick, sweet gravy with lots of garlic and onions. We just let it sit there. The clams were the worst, and this is the most recommended dish. It's a pound of manila clams in a sweet chili and garlic oyster sauce with choy sum. This time, I was the taster. I took a clam and dipped the shell in the sauce. Whoa! That sauce was like a sugar glaze! I didn't expect candied clams. It was so sweet. I immediately was reminded of how Sam Choy lost the Iron Chef competition partially because he made dessert out of the featured item that day--clam ice cream. The Thai clams tasted like a dessert dish. I don't get it--clams are naturally sweet--you don't have to add sugar to the sauce. After all those appetizers and tasting more apps from our friends who arrived later, my friends wanted a little something light for their entree, so they ordered a veggie pizza. The menu description said it was topped with onion (of course), mushroom, bell pepper, zucchini, yellow squash & tomato. Sounds good, right? As soon as the pizza hit the table, everyone around it burst into laughter. My friend Ag was the first to take a bite and her reaction was, "Oh HELL no! I did NOT just bite into a piece of celery. I HATE celery!" My piece had a chunk of celery, but also a lot of green beans and celery leaves , which I at first thought was choy sum--yuck! Either way, yuck! I was laughing more at the gigantic uncooked piece of carrot on my slice, which I at first thought must be a tomato, until I bit into it. The veggies were odds and ends left over from prep that was thrown onto the pizza; they were chopped up in different sizes and shapes and the edges were brown like they'd been sitting out a long time. At least it wasn't sweet! =P I feel bad giving this place one star, but this is my opinion. I know a lot of people enjoy fusion cuisine and even more people in Hawaii like their food on the sweet side, but I am not one of them. Every dish was overloaded with coarsely chopped, semi-raw garlic and I felt queasy for the rest of the night from eating so much garlic, not to mention from the smelly garlic burps I emitted for hours! After eating here, I just wanted to eat something salty without sugar, like a simple, grilled steak. The dinner here left us all, well, grossed out. My co-workers still grimace when we talk about the experience.
(2)
Jeffrey T.
This is always my go to place when recommending a local restaurant when someone is visiting. Family style pupus is the way to go so you can sample more items. My absolute favorite is the Thai style clams, flavor profile is crazy good. Definitely call for reservations a day early. I don't think they take same day reservations.
(5)
Ed L.
First time @ Uncle Bo's and it seems like this place is where the party is at. Came here with a group of friends after a morning of running 26.2 miles at the Honolulu Marathon. It was a good treat to meet new friends and eat awesome food for the reward of hitting up another marathon and succeeding. The parking situation was very limited when we got there around 8pm on Sunday night, but with luck, we found street parking and that was awesome. We were seated in the back room,which was like 3 tables scooted together. It was a fun night and wished it hadn't come to an end. The service was good and loved how the food came out pretty quickly, for the size of our party. The waitresses were super friendly and explained to our non english friends on what goes into the dish(es) they had in question. Even I got a lesson in what was in something when I clearly thought of something else. I eventually got the chicken and spinach pizza, which at $16, was pretty reasonable for the size you got. Everything else on the menu - other than the pizzas - seemed to be over priced, but that's just me. I also got this German beer, that I forgot the name of. The pizza was good and the beer was decent. Overall, it was a pleasant experience.
(3)
J. P.
We stayed on the strip with all the hotels and then went for a walk looking for dinner. We walked for a while and we weren't finding anything. We finally decided that whatever we come to next will be the place. We walked into Uncle Bo's expecting some hole-in-the-wall dive, and WOW! It was beautiful and posh. The menu was pricey, but the cuisine exceeded the cost. If we ever return to Waikiki we'll definitely head back to this restaurant.
(5)
Stephen M.
service is awesome, big ups to the bartender and manager. The pizza of all things was ONO da bomb .. everything here is super
(5)
Richard W.
Great food and nice atmosphere. The food was refreshingly creative and the presentation was pleasing. The decor was trendy and modern. Best thing I ate there were the clams. The clam broth is sweet, salty, and spicy. We ended up dipping our bread to soak up all the broth...yum! The service was good especially with the large group we had. I'll definitely make this one of my favorite spots to go back to.
(5)
Michelle M.
Having a friend in town for the night, we wanted to cram in as much food and fun as possible for a Monday night. First stop, Uncle Bo's... I always thought that their menu was a weird mix of Asian (Thai, Southeast Asian, Chinese) and Italian. Not always is taking a gamble on such an extensive menu going to pay off, and honestly, in this case...it is just about hit or miss. The Dynamite Shrimp are kinda whack. The Nachos taste a bit muddled...and coming out of the kitchen a bit soggy to boot. The Seared Ahi Sashimi was alright, but the dipping sauce was in your face sweet! On previous visits, I have rather enjoyed the ribs, the Thai Clams and the Calamari were far better...but what I really enjoyed during a past exploit was thier Lamb. That would be at least a 4 star dish by itself. Anyhoo...the ambience is always nice, music just a bit too loud to carry on a normal conversation. That's why we decided to bounce after eating. Oh well.
(2)
Guy H.
Having walked by this place several times, we decided to give it a try. The service was great and the food was phenomenal! The portions are very generous! While the menu is well rounded and caters to any size crowd, this place definitely seems to be more for groups. If going out with a group of friends this would be my top pick for some "pre-gaming" action. Can't wait to come back!
(5)
Stacy A.
A MUST TRY IF IN HAWAII The best in hawaii just my opinion and i ate at lots of places dont get me wrong the others were great too but this is something different
(5)
Alexis L.
I love Uncle Bo's! I've been coming here for years now and the service is always great. I've had a few birthday dinners and meetings here and the management team always make sure we have a great time. Awesome food and fun atmosphere. Highly recommended!
(5)
Steve G.
Great food, staff was very efficient and courteous, owner introduced himself.
(5)
Darcy K.
After an absolutely delightful dining experience I went back across the street to the parking lot. I just paid for 2 hours thinking that would be enough, I was back 15 minutes after that 2 hours and my car was gone. My dining companions accompanied me to the towing site at 444 Niu street. My car was there, unfortunately their c.c. Machine was broken so off we went to the bank. $176.00 later for a 15 minute 'over site' , waiting for the bill at uncle Bo's. whoever owns the site, shame on you for ruining a wonderful dining experience. Furthermore I have an issue with my vehicle after the tow. Be aware
(4)
Thomas O.
Since I haven't reviewed this place yet, I'm just going to get down to the nitty gritty. Boca Rotta. If Boca Rotta was a city, I'd move there in a heart beat. If Boca Rotta was a woman, I'd marry her and take her last name. If Boca Rotta was a million dollars, I'd still buy it. If Boca Rotta was a normal entree item, I would not share it. Sadly, Boca Rotta is none of these things. But it is my hands-down favorite thing to get at Uncle Bo's. A gigantic plate of heart attack with a dash of aneurism and a hint of stroke. But hey, you only live once! So why not, take a piece of that cheese bread, soak it in the steak and mushroom concoction and die a not-so-peaceful death, but know that at least your tongue and stomach are happy! I came here with the Foodies for the second time last night, the time first being after baby girl Nicole graduated college. *tear* We all knew what we wanted, which was Boca Rotta and Thai Steamed Clams. I ordered the Kalua Pork Fried Rice and a Garlic Mushroom Pizza, while plates of Shrimp Dynamite flanked our tables. The GM Pizza is a decent size at 12" and is sliced into 8 pieces. It's loaded with a mild white mozzarella, thick slices of mushrooms and shavings of garlic. Nicole and I, being genius and all, just started putting the Boca Rotta topping on the pizza because we wished that they would make BR Pizza. I would faint if I saw that on the menu. Then I would wake up and order two. Believe it or not, it was the least flavorful of the dishes, but it came in handy as it balanced out all of our "heavy pupus." It tastes very similar to Bravo's pizzas, which is not a bad thing at all! The Kalua Pork Fried Rice came out late (I had to remind our waitress) but it was very very very delicious. If it was made into an omelette, that would be the best breakfast!! We finished the night with the Fried Iced Cream, which we felt could have been executed better. We wanted to taste the fried part but sadly, it could not be found. It was a fight to get to the middle of it though. Spoons clanging, tables banging. You know, us foodies love our food. It says it in our name! Our service apart from the forgetfulness (just write um down ladat, we no make fun dakine) was great. Thanks Beverly! Review 008/365
(5)
Leanne K.
So my friends and I heard good reviews about this place and decided to try it out for the first time. My friend called and made reservations for us for this past Friday. Someone from Uncle Bo's called back the day of the reservation to confirm that we were still planning on coming. When we arrived at Uncle Bo's at about 630pm the hostess told us that there was going to be a big party later that evening and wanted to know if we could be or would be finished dining and out by 8 o'clock. My friend and I were baffled. What was the point of calling to make reservations only to be told that we had to be out in and hour and a half. Also if the staff/hostess at Uncle Bo's knew a large party also made reservations why didn't they mention that when they called to confirm with us. We would have been happy to dine in the other part of the restaurant and not in the back, where it seemed the people who made reservations were seated. So we did sit down, with other parties of 2-6 people, in the back area. Our other friends arrived and we tried to make the best of it. We were thinking they wouldn't rush us out exactly at 8, since we were planning to order dinner. But we only got past a couple of drinks and pupu before the staff (waitresses and bussers) kept coming around to take our plates away. As it was getting closer to 8 the other parties were also getting their food rushed to them and then quickly taken away. On our table for example one of our pupu plates, the oyster shooters, was delivered and our friend had just finished them off and not even seconds after she put her fork down someone come and ask "Are you done with that". FOR REAL, DUDE. she just put her fork down, let her digest a little. We barely had time to order pupus and drink. And no time to order real food or dessert. The staff didn't offer to relocate us to the other dining area or to even see if we wanted food to go. So in terms of food and our waitress. She was nice and attentive, drinks were "OK" food was "so-so" the best was probably the boca rota bread. BUT NEVER, EVER have I been to any restaurant where they asked me to eat and leave because another party was more important. Uncle Bo's you need to reevaluate how you handle reservations, because rushing people out IS JUST PLAIN RUDE!!!
(1)
Vivien G.
The best food ever! Seriously! We have been coming here for years and can't wait to keep coming back. The Thai steamer clams are insane! True, it's very busy,but obviously there is a reason it's so busy!
(5)
Riana S.
I wish Uncle Bo was my real uncle so that I could always eat his delicious food. Man, is this place misleading or WHAT? The outside of the restaurant looks like a beachy, hole in da wall, local kine place but you walk inside and it's super modern and nice! Nicole K. introduced this place to Thomas O. and I, we've been pretty much addicted ever since. Since it's far away from all of us (us, leeward folk) we don't go here as much as we'd like to so when we do, we go nawts boo. We got our seats, no problem (setting reservations have become our best friend) and I started off with the Sweet P. It reminds me of moscato, but with a lychee taste. It's served in a classy wine glass with a lime and cherry on a sword (how bad ass is that?) I could drink glasses of these and get pretty giggly. Chuco T. and I ordered the clams (OF COURSE) and he ordered the dynamite shrimp. Everyone got a good variety of everything (pizza, Thomas O.'s wife, Boca Rotta) so we got to share. It's ideal to dip the house bread in the clam sauce, thank me later. The flavors are go very well together, it's very buttery and rich, yet you can eat the whole thing by yourself. It's delivered in this really nice bowl, I told Cameron that I felt like the Little Mermaid (because the bowl is in a shape of a clam and I have red hair, yaddayadda). The dynamite shrimp was very creamy and it had these crispy pieces on top (cheese? not sure) that was a nice contrast in texture. The pizza served as our neutralizer because everything was rich. Chuco T. explained to me later that's what they meant to do so that they fill you up before eating the actual entrees. I don't think I've ever had their entrees...I'm always too full to look past the pupu pages in the menu :( The service was great, she kept checking up on us and she did forget some things but she had a smile on her face and was very nice about it. By the end of the dinner I was very satisfied with the meal. It's like buttah baby, it's like buttah. Yelp 365 Challenge #08/365
(5)
Chuco T.
I can definitely see why this place would have good reviews, and a following of return customers, however, fanfare aside, i simply was not impressed. This was a 3.5 experience, but due to a few flavorful dishes pushing it to the cusp, im gonna go ahead and give Uncle Bo the 4. Walking in the door, you are greeted with a narrow hallway leading to the host(ess) stand. There is a small and comfortable bench next to the podium where you can sit and wait, but the walkway is very narrow. This area is a disaster. If people are trying to get in and out at the same time (god forbid someone have a baby stroller like the lady in front of me) it will take some fancy maneuvering to get through. We made reservations, and got our seats quickly, as they were reserved for us. We even had to push our reservation back half an hour, and pretty last minute, and they were very accommodating. Seating in the dining area is tight. I understand you want to pack in as many patrons as you can, but the tables were far too close together to make for a truly comfortable dining experience. I had to step outside for a minute, and getting to and from our table, was just uncomfortable. ok, enough #FatBoyProblems, on to the food: As is the general theme when dining with the foodies, everyone got items to pass around the table for the rest to get a taste. While i wasnt able to get photos of everything, i did get to taste them. Lets get the star out of the way first. Two words my friends: Boca Rotta. which i gather is a play off of the italian "bocca rotta" meaning "broken mouth". (oh, Uncle Bo... youre so clever) While generally i dont partake in the use of local colloquialisms, i might make an exception here only to agree with Bo. Dis buggah wen broke da mout! Garenz! Cheesy bread with bits of prime rib, sauteed mushrooms, and mozzarella cheese. A bit pricey considering what it really is, but well worth every penny. Maybe more. As per usual, i Pre-Yelped the venue, and used the reviews to make my menu selections before arriving. Thanks to suggestions from my brother, and of course Yelp, i ended up with Uncle Bo's Dynamite Shrimp ( yelp.com/biz_photos/sv5X… ) and the Thai-Style Steamer Clams ( yelp.com/biz_photos/sv5X… ) The clams were fantastic. Perfectly steamed. Not overcooked. And the sauce was great. Apparently a mild chili, garlic oyster sauce. And when you dip the house bread in the sauce in the bottom of the clam shell, it only adds to the dish. The shrimp was tasty, though given the rave reviews, i was expecting a little more. It was definitely not bad by any means. Crunchy creamy, sweet and spicy, all in one dish. I would definitely order this again. We also got to try the Kalua Pork Fried Rice and a Garlic Mushroom Pizza, Both were good. The pizza served as sort of a neutralizer to the other rich and heavy dishes. We ended the night with the Fried Ice Cream ( yelp.com/biz_photos/sv5X… ) which looked delicious, but due to the lighting fast, almost ninja-like spoons of "The Foodies", it was gone before you could say "Boca Rota" ( yelp.com/biz_photos/sv5X… ) Overall, a fine experience at Uncle Bo's. Not amazing, but surely not bad. Im sure i will return.
(4)
Jewelyn T.
Came back to Uncle Bo's for my birthday dinner in August while visiting Oahu for the summer. Ho Suk took really good care of my bff and I that night. From the apps to my birthday dessert, everything was delicious! I'm not a drinker, but boy did he get me drunk that night! I'm proud to say that I was able to walk to the car with my own 2 feet. 4 shots put me straight to bed! Ahhh, only at Uncle Bo's! Good times. Thanks Ho Suk for a great birthday celebration! I always enjoy my nights at Uncle Bo's! I'll be visiting Oahu for the holidays and as soon as I come off the plane, I'm heading straight to Uncle Bo's to get my local fix. Can't wait! If you're visiting Hawaii or looking to try something new, you must put Uncle Bo's on your "must go to eat" list! Happy Holidays!
(5)
Cicero S.
Unassuming from the exterior this hidden gem is a great spot off the main strip. This is a local restaurant slash lounge. You walk into a whole new world. Trendy inside TV's to watch the game if you want but most importantly the food was awesome. Because of the large portions my wife and i filled up on the appetizers which were off the charts. A beef stroganoff with a little spice, a pork with a great hard crust for texture. I had been around Waikiki and only saw the normal touristy stuff until i ask the concierge for where the REAL food was..."where d you eat?" I said and this was one of the places she recommended. It was great. Not even pricey. I thought it was just right.
(5)
Victoria S.
Some good pupus and great atmosphere. There is a lot of variety with the pupus, and a few of them can be adjusted to be vegan/vegetarian. I've been here a few time and had different experiences with the servers though. The first time I went, our server messed up the pupus and a couple drink orders. The second time we went we had great service. The third time our server got everything right, but wasn't spectacularly friendly. Definitely worth trying, though.
(3)
David C.
Great food, great drinks! Awesome place to hang out w a younger crowd and chill with the locals. Love the prime rib!
(5)
Arthur S.
Been to this place twice. I can't say my first experience here was all that grate. I had the calamari, UNCLE BO's NACHOS, and the oyster shooters. Oyster Shooters: A little too sour for my taste. I didn't have too much of an appreciation for the special sauce they were in. I felt it was sour because i believe the sauce was vinegar based. Calamari: Ehh.. so so, typical fried calamari, the dipping sauce we had was sweet and the calamari flouring was a bit moist and not so crunchy. UNCLE BO's NACHOS: Probably the best dish we ordered the entire night. The kalua pork rested nicely over a crunchy bed of nachos with nice thick layer of mozzarella cheese to top it all off. The kalua pork itself was a dash on the sweeter side, but it somehow mixed well with the cheese. ROUND TWO: BOCA-ROTA- Definitely the BEST any kind of GARLICKY CHEESY BREAD I've tasted on the islands. Ive tried the cheesy bread at BUCA di BEPOS and its incomparable! This cheesy saucy bread is served with a side of meat to place onto the bread, but HONESTLY, i felt like the bread was so good by itself, i could eat a loaf sized serving if it were available! DYNAMITE SHRIMP: This shrimp isn't protected by a shell, but a nice crunchy panko crusts. Too bad this predator couldn't keep away from that defensive mechanism. It was nice and warm when served and not soft and chewy like the calamari i had the first time. The Aioli sauce topped it off well, not to overwhelming but added a bit of zing to the dish. ATMOSPHERE: excellent atmosphere. great lighting, nice wall art, great drink selection at the bar, and comfortable furniture to make the customer feel at ease. SERVICE: i don't recall having to wait long before being taken care of. We were seated asked if we wanted drinks, given time to order, and our orders came out quickly. PARKING: We parked on the street, although there maybe a private lot available. PRICING:Anywhere from $10-$25 for most of the items which matches well considering the quality of the food served. Can't wait for ROUND 3. I hear the Thai style clams are another popular dish.
(4)
Nicole C.
Could my expectations have been any lower? Probably not. Yet, I was sorely disappointed. Overall, I give this 1.5 stars, somewhere between Yelp's description of "Eek! Methinks not" and "Meh, I've experienced better." But let's start with the pros: HUGE portion sizes. One pupu could easily feed two people to contentment. Being fatties, we (two people) ordered three pupus and barely put a dent in any of them. At first, the pupus seem expensive ($10-$15 each), but they're really quite a steal. Also, service is friendly. So they've got that going for them. Now, the cons: The food was not pleasing (for the most part). We ordered the nachos, the Boca Rota, and the calamari. I have to admit that the nachos were tasty. The chips taste like they've been deep fried - and really, who doesn't love deep fried? However, there was a lot of liquid that made the chips soggy. The Boca Rota and the calamari, on the other hand, were complete failures. The Boca Rota is basically cheese bread with some odd cream sauce containing mushrooms and sliced steak. Sounds good, right? Maybe for you but not for me (and I normally LOVE creamy, cheesy things). It was a weird combination. Also, how hard is it to make a proper calamari? At the very least, they could have provided the traditional marinara sauce rather than the strange butter vegetable sauce that did not go at all. The calamari, itself, was like large chunks of squid rather than those adorable whole mini-squids. But besides the food, parking is non-existent, and the person who showed us to our table took us to the empty back section of the restaurant in the far corner. It felt awkward and unnecessary. Couldn't they have placed us somewhere not so isolated? So... I'm going to pass on coming back to this restaurant. For $40, we had enough food for two people for probably two or three meals. Yes, they give you lots and lots of food, but no, it is not good food, not in my opinion, anyways.
(1)
Nicole K.
How did I not review this place earlier? I could have sworn I reviewed Uncle Bo's and raved about their boca rota and thai steamed clams. But I guess not, so here we go. I like coming here on weekdays to grab a bite to eat and share drinks with friends. I also came here for a lot of parties and for my after graduation ceremony party. If you decide to come on a weekend, it's best to make reservations. If you have a large party then you definitely have to make a reservation. It gets packed pretty quickly in here. I'm usually lucky and can find street parking, but if you can't find parking on the street, there's a lot across from Uncle Bo's, and you just pay a few dollars. Every time I come to Uncle Bo's I have to get the Thai steamed clams. And I also have to get bread with it. I can devour that whole thing by myself ... as an appetizer. The clams always taste so good, and I'm a huge fan of the tomatoes that they add in to it. The sauce that it sits in is perfect for dipping bread (now you see why bread is so essential). It's about $12 I believe. I have gotten this dish every time I have gone to Uncle Bo's and I've never been disappointed. I also recently became infatuated with their boca rota. Steak with mushrooms and an awesome sauce and it comes with soft-inside-crunchy-outside bread. It's to die for. You seriously need to try this! David C. always likes to get the kalua pig fried rice, and that's always a winner. It's the perfect amount of salty, and I like that they have spinach leaves in it. I never ever ever have any complaints about my food. It's always just the way I like it, and it's not that expensive either. I like their drinks, as well. Lychee martini isn't bad. I usually end up drinking Riana S.'s lemon drops, and those are pretty good. But I usually opt for a Stella. The glasses are pretty decent sized, and I like that. Their wine selection is also very good. I'm a fan of red wines, and their wines never disappoint. And like the food, drinks are pretty decently priced. We always get really good service when we come here. Wait staff is always friendly and so are the bartenders. They remember our orders, and they make friendly conversation. I hate it when I go places and there's some sort of hostility between our party and the wait staff, but it's never like that here no matter how big or small our group is.
(5)
Kelly G.
Yum. Good food. Decent prices. Nice ambiance. Decent service. Tuesday night 7pm we were able to get a table in the way back for 3. Warning: Parking can be a bit hard to find. YUM YUM YUM foods: Clams - Love the butter sauce Cheesy bread with mushrooms and steak YUM foods: Ahi poke - standard flavors with lots of raw onion and cabbage Kalua pig fried rice - standard Lychee martini - Love the amt of pulp found in the drink that gives it a "fresh" flavor EH? food: Dynamite shrimp - tasted like an overly mayonnaise dressed honey walnut shrimp. Edible, but for me, too much mayonnaise. Total bill came out to about $70 (with my 2 drinks, pre tip). Would love to come back and try more of their pupus! Wish they had happy hour though.
(4)
Gaby K.
My good friend took me here for my 23rd birthday in August and Uncle Bo's is BY FAR THE best place I have eaten on the island yet!! It was just the 4 of us and we each picked an appetizer since my friend told me they were THAT good! we got clams, dynamite shrimp, seafood deep, annnnnddd I totally forgot the 4th one but I remember being amazing! lol the drinks were just as delicious! and the night ended with a Blow job shot for me!! haha great service and atmosphere! went a second time on another night and ordered the clam and shrimp alfredo pasta which was delicious but if we go again I'd rather just order like 3 appetizers for my husband and I :) DEFF recommend!!! theres parking across the street..I want to say it was $5 to park make reservations since every time we go it gets packed!! the outside looks small but REALLY roomy inside! :)
(5)
Heidi P.
We took a few friends here last night and I have to say that every time I go back I am never disappointed. They have expanded their menu and added a few new items since the last time I was here. I am not sure if it because it was a week night but we found parking right on the street - rather than having to park across at the parking lot and paying $5. We got awesome service - I have to say my prior visits were OK for service. We usually order Pu pus, but this time we had a few entrees as well -- My number one favorite here is the Garlic Rib eye. I don't eat steak often but this one is addicting. It has a garlic sauce you can pour over the steak which is so tender! There is also some great vegetables under the steak and you can have it with Garlic Mash potatoes - if you just feel like you need more garlic in this dish! We also had the Lemon Shrimp with pasta! you can't go here without having the Thai Steamed Clams. If you try one dish this should be your first. Our food came fast - probably the quickest I have ever seen and we had a chance to sit in the back room away from the noise of the bar, so I would have to say that this dinner was a success!
(5)
Stephanie M.
I had been hosting my sorority sister from the mainland for two weeks and before I knew it, it was her last night in Oahu. My friends and I thought long and hard about where to take her for dinner. After all, we needed to leave a lasting impression and give her a reason to come back! ;) I had never been to Uncle Bo's before, but my best friend RAVED about the Thai-style Clams, and since she doubles as my deliciousness guru, we HAD to go and try them. We got there around 8/30-ish and there was a 45 minute wait. After weighing our options (tasting the clams to see if they live up to the hype or settling for a usual spot with a similar menu), we decided that it would be worth the wait. The restaurant is a humble, yellow building that looks more like a shabby take-out place than a cool hangout. But low and behold, the interior is contemporary and chic! What a surprise! There is a beautiful wine display behind the bar, comfortable bench and chair seating, colorful artwork on the walls, and sexy bead curtains separating the bar from the restaurant. Since we were in a group, we opted to order pupus and share. Thai-style Clams, Kalua Pig Nachos, Ahi Tornado Roll, Boca-Rota, and the Spicy Tofu Dip. I'm a vegetarian, so I didn't indulge in the Boca-Rota or Nachos -- but the rest was INSANELY DELICIOUS! The portions were HUGE and the flavors were unbelievable. My group of friends and I agreed - the Thai sauce from the clams was tasty enough to drink. (But don't worry - we didn't!) It is definitely worth getting a basket of bread to soak it all up though! The only dissatisfaction about the experience was the slow service. By the end of our meal, we were one of the only groups left... but it still took an hour for us to get our bill. In retrospect, we needed the time to sit and digest - we were all so full! Bottom line - we all had a great time! The ambiance was fun, food was fantastic, and my sorority sister had a very memorable last night in Hawaii!
(4)
Nathan N.
The best thing I have to say about Uncle Bo's is: "there's a lot of hot women in there." This is my first time to Uncle Bo's. Of course, parking is always the first problem with most small restaurants in town - don't look for street parking. Just go to the public parking across the street and pay the $4 week night. I traveled far from my home in Kalihi for late night appetizers, desserts and drinks with my pal Jenn. Our waitress was very attentive and brought me a new beer every time I was getting low. Extremely helpful with suggesting dishes. Uncle Bo's has a very trendy interior design. Subdued lighting and it's rather loud in there - hard to have a conversation. I remember years ago, this building housed an internet cafe and I thought it was small back then. The design team for Uncle Bo's did a good job on the efficient use of space. However, I am trying to figure out the point of the chain mail curtains. Bar 35 has chain mail curtains as well, but they actually create a barrier for a seating area. The ones at Uncle Bo's look like they just get in the way. And I didn't really care for the cheesy looking, 8 foot tall L-shaped wall as you enter. Minus 1.5-stars because of parking and appetizer wasn't that great. On to the food: Boca Rota - over rated. Would be nice if the bread was larger. Guinness - $5. Brownie ala mode - delicious!!! Cheesecake with strawberry ice cream top - delicious I'm going back for entrees next.
(3)
Phil H.
Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwsome! Nice little spot and great food. Trendy of sort but I dig it. Got to hit it up. I haven't had anything there yet that I dint like. I think the booze help. Sorry people but it happens there everything cause its that cool there. U feel good relaxed and good about ur self. But food is good!
(5)
Vivian H.
Must order: Thai-style steamer clams & Boca Rota (cheesy garlic bread w/ sliced prime rib & mozzarella) I've been pestering my BF to go to this place but parking typically sucks when we end up going. When we went we quickly learned it was definitely a trendy place. I felt a bit ashamed of my T & jeans. But whatevs I was there to eat. We also went on another occasion with a friend of ours. I'll include the food we had from both trips. Thai style steamer clams: it was delicious! It's packed with this sweet but distinctly Thai flavors. It comes in this deep decorative shell dish where at one point I wasn't sure I'd make it to the bottom. Because it had sooooo much flavor, I'd recommend sharing this with someone else. On my first visit I ate this all by myself and it was just toooo much sweet flavors. Boca Rota: this was a fave with my BF and my friend. There's a ton of cheese which is soooo melty good! The bits of prime rib are nice additions to the dish with an added flavor. Baby back ribs w/ BBQ pineapple sauce: this was OK. The flavors were good but the meat a bit tough. I like my ribs fall off the bone & onto my face style. This was not it. Tiger pork kabobs: I almost couldn't tell this was pork because of how tough this was. Definitely my least favorite of everything we ordered. Oreo-haupia mud pie: I'm a sucker for anything Oreo and how can I turn down a concoction that has Oreos, haupia AND kona coffee ice cream?! Although rock hard when it came out to us, it was good. I wonder if it would have been better had I not eaten the entire Thai style steamer clams for dinner, thus dulling my sweet taste buds. It's definitely a place to go with friends. Order different things and share. Oh and watch out for those metal chains that hit you when you walk through them.
Honestly, I'm not a huge fan of their entree dishes, but I'm most certainly on the bandwagon as a pupu aficionado! The atmosphere is modern and trendy with a sensual twist. BAR: full bar and they make any kind of shot/drink you can think of. MMMHMM. FOOD: - thai clams: these are SOOO good and you must ask for bread to dip in the sweet and salty juices these clams are basking in. - dynamite shrimp: perfect pupu food with a sweet and savory creaminess to it with the crispiness of its batter. - bread w/steak, cheese, peppers : idk exactly what it's called, but it's orgasmic. it's like the best garlic bread you've had, only amped up x 100 with steak, roasted bell peppers, mushrooms. It's seriously irresistible. SERVICE: the service can, at times, be hit or miss, but the owners/managers are nothing short of amazing. They were truly made for the food and beverage industry with their hospitable and welcoming attitudes. It's a great place to go on a casual date or with friends to pre-game and snack before going all out.
(4)
Aulii H.
I went here for another night out with my boyfriend and another friend. We didn't have reservations so it would be a 45 minute wait for a table which it was... almost to the minute. As I was waiting, I got a drink from the bar. At the time, there was only one person working there, and she was constantly moving so I wasn't bothered by the fact that I waited as long as I did to get my drink. As I was waiting, I noticed that the hostess station is the complaint department for all the employees. This is where they complain about all the customers that irritate them. With that said, I wasn't bothered at all (Although it is definitely not a good thing to complain about customers in front of other customers) but mostly amused. I'm not sure how this place runs, but there was a couple that was waiting before me, and another couple walked in with no reservations and got a table right away because a different couple was late for their reservation. I don't know why the couple that was already waiting didn't get the table first. Anyway, after we were seated we got good service. Our server Courtney, (a guy) was on top of it. He met all of our requests in a timely manner, and checked on us frequently. The food is not the greatest, but it is worth the price. We were advised by the table next to us to stay away from the macadamia crusted fish, and they wished they ordered a red meat instead. The tofu egg plant dip was super salty, and I couldn't eat it. I liked my pasta with meatballs, and my two friends ordered the prime rib which they enjoyed. We also got the clams (It was good but there were a gew dead ones in there) and the escargot (It's covered in cheese, so how can you go wrong?) which was good. I like the ambiance here, although those metal curtains seem to get in the way of everyone. It's a good place to just have a good time with friends. If you think of it ahead of time, make reservations and show up on time.
(4)
M D.
Two words: FOOD POISONING! Hope you didn't have the CLAM CHOWDER Friday night Jan. 10, 2014. Talk about diarrhea, throwing up, fever and chills. Couldn't function for 2 days. Think twice before eating!
(1)
Obi R.
this place don't look much from the outside but once on the inside, get ready to have a sensory overload. with the extensive menu, i have never disappointed with any of the grubs put in front of me. great place for local hang out too.
(5)
Jon M.
I don't know who dis Uncle Bo guy is, but I'd like to thank him for one of my favorite restaurants. I'm always torn as Uncle Bo's and Side Street Inn are across the street from each other, and they are probably my two favorite restaurants around here. Uncle Bo's food is delicious. No other way to put it. It's classy, delicious food. About anything you could want from seafood to steaks to rice. As you can see from the pictures they also do a great job with presentation. We've loved everything we've had here, never a bad dish. So it's hard to recommend anything specific. Just take a look through the menu and find something you like, seafood, steak, salad, whatever. Order it and you won't be disappointed. No worrying about whether it's as good as it sounds....it is just as good as it sounds. They do have a full bar as well. A specialty cocktail menu from which everything has been good so far. A nice selection of beers. And all the usual full bar booze. They have a couple TV's playing sports stuff usually, but it's not a sports bar. Two smaller TV's by the bar is all there is. So you can check it out if you want, but it won't distract you too much from the awesome food. The atmosphere is a great mix of classy and casual. It looks nice inside, well decorated, and at first look seems like a nicer, fancier restaurant. But you'll be just as comfortable in jeans, tshirt, and slippers as you will be in slacks and a dress shirt. It's a laid back atmosphere that appeals to all types. Lighting is low, music isn't overpowering, and tables aren't too jam packed close to each other. If you have any complaints, the atmosphere won't be one of them. They do also cater, they catered a friends wedding (as well as bartended it) and it was delicious. Leftovers for days and it was all good re-heated as well. So if you want to cater an event, this is a delicious choice. Not sure on the prices though. Parking is street parking or the Zippy's lot across the street. I think this lot is mostly a community lot, never had a problem parking there to go to Uncle Bo's or Side Street. There's also a paid lot across the street, but Zippy's parking lot is free so we always park there. If you're looking for a delicious meal in a somewhat upscale atmosphere, check out Uncle Bo's. You won't be disappointed.
(5)
Will B.
Uncle Bo's is a friendly place with reliably tasty food at reasonable prices. It's not where you go on a diet; you go when you want delicious bites and don't care so much how they were made. Beware: you can fill up on the pupus! The nachos and the boca-rota (both highly recommended) are each more than enough to satisfy a normal-sized appetite. There's enough for a vegetarian to get by, but not many options. This is definitely a meat and seafood lover's place. Take a look at the salads, too -- the warm spinach salad is particularly tasty. Our service was good, too. Last night, our waitress was cheerful, knew the menu well, and was prompt, on fairly busy night. My friends and I were pressed for time, and we were in and out (feeling very full and happy as we left) in less than an hour.
(4)
Rachel L.
Appetizers here are huge enough to fill your belly! They are all good, but the clams are my absolute favorite. Something in the sauce is addicting. Dip your bread from the basket makes it even more tasty. Yum!
(4)
Matt M.
great atmosphere, and the food is wonderful, from steak to seafood to pasta, what ever you feel like they'll take your craving away. good spot for locals or tourists trying a local spot near waikiki
(5)
808 W.
This place was awesome..got sat right away and when we requested the 4 top instead of the 2 top we were going to be sat out..no problem. Akemi our waitress, was attentive and sweet without being obtrusive and Bo, the owner also checked to see if our food was good...which it was! Awesome ceviche and well seasoned...will definitely come back and recommend Uncle Bo's!
(4)
Manuela K.
The food was super delicious but I was disappointed with the slow service though. I got the calamari which was excellent that came with a chili sauce which also made it very unique. I also tried my friend's nacho pupu and they were the best nachos I've ever had.
(4)
Scott K.
This place is all about the appetizers (pupu), good friends, and getting ready for a night on the town! I think we ordered everything on the menu, and personally I enjoyed the clams... but I always enjoy the clams, so that's no help. Everyone else seemed to gravitate toward the ribs and calamari, so there's a start! It's always good to have a place to be loud, happy, and fun if you're in the mood to be loud, happy and fun! Mayo is not "dynamite" on shrimp... and that cost you one star!
(4)
Amanda D.
Omg, the CLAMS!!!! I fell in love at first taste. I could never say no to Uncle Bo's, knowing that those beloved, juicy baby clams are just waiting to be eaten... They are a MUST!!!
(4)
Sarah D.
I LOVE times a trillion UNCLES BO'S! The service is AWESOME, the food is the bomb, tasty drinks are flowing, nothing to complain about! My boyfriend and I went there the other night, he ordered a jack and coke to start with and I ordered their Staborough Sauvignon Blanc, really good. Then we ordered the steamed clams to start off with... always tasty and good to dip your bread in! Next we ordered the steamed crab legs and mashed potatoes and boca rota. Its really hard to go wrong with crab legs and melted butter, and of course they were damn near perfection; along with the mashed potatoes which still had the texture of the potato inside of it, I LOVE since im such a huge texture nazi. I do not even want to know the nutrition facts behind the boca rota because if I were to get the death sentence that would be top 3 for one of my last meals!!! Garlic bread with melted cheese, dipped into au jus sauce and a delightful melody of steak and mushrooms.... aaaaaaaah, I DIE! After our great meal we had a couple more drinks at the bar and it was more than I could ever ask for because Reina was an extraordinary bartender, and Kristy and Jackie were also a great help. Go to uncle bos! I promise its a great atmosphere, great people, and also TVs to watch sportscenter!
(5)
Elliott I.
Winners: Boca Rota, ahi katsu. Only alright: clams, shrimp dynamite, shrimp dynamite pizza. Service was good; atmosphere is interesting. The decor is modern and nice but the feel of the place is sort of loud and casual for a place with such style. Will probably be back but I have a feeling that half the time I might end up veering off toward Side Street Inn across the street instead for some fried rice and garlic chicken.
(3)
Jennifer K.
This place doesn't look like much from outside but inside, it's a lot bigger than it seems. And a lot nicer too. I thought the decor was very interesting and I liked the artwork. It was very refreshing. The food was super good. My friends and I shared the big nachos and I just had to have the warm spinach salad so I forced my friends into sharing that with me as well. Hehe...the nachos was okay but I LOVED the salad. It was super good. I also had the baked opah mauna kea with mashed potatoes and that was so good. Pricey but good. We were all so full at the end of the night we had trouble walking to our car haha. Oh yeah, parking sucked which shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone really given the location. I definitely want to go back again. I also had to get the fruit sorbet so we shared that as well, with a scoop of each (watermelon, lychee, and mango). They were all super good but I think I liked mango the most.
(5)
Mike M.
Great place for real authentic American-Hawaiian infusion'd cuisine that I dare you to recommend something better or equal to on the mainland. A definite must for visitors who can't get to other areas of Honolulu or other islands because it's close to Waikiki.
(5)
Michael P.
This has got to be one of the best meals I've ever had in my life. You get 5-Star restaurant quality food for the price of a local family restaurant price. It has got an upscale night club feel when you first walk in, and then when they take you to the back to eat, it's a large family style restaurant feel. I agree with everyone else who says thier dynamite shrimp is nothing but amazing. Those shrimp have got to be one the best things I have every tried at a public restaurant. This place is so good, I felt compelled to tell as many people about it as I could think of. I have never wrote a review on Yelp until I ate at Uncle Bo's.
(5)
Donna L.
It's all about the clams!! You must get the manila clams!!!!!!!!!!! And make sure you don't waste any of that delicious sauce - soak it all up with the bread... sooo good! :9 The only drawback is the parking; metered street parking along Kapahulu (I think it's free like after 6pm?) or pay lots. *Random note: they bump club music up in here (at least they did that one Saturday night that I went), so I guess it's a good place to go, if you wanna grab some grub before a night out... the music and cocktails will make you wanna put your dance-y pants on and cut up a rug after you leave!
(3)
Courtney O.
NICE! Very well done, Uncle Bo!! I love your restaurant!! All of the staff are super friendly. Service is a big plus for me and they do not skimp on service! My steak wasn't done as well I would have liked it to be so she took it back and even made me new fries so they were hot. Usually when you send food back, the servers get mad or snooty but not here! The food is very good. There is something for everyone. The salads are delicious. The clams, dip and bread, steak, everything! You will not go home hungry and you will be very satisfied. Remember to save room for deep fried ice cream! Yum!! They offer valet but I have never had trouble finding street parking. You may have to walk a little bit though on weekends depending how busy the area is. You can often find Uncle Bo walking around and seeing if everything is good. He's super friendly so feel free to talk story with him!
(4)
Tyra K.
If I wanted cheap bar food I could of gone to any bar and get it for less... I'm not really sure what you guys are trying to portray, but for the longest time I actually thought this place was actually more like home cooked meal... When I tried the food I realized its like every other bar, YUCK x 10!!! Plus it's def not Asian fusion either, you'd be better off going down toward safeway u'll find a couple of asian fusion places or even King St has a bunch of really yummy asian fusion places.. This place is just not worth it! The 2 stars is just cuz of the INSIDE ambience... It could be good to just come with a group of friends and have a couple of drinks but this place is def NOT THE PLACE TO EAT, and I'd rather go some place where you don't have to wait so long and the quality is better.. Maybe the group of friends I came with and I just picked the wrong batch of food, I just know I don't have much attention coming back here, even the seared ahi was too funky (and btw I LOVE my seared ahi)... But maybe I'm just bitter cuz I expected something more and better out of this place, especially when you see the signs outside saying its FRESH, it really made me think it was finally a bar like place with normal food... Guess that was a mistake.. Also service was so-so.. But it was busy so I do understand are server can't be all over the place, maybe they should consider hiring more..
(2)
Maria T.
I love that this little hole in the wall is not really a hole in the wall. If anything, unassuming and satisfying good! I have driven past Uncle Bo's numerous times and have never given it a second look. Well, thanks to my birthday, and my BFF, I have discovered a not-so-hidden gem! Upon walking in to Uncle Bo's, the first thing I noticed was the happening bar and the trendy decor. I love the chain curtain that hangs from the ceiling as you zig-zag your way back through the restaurant. We had reservations which I am sure are recommended. A group of 5 of us sat down and went straight to the schmancy drink menu with not so schmancy prices! Being that we are girls, we all ordered something different so we could sample each others' goodies. Everything was pretty basic as far as drinks are concerned. When it was time for dinner, I/we couldn't decide soon enough. The food looked and sounded great. Then it was confirmed that it WAS great! We started with the Boca Rota-who invented this? Amazing! We all various dishes and they all tasted great. The best thing is that the average priced dish was $25.00. BUT! You get a $25.00 plate of food! No annoying little decorative dishes with a hefty price tag. I had a new item-Miso fish with bok choy. It was delicious. We ended the evening with various dessert items that didn't stand out, but were good enough for dessert. I give FIVE stars for main meal, ambiance, and service. The four star rating is for the crappy paid parking lot across the street, the okay drinks and desserts and the fact that none of the staff can take a decent group photo!
(4)
Beth I.
Totally unassuming to find this trendy bar/lounge on Kapahulu. I've heard good things about this place for years, but never venture that far to get a drink. We stopped at zenshu first and Uncle Bo's was just a stone's throw away. Why not stop in there as well?! The outside looks like a typical neighborhood dive bar, but I was surprised with the beaded curtain detail and mod furniture. It was packed, but we were still greated promptly at the door. I made a comment to the server about how busy it was and he quickly responded that it was, but that he would clear a table right away. I think I love this place! Attentive employees that hustle get extra stars in my book. The bf and I weren't very hungry, but the food fare on the menu was so tantalizing! It wasn't the usual fries and edamame. It was so much more sophisticated than I imagined. We had to get the boca rota. The sound of steak, cheese and mushrooms in a cream sauce over garlic bread sounded too good to pass up... and it WAS! Being the little oinker I can be with food like that, I kept eating even though my brain said NO! Come with an appetite to Uncle Bo's. He won't let you go unfed.
(4)
Zar A.
Fusion Asian food done right! It looks really dingy outside, but inside is completely different. Very nice decor inside! The food is simply delicious! Mind you, I am very picky when it comes to chefs trying to mix and change authentic Asian cuisine. Sometimes, you should leave a good thing alone. But I would say that this place does a fantastic job! Oyster shooters - gotta try it!
(4)
Vanessa F.
Been in Waikiki beach 3 days and found no where I actually enjoyed the food at. One of the locals told me about this places and it was everything!!! Amazing food amazing atmosphere
(5)
Nanilei d.
I feel bad for almost missing out on this place because I was judging it by it's name...but thank my lucky stars--I went anyway. The drinks are lovely--do try them all! The Lychee Martini is a winner though...it's balanced and the Lychee flavor does not overpower the alcohol. Food--just spend the $25 and do the chefs special of unlimited pupus. Clams, shrimp, thin crust pizza, cheesy meaty bread deliscious-ness, and more. There will certainly be a party-in-your-tummy when you are done. Reservations for more than a party of two are recommended so make the call. The entire back room can be yours if you have 25 -30 in your group making for a nice private party option. If you are celebrating a special occasion--you may wish to decorate a bit with party favors and florals.
(4)
Tiffany N.
I went to Uncle Bo's and faced a dilemma that is actually pretty normal for me - I couldn't decide what to order. Luckily my dining partners were kind enough to share a wide variety of eats with me. So we ordered quite a bit of stuff including: -Spicy tofu dip, which actually wasn't spicy at all, but was still tasty -Pork skewers, these were sweet tasting, but nothing spectacular on my taste buds -Clams in a broth, which I enjoyed whole-heartedly -Dynamite shrimp, way, way, way too rich for me - I could have used about a quarter of the sauce and been just fine -Something I can't remember the name of but was cheese bread surrounding some sort of prime rib meat, I loved this one -Fried ice cream to top of the meal, this is heavenly good and so bad for you The service was nice and the space is big enough that groups can come here for dinner easily. While it wasn't my favorite place I've eaten so far in Honolulu I did enjoy it.
(3)
Emiko T.
Wow I certainly had a lot to say on very first review. How lazy was that of me?! Well not only do I have more to say, I have pumped up my review to another notch on the star-meter and yes, Uncle Bo's is definitely the trendy shizz! We came on a Saturday night and of course it was packed. I don't know if I've ever seen it on a slow night or a night were you didn't have to wait. Our wait time was about 45 minutes and it definitely took that long but when you've got a bar there with some great mojitos being served the time passes quickly enough. We got seated in the back (where it's FREEZING cold, so bring a sweater if your susceptible to unprecedented levels of air conditioning). We ordered only one pupu--the thai street style chicken wings which were really tasty. The sauce is delectable. But the wings really paled in comparison to my entree: the fish tacos. This seems to be a new item on their menu and boy did they ever make a right choice with serving this up. Ah-ma-ZING. First of all you don't get some small little bony portions of fished wrapped in an envelope of a tortilla. No, you get huge chunks of fish wrapped in small flour tortillas and piled with mixed-greens and smothered in this amazing creamy dill sauce. I wanted to bathe myself in it. It comes with a side of sweet potato fries and these are the REAL deal when it comes to sweet potato fries--you can actually still see the purple color and they're not overly fried or oily. If you thought that fish tacos were unhealthy before the Uncle Bo's version might make you think twice, however the one unhealthy thing about this dish is that there's so much you might just end up polishing off your plate. But that's why you're spending that hard-earned money in the first place, right? Service was kind of lackluster and not very warm and friendly, but I seriously didn't really care because the food was that darn good. For an awesome clubby atmosphere+good food+good drinks, you can't complain if the service is simply reflecting a divalicious style.
(5)
Krysten I.
My family used to frequent this establishment when it was an italian restaurant, but the parking lot across the street began charging for parking and finding street parking was a nightmare, so we stopped going. I think ownership changed a couple times since then, but when my friends suggested going to Uncle Bo's late one night, I was more than happy to try it out. I found street parking ALLLL the way down kapahulu, by Ono's hawaiian food because I refuse to pay for parking in the lot across the street. After the trek to Uncle Bo's, I was famished. We tried a bunch of dishes and everything was better than decent but not AMAZING. The service was surprisingly good too. I would be a fan, except for the horrible parking situation. I probably won't be back, even if the food and service better than average.
(3)
Kalei N.
Everytime I come here, I have the best food and service! Must eats - manilla clams, dynamite shrimp, boca rotta and hobo's!
(5)
Tellia W.
I like this place and the food is really good. Not the nicest place around but a cool place to hang out.
(4)
Cary Y.
I've been going to Uncle Bo's for about 3 or 4 years now and it's still one of my favorite restaurants/bars. Not only is the food really good, but also the staff is always very friendly and inviting. Bo and Hosuk are constantly present at the front of the house making sure you're having a great time. I guess that's why this place is so popular. And don't let the outside fool you, the interior is super chic, but still w/ a comfortable feel. Some of my favorite foods: -Calamari -Dynamite shrimp -Thai style Steamer clams -Bo's Big boy nachos -Garlic Rib-eye
I'm going to take a risk, and not use my grown-up words. The service here sucks. There's no other way to put it. Why do I keep coming back? Because the food here is great. Will I keep putting up with the bad service to get delicious food? Yeah, because the food is that good. On the negative side, first. I've been here quite a few times. And every time I keep hoping they'll redeem themselves with the staff. And every time they fail, miserably. There are only 2 options when you walk in the door--there's either no host, or they're busy texting on their cell phone. That's it. Nevermind there could be 5 other servers walking around with nothing to do. None of them will step up when the host steps away. The service doesn't get any better, which is not surprising. You either have to hunt for your server, or wait far too long, or ask repeatedly for items (silverware, water refills, extra napkins, etc.). You'd think with the number of customers they have, the servers would realize they would get better tips if they gave better service. Maybe they don't understand that concept? On the positive side? The food is frickin' awesome! Which is why I think they won't go out of business. In the times that I've been here, nothing, and I do mean -nothing- has ever been bad. The nachos? Lots of fresh tomatoes, crisp won tun chips, and a huge portion! The crispy shrimp lettuce wraps? Good amount of sauce (it doesn't overpower the shrimp) and crisp, fresh, lettuce (that doesn't look like it's been sitting for days). The seafood trap? HUGE! All of their portions are so big! It's a good medley of fresh-tasting seafood. None of the frozen, thawed, frozen again stuff. Maybe, what I should do, is order my food to go, and take it down to the beach. But that's a little too much trouble. So yeah, I'll probably keep putting up with the lousy service so I can keep getting such yummy food!
I have been watching the waitresses deliver food to the tables and the food looks and smells good and the portions are huge! Definitely coming back!
(4)
William C.
Uncle Bo's has something for everyone on really extensive menu. Good Escargot! They smother it with cheese. Also great drinks and all around great dining with good service. This is one of Hawaii's best resteraunts! Prime Rib was pretty good but your probably better off with the Mahi Mahi. My only complaint would be that the tables are a little close together so it you may feel a little cramped. Your typical Hawaii fine resteraunt with tables practically on top of each other. Good food but not great. **update** quality has gone down, very inconsistent
(2)
Carol W.
I was recently invited to dinner by friends to Uncle Bo's and was very impressed with both the atmosphere and the food. The place is hip for happy hour drinks and pupus with friends and nice enough to take your gf/bf on dates. Here's my food review: 1. Oyster shooters - ***** just the way i like em! 2 Tum Yum soup (Thai soup) - * taste nothing like the Thai soup that I've had at some fine Thai restaurants...don't order that! 3. NY steak - **** tasty 4. Crab cakes - *** I've had better...but it was not bad 5. Firecracker shrimp - **** pretty good! 6. Some shrimp wrap - **** Perfect little place for gathering with friends. Make reservation, this place fills up fast. *UPDATE* Went back another time for a girls night out and the food was awful...the oysters shooters were ultra salty and just bad in general...this other dish, I think its some kind of fish tartar...was nasty as well. I'm taking a star off for inconsistency!
(3)
Sarah A.
FOOD is BOMB!!! Crab Cakes Shrimp Dynamite Fried Ice Cream Pros: 1. Friendly, on-point, extremely efficient staff! 2. Hostess warned of the 1-1.5hr wait but did everything she could to seat us within 15 min:) 3. Reasonable prices for portions given. You won't be disappointed! Cons: 1. Parking across street.
(4)
Robert T.
My wife and I went there tonight. Great service, very good food. Reasonable prices.
(4)
Dan P.
We went here after a full day of eating. It was recommended by some foodies we met so we had to check it out. The place is really nice inside. Very classy and clean. Having it be our first time, we let our little hawaiian waitress choose our meal, except for the clam chowder which we insisted on. First came the clam chowder, which was pretty effing gross. It was bland, thin and light... very uncharacteristic of clam chowder. Next she brought out the shrimp dynamite and an item that wasn't on the menu, prime rib strips with cheese bread. Both items were absolutely amazing. The breaded shrimp was rich and tasty. The prime rib was served with this fantastic cream sauce. Both items just melted in my mouth. At the end of the meal, we honestly gave our opinion of the meal to our server, letting her know we loved everything except the clam chowder. She comp'd it for us =) The 2 items, bread and a glass of scotch came out to $30 before tip. Great prices! Overall I really enjoyed this place. You gotta check it out!
(4)
Thaila K.
I've been a fan for awhile...can't believe I haven't written a review yet...hahaha! I wish to rectify that right now, although Uncle Bo's needs anymore persuasion/recommendation but yea, here I am. Don't let the addy and outside fool ya. So what if its right in front of a bus stop? Walk inside and freak out about its hipness. This is a trendy, intimate and as someone else put it "a place to see and be seen" - it gets crowded especially from Thursday night thru the weekend. I've never had a complaint about the service. It's always been friendly. Albeit kinda pricey on the drinkie (depending what kine), the pupus and eats are awesome! The food portions are pretty darn decent and something everyone will be sure to like. I'm going to begin with 3 words: Clams, clams, clams...try the clams. I can't remember the exact name of the dish is except that it comes close to "Heaven in the Mouth" - seriously bet you'll even take the bread and sop up the soup...yummers! Spicy tuna wraps, nachos and pizza are also good for pupus and the pastas are good for din-din (watch out tho, you'll have left-overs, like I said decent portion sizes). Parking sucks...best to come down on Kapahulu heading towards Waikiki and make a right, right after Prudential Locations...there's a small public lot. Machine operated - I believe it takes cash and credit. You could get to it from the opposite side of traffic but you'd be a total dick turning on your left directional signal right there on the Campbell traffic light stop as trying to get across opposing traffic is a bitch and may take awhile forcing many a motorist either wait behind you or change lanes while yelling out profanity as they past you by...if you choose to go this route 2 points of advice: 1. make your intention to turn left known a long way BEFORE the Campbell traffic light and 2. keep your a/c on and windows rolled up and have your radio on loud so you don't get disturb by what's yelled out. Otherwise good luck on finding street parking. Or you can be lucky like me and live within walking distance. Hip place. Good drinks. Great food. Friendly service. Nice ambiance. Yea check it out...
(4)
Lizzie C.
This place is definitely chill. Went here after HPU's graduation and every grad and their momma was there. Seemed like everyone (even non-graduates) knew each other too. The appetizers were really good - we had the calamari and the clams, both were cooked perfectly and weren't tough to chew. But by the time we got to the entrees, I was already feeling kind of full (and to be honest, a little cheap - most of the entrees seemed rather expensive), so I got the Greek salad. It was meh. There wasn't as much feta cheese as I would've liked and the salad as a whole tasted very bland because there was only a little bit of dressing on it. I had to ask for extra dressing. Though I tried some of the steak my cousin ordered, and THAT was good. I'd have to come back here again sometime to throw down $20 on a main entree.
(3)
Sheryl S.
For a moment, I thought I was at the W hotel with its florescent & dim lights, black ceilings & white couches... but, I was at Uncle Bo's instead. Instead of my imagined Sam Choy's look-alike greeting me, women dressed in black & red took me to my seat. The house chardonnay was tasty. But the Moscato D'Asti was just wayyy tooo sweet. It should be used as a shaved ice syrup instead. The complimentary bread was nice & hot, but I wonder if it came from Safeway. The taste is very comparable.... & Safeway is just down the road, too. The pupu's I had were okay. Just had the Shaken Beef (basically stir fried beef with veggies) & the Fried Noodles. Both were on par with Zippy's.
(3)
Bravo J.
EH ... I had a really bad experience here. The food was not that great - pretty bad actually and the service was unspeakable! I didn't leave her a tip ~ that's how bad it was! We basically saw our server 5 times ... 1 x she took our order 2 x she brought our drinks 3 x she brought our appetizer 4 x she brought the rest of our order 5 x she was flagged down to bring the check ... she never once refilled our drinks ... we were PARCHED!!! I think I should've known better when she didn't even know what LIMU was!! My hubby loves his poke -- withOUT limu. When he asked whether or not the poke had it ... she just totally ignored the question and went off on a tangent. He had to ask numerous times! I mean -- it got soooo~~with her ignoring the q ... that the gentleman at the next table had to answer it for her! We actually went to this place in April and I'm just now writing about it ... I can remember the server never coming to the table ... I can remember the NACHOS were not good! I can remember all the pupu's we ordered were salty! I can remember thinking I'm never ever going to come back here again! I can remember being upset that not only was the food bad - the service worse - but I had to pay for parking across the street!!! Oh -- the interior is nicely decorated!! That's the two stars 'm giving them! Sorry Uncle Bo ... maybe I went on an "off" day ... an off day for the chefs -- the server --- hmmmm.....
(2)
Chantillie K.
Really liked this restaurant. Great atmosphere, reasonable prices, AWESOME food. THe clam appetizer was really good. Definitely recommend. :)
(4)
Clement Y.
I came here when they first opened and truth be told i didn't think much of the place. I felt it was over priced and more of a bar scene than anything else and the food was just okay. The only reason i came here again was for a birthday dinner for a friend. At first i was a bit reluctant on coming but i do have to say i think i this place did get a bit better. The food was a great improvement from the last time i came everything we ordered tasted good and fresh especially the seafood. Service was just okay they were a bit slow tending even thought it wasn't busy. All in all i would have to say it was much better than the first time i was there but i think there are better places out there to spend my money.
(3)
Sam O.
Dynamite pizza WHAT!?
(5)
Keesha G.
One of my favorite spots. Boca Roca and warm spinach salad are some of my fav menu items. They make great cocktails too. This place is seriously good. I have tried most of the menu over the years and have never had anything bad. no wonder the reviews are as such.
(5)
Forest F.
The food and the drinks at Uncle Bo's are top notch, so why only 3 stars? I called last week to make reservations for 10 people. The hostess took my name and number then asked me for my credit card. I thought it was weird but being in a rush provided it for her. After thinking about it for a minute I called back and asked her why she needed my credit card. "To hold the reservation" she said, which I thought was ok. I then asked her what they do the with the credit card number, she rudely said they use to to charge people who don't show up $10 per person. At this point I got pretty irritated and said I kind of understand their logic, but if they are going to have a practice like this (is it even legal) they should have disclosed this when I originally made the reservation. Anyway, I probably wont boycott Uncle Bo's completely but I thought the lack of customer service from their hostess was pretty rude, and we moved our reservation to a different restaurant. **** Went back to Uncle Bo's last night for a friends b-day. The food was SOOOO ono, service was excellent, all in all a great experience. I now have food amnesia from my last comment and have changed my rating from 3 to 5 stars Guess its true, the way to a man's heart is thru his stomach. :)
(5)
helen s.
This was recommended by a friend and so I had to try it while I was in Oahu. I had some fries and calamari with drinks at our hotel bar prior to coming by here so I wasn't that hungry. we ordered beer and the ahi wraps and the steamed clam and both were alright. Our server seemed a little annoyed that we just ordered 2 appetizers but it's fine.
(3)
John K.
Uncle Bo's! I have nothing but fond memories of this place. From the outside view, you would never suspect this place of being a modern locale filled with 20 something year olds dressed to impress! It isn't loud to the point where shouting is required to communicate but they usually have good music playing. The chain-linked wires hanging from the ceiling give the bar a nice touch. The lighting is just right for a nice date or a casual outing with friends. The drink menus and gamut of alcohol available were equally impressive. Pupus and entrees were superb! There really is no particular dish I would suggest as I thought all the ones I tried were delish. I frequented this place and every single time the waitresses and hosts were friendly and accommodating. Our waitress made good suggestions on drinks too! I will definitely be bringing my friends here the next time I'm in Hawaii.
(5)
Billy K.
First of all the waitress was excellent last night that's why I gave it 2 stars, but the food was not it was usto be. Got in about 5pm got the korean sushi with spicy ahi and shrimp dynamite for appertizer it was ok. For entree we had the sautee opah and the steam opakapaka. Both fish came out over cooked. Opah was cardboard like and tasteless. The opakapaka was chewie and had way too much garlic. Also the next table was complaining about the same thing. We address the problem to the waitress. Normally a manager would come to the table and fix the problem but all she did was come back with a business card of the owner with a free appertize next time we go back. We just left it cause I don't think we would be going back.
(2)
Eric N.
This place is great to get away from all the weird people who hang around Waiks the first thing you notice when you walk in is the bar, then all the food people are eating. the atmosphere is real chill, and there are different kinds of tables to be at with all your friends. We didnt get the cute hostess like the guy below me but man the wait staff at Uncle Bo's are awesome! (not because they're attractive, but because their really nice and they have plenty energy..which makes end of the day so much better) had the ribs, poke, hamachi carpaccio, and shaken beef...and a few beers =) everything was pretty good, the ribs were fall-off-the-bone making love to your mouth tender and weren't over-salted or overflavored. I think they ruined all the other food for me b/c they were so good. Shoyu poke was the same as you'd get at most good places, fresh, some spiciness, with the onions and all. def go here to hangout with a group, so you can order all their pupus and just chill with good company =) (also, so you can share the cost...plates here cost a little more)
(4)
Jordan M.
Bo and his brother the bartender are awesome. We came in one night to eat and do shots. we walked in the next night and Bo recongnized us and called us "the shot people" he gave us a bunch of free shots and food, stood there talking to us and even did shots with us. Good prices and totally worth coming back.
(5)
Rei K.
The selection of liquor here is great...you can get just about any mixed drink known to mankind. Most places either have good food OR good drinks...I love this place because it's one of very few places on this island that have both. :) In general, the pupus are better here than entrees. The hamachi carpaccio, oyster shooters, nachos, escargot & steamed clams are great here. (The nachos are huge though...so only order them if you're there with a group.) Of the entrees, the Opah with the lemon butter sauce is definitely my favorite. Their fried ice cream is a great way to end the meal...at least it would've been if my boyfriend had been more willing to share his. -_-;; I guess that just teaches me to order my own next time.
(5)
Tyler M.
Pretty great place to go. It was a little busy when I came but thankfully we stopped by just for a few appetizers which were more than filling. The calamari, clams, and other dishes that were recommended were all great and cooked to perfection. The service was great too.
(4)
Shannon L.
Everyone I asked gave this place great reviews so I finally tried it. It was awesome. The dynamite shrimp is phenomenal, cooked in garlic, covered with a sweet chili aoili and rolled in panko. If you make it past the first page of the menu, they actually have a dynamite shrimp pizza, which the waitress described as delicious as the pupu but with lots of cheesy goodness. I'm thinking, how soon can I get back there to try that! Everything on the menu looks delicious and I cannot wait to try some more. And the lycheetini is a little taste of awesomeness in your mouth. The pupus cost between $9-16 and the dishes up from there. The back room is a little chilly so bring a sweater if you are one who gets cold easy. We met a couple from Canada at the table next to us and ended up sharing our pupus and a couple rounds of Washington apples, very friendly atmosphere with a large selection of booze, beer, and wine. I could be in trouble since this place is walking distance from my house.
(5)
Cassie P.
We came here to chill and have a few drinks and pupus and it was great. The nachos are made with wontons, so yummy. and the calamari was cooked perfectly. as for the drinks, we girls had lychee martinis that are actually made with real lychee juice! so ono! definitely coming back!
(5)
Hazel T.
Came here for a birthday celebration. Food taste pretty good, BUT the fact that some of our food were running 30min late and when we got the bill they over charged us made this experience such a hassle. Everything was going smooth in the beginning. Came here at 6pm and food was coming out good timing. Dynamite Shrimp, SOS clams and Boca Rota is a must have! Oyster shooter was A-OK still wasn't worth it (I had parts of the oyster sell in my bite). Garlic steak was juicy but barley any garlic taste, we had to add salt because no taste! Chrissy pork belly which was so small for that price, we thought would be bigger! The kids loved the meat lover pizza but still over price for that size! We had other more food but nothing amazing to remember. Plus our table was shaky, I had to wrap my chop stick with a napkin to make it like a wedge so the table would stop moving . come around 7:30 no water refills yet and my Aunty and Uncle have been waiting 20min for a refill on their wine. The place looked full house, our server kept walking pass us trying to keep up with her other tables. Like seriously if the server and cook can't keep up obviously have more back up workers. Our table was ready to order desert already and still the food we ordered half an hour ago still haven't come out. When we got our check the tip was already included which was 19% like WTF, the service wasn't even that great and our food was coming out really late more like should be 10% our check was about $600ish and to be honest it was not that satisfying. You should just go side street in across the street
(3)
Marjorie C.
Okay food, okay drinks, not too special. Went here with a very large group for a birthday party. We decided to do the $25 all-you-can-eat pupu selection. Also tried the cucumber cocktail ($7) and the wild turkey honey ($8) and ginger drink both very delicious. The waitress was very patient and efficient in getting our food and drinks out. What I didn't like was that the leftover food was cleared very quickly, we felt like we were being rushed out and couldn't stay and pick off the food we already paid for. All-in-all it was an okay atmosphere but perhaps not a great place for more than 20 people. Another tip: make sure all your guests show up, they charge for those that don't show and if you have any stragglers let them know not to pick off the leftover food or else they will be charged $25. Not sure when I'll be back.
(2)
Marlyn C.
Sat in the back, in plastic folding chairs. The place wasn't even full. I totally felt jipped- and we're not even haoles... damn, that's cold. Ordered a slew of apps and a few glasses of wine. Nothing stood out, everything was just okay - even the mussels, dynamite shrimp, ribs, big bo nachos- Wine wasn't very good quality so I switched a cocktail. Got one of their specialty drinks but it was just sugary. Really disappointing.
(2)
Helen C.
This definitely seemed like the favorite local bar/lounge. Everyone there seemed to know each other. It's a nice chill place to hang. We didn't have any food there, but it looked great and wish we did. The drinks were good and very reasonably priced. This is a place where you won't be harassed or looked at like a piece of meat. So come here with friends and just relax Hawaiian style.
(3)
Kalai F.
Fricken grinds!!!!! I think everything we had was awesome!!!!! Great service, Fun atmosphere, easy on the wallet prices! What more can i say for once, i'm lost for words! Try it all! You'll like it!
(5)
jan n.
Uncle Bo's-- a very nice surprise! The staff was very bright and helpful. Everyone around us said their dishes were great. You know they say that you can tell a lot about a restaurant by their soup, and Uncle Bo's Portuguese soup was clean, fresh, and delightful. It was not your average Portuguese soup. It had a clear deep broth with fresh crunchy vegetables and small bits of Portuguese sausage. It was very well balanced and full of flavor. The steamed opakapaka was good. I was expecting your classic style Chinese steamed fish, with hot oil/shoyu/ginger/cilantro. It was a slightly different style that was light on the shoyu, and served with sauteed vegetables. I will be back again to try their awesome pupu menu.
(4)
Stacey K.
I think the food sucks. The ambiance is nice though. I don't eat here anymore, just get something to share (look at) and drink.
(2)
Jolene i.
My daughter took me to Uncle Bo's after spending all day tasting different appetizers and wines at local bars. Uncle Bo's was by far the best. Fun atmosphere and great food. The dynamite shrimp is incredible.
(4)
Kelly T.
Let me start off with the good. The drinks are strong. Ok, I'm done. The food is exactly two stars. "Meh." The spinach artichoke dip with wonton chips are pretty good. Not a fan of clams but everyone else I go here with is and it's their regular order. I've been here a handful of times and while it's a neat atmosphere and kinda convenient it's just not very impressive. The workers are never quick or super friendly. And when you ask for a tanqueray tonic with two limes you will get one lime and when you ask for another you'll get one lemon and one lime. Interesting. Others want to pre-funk here and I'm not objecting. It's just not my first choice. There are better places in Waiks but of course the aunties and uncles are scared to venture. And I ain't hatin' I'm just not a fan.
My wife and I visited here on our honeymoon several weeks back and were pleasantly surprised. It's kind of a smaller place, and appears to be set up for large groups rather than couples, but never-the-less, it's worth the trip. The pupu's are good portions and not to expensive for what you are actually getting. I would say that just about everything on the menu is enough for two people to share, so don't worry about ordering doubles. All in all, I would say that it's a great spot for dinner if you're looking to get out of the heart of Waikiki, and need a break from those overpriced touristy restraunts around the strip.
(5)
Leigh Anne J.
Had the Dynamite Shrimp & Bo's Big Nachos. Both were excellent. Nice atmosphere. Definitely has locals and non-locals which is great. Friendly quick service. Off the main drag of Waikiki which we loved.
(4)
Daniel K.
Went here once back in 08, never came back to it since. Reason for it was that I got food poisioning here. Back in 08' I was living at Tripler Hospital as I working there full time. I had a Tripler meal card, which meant every meal I ate, was at Tripler. The one day out of the week I decide to go and eat outside of Tripler with my girlfriend, we decide to eat at Uncle bo's. I ordered a fish dish and she ordered a beef dish. It was a bit pricy but delicious. We both end up getting food poisioning and I know its uncle bo's. If I had gotten sick from Tripler food, so would all the 1000 people who eat at the tripler cafeteria. This place is overpriced and dirty. period.
(1)
Johnine L.
Staying in Waikiki it's not easy to find restaurants that have good food and reasonable prices too. We are pretty darn picky and not as into the booze as the food. We really liked the menu. Really good food... Nice laid back atmosphere, We loved that it was within walking distance but not right in Waikiki madness. Loved the woman that greeted us. We'll go back....
(5)
Michele O.
We always go to Uncle Bo's especially when our out of town friends come and just people we simply meet. The food is fabulous and BEFORE the service was exceptional. The food is still fabulous however the service sucks. Our waitress seemed more worried about how she looked then cared about servicing her table. When do you bring the spinach artichoke dip before the dessert???? Then blame it on the kitchen. Really!!!!! Asked for water the water came before the bill. Seriously!! The hostess was not any better. Hello our bill was $200 plus some change and we left Tasha almost $60 in tips. Bo bring back your old timers - they were the best!! I will continue to turn my old friends and new friends on to Uncle Bo's. Hopefuly the service from the Hostess Rebecca and the waitress Tasha would have changed
(4)
Alexis T.
I first went to Uncle Bo's with a group of friends after a long day. We all ordered different things, trying each other's food, and I remember that we all thought everything tasted so good! When I was graduating from UH in '08, my mom told me that she wanted to throw a nice dinner for me at a restaurant and that all I had to do was plan it, book it, and invite everyone. I thought, 'I really want to pick a place with really good food.' Immediately, I thought of Uncle Bo's. At the time, I booked the place, it was unlimited appetizers (one of two party plans) for $35/person. Let me tell you, all 40 guests at my dinner were stuffed to the brim on all the yummy pizzas, shrimp dynamite (I don't normally eat shrimp... but I eat this one!), salads, and other pupus. It was sooo tasty! The food just kept coming and it was a great dinner. (Thanks, mom!)
(5)
Dougie P.
Maybe the immense popularity of this establishment has attributed to a major decline in food quality/taste. Poke is straight up gross. fishy, frozen-fresh, mediocre grade fish, harsh yellow onion(instead of sweet maui/peru/texas varieties), green onions, cucumber all on a couple lettuce leaves w aloha shoyu . Quesedillas and tofu dip kinda sucked. the Seafood dip/& trap have been taken off the menu. hamachi sashimi w/ jasmine rice/nori sucks and doesn't make sense. Pretty bummed out. Three years ago, the food was great. Not sure what happened. Bo and his brother are still super cool.. The restaurant is highly successful. Not trying to hate on uncle bo's. The pressure of attaining popularity and success in any field is stressful and overwhelming. hope things/food get better
(2)
Katrina H.
The food was so fun and interesting! The service was suuuper friendly! We had an awesome time and didn't even regret sitting in parade traffic on Black Friday! Thanks Uncle Bo ;)
(4)
Phx A.
One of my favorite places in Honolulu! Pros: Well priced, good portion size. Fish is very good, filet mignon is great and only $19. Cons: Average wait staff, hard to get seating for groups larger than 4.
(4)
HI Lyfe P.
This place has got some great food! Get the calms and make sure to order extra bread to soak up all da broth, broke da mout!! They have a good full bar here too and nice atmosphere, although I really hate the chain link curtain thing they got going on to separate the dinner tables. Go here with friends to enjoy the food, enjoy the drinks, and then have a couple more.
(4)
Jay K.
First Hawaiian restaurant that I'm inclined to rate against other quality restaurants that I've been to on the mainland. One thing you gotta watch out for when looking at restaurant reviews on yelp at a such popular tourist attraction is that many of the people that give out 4-5 star reviews don't ask themselves the question, "WOULD I EVER EAT HERE AGAIN?" That's why you see so many of these 4-5 star rated restaurants near Waikiki. NOT because they have awesome food. So yelpers, keep that in mind when using yelp as your guide to local dining, especially if you're in Hawaii or Manhattan. That being said, Uncle Bo's is the first restaurant that I can truly rate against other restaurants on the mainland without giving any extra points AND it would still stand tall. I never thought how important it would be to ask that question "would I ever eat here again?" until I was faced with such dilemma, just one night after i went to Uncle Bo's for the first time. I can't say much about their main entrees, because I didn't have them. But in 2 straight nights at Bo's, I did get to try all but 1-2 "Pupus" (Appetizers) on their menu. They are all very delicious, but if you're getting oyster shooters, skip the lemon, because it's already so sour that the splash of lemon is just enough to turn the oyster shooter into edible HCl acid shooter. Other than that, their 1lb of clam is awesome, especially if you choose to dip the bread in the soup. It's well marinated with thai spices and has good clean, full flavor, boiled right out of fresh clams that they use. (thai fusion food) Their calamari is also very good. This dish reminds me of szechuan style dry sweet and sour dish without the blast on the scoville scale that usually accompanies typical szechuan dishes. (chiense fusion) Their new nacho with wonton, however, I would avoid. It looks good, but it doesn't live up to how it looks. And it's probably one of the more expensive items on the menu. Other dishes like crab cake, shaken beef, etc are all very flavorful and colorful on your palate. Seeing as how the chef seems to have thai background it's not surprising. Added bonus for dining at Uncle Bo's is their trendy ambiance that attracts lot of tourists that are out to have fun and Uncle Bo's is their first stop to feed the hungry stomach. My friends and I did some synchronized head turning at times, followed synchronized eye brow lifting and synchronized whispers of "damn~~~." Ambiance: 4/5, (5/5 against local joints) Food: 4/5, very full and colorful dishes that is both appetizing to your eye as much as your palate. Value: 4/5, you can have a lot worse with same amount of money on the island. just walk down to Ono Hawaiian Food to see how bad it can get. Overall: 4/5, (5/5 against local joints)
(4)
RC K.
Ok this review is for Californians. Do not eat here. Locals will tell you about a great fusion restaurant in Kahala called Uncle Bo's. Unfortunately, YOU, as a Californian, have a severely different take on fusion restaurants. You believe fusion enhances the flavors to provide a unique culinary experience. To further the dilemma, you have eaten fusion cuisine in places like San Francisco and Los Angeles. I am not trying to say Uncle Bo's is not a good restaurant in Kahala, Hawaii, I am just saying YOU've had better. Good Luck
(2)
Huan V.
Awesome place, the hostess was cute, attentive, and made sure we always had something to drink. I swear she was trying to get me drunk so she could take me home and have her way with me! We ordered a couple plates to share: dynamite shrimp, nachos, ahi poke, hamachi carpacio, spinach and chicken pizza, and seared cajun ahi. The dynamite shrimp was good but not awesome as everyone here seems to rave about. I don't know why I didn't figure it but the dynamite shrimp is basically what you get when you order a dynamite roll at practically any sushi establishment. It's a mixture of shrimp, mayo, panko (i think) and whatever spices to make it a little spicy. It's a bit on the rich side for me without the sushi. I thought my friend was crazy when he ordered the nachos (WHO ORDERS NACHOS AT A NICE RESTAURANT?!) but man these were so awesome. The cheese was ooey gooey and the whole thing was top with loads of shredded pork and smoked ham. Smoked ham! Who would have though! There was nothing elegant about this dish, it was just so good! The ahi poke was just ahi poke. The fish was fresh, cut into the right proportions, and mixed with yummy ponzu and thinly sliced onions. The hamachi carpacio was served with some fried wonton pieces. I thought the fish was good but as a whole was a little plain... Needed something more to it. The spinach & chicken pizza was pretty disappointing. It just didn't have enough flavor and the bread was not cooked well. The seared ahi tuna was actually my dish. I shared a little but not much because it was soooooooooo good. It's just seared ahi but the spices they use is very tasty. Definately, definately try this dish. The whole thing was even more awesome since my friend treated us to it. THANKS JOHN!
(4)
Stephen H.
This place is simply awesome. Loved everything my wife and I tried ... Thai-style clams, Spinach & artichoke dip with wonton skins and the Kailua Pig fried rice. If I lived on Oahu I'd have to get an apartment near Uncle Bo's. Portion size large enough for two or three to share and price is right!
(5)
David B.
Solid 4. After a failed try at one of Ono's few luxury tables (sarcastic), we headed back down kapahulu st towards Uncle Bo's. - The outside wasn't too impressive, but once inside, the Front sported swanky lounge couches, a sleek bar and chain curtains giving it a nice "chill lounge" vibe. Our table was in the back with a a number of other 2-4 person tables and one large group table against the wall with a projected screen showing clips of the island with light sounds from Jack Johnson. - Our waitress, Christine was friendly and helpful as she pointed out popular Pupus platters--the clams, dynamite shrimp and the kalua nachos. I wanted some beer, so she also recommended a couple of the local flavors which I tried. - Food came out fairly quick and in good portions for two. - Dynamite shrimp had good flavor with an added "kick" that lived up to the "dynamite" in its name. - Clams aren't necessarily my thing, but they also had good flavor and were drenched in the uncle bo's sauce. My brother stated it was his favorite dish of the 3 that we ordered. - Lastly were the Kalua Pork nachos which had a large portion. The pork was ok and maybe a little too salted after the clams and shrimp. I altogether liked the dish, but my brother thought it was a little overkill. Good food, nice decor, fast service. One thing i did note, was that the lighting in the back gave it a "romantic mood," something I could do without with my present company. Dim lighting made menu reading a bit more of a task. If we had been seated in the front section of the restaurant, we may have gotten a better glimpse of the younger crowds and could've enjoyed the softer, glitzier lounge couches, but hey, i was starving after the 1.8mi walk from our hotel-onos-bo's and we didn't have to wait for a table, so I can't fault them for that. Pupus didn't sound great, but Uncle Bo's left a lasting impression. I'm down for more next time in HI, so HOOK ME UP Uncle Bo!
(4)
Fer S.
A big Mahalo for all the Uncle Bos team. They made our V Day dinner the best! Excellent service, the food makes my mouth still water just remembering last nights grinds, great drinks and ambiance. It is usually pretty booked but they do accept walk-ins. Dont miss out on the Calamari with a soupy sauce that is to die for. My husband and I could not stop dipping our bread in the sauce. The Uncle Bos Shrimp was great, light and fresh. Prime Rib had a little to much fat for our taste but was nicely cooked and was delicious. The hostess, waitress and bartender where dedicated to make our night perfect. Just loved it. Definitely my favorite place on Oahu.
(5)
Ann C.
SOOO FREAKING GOOD! Orgasmic good!!! Why didn't I discover this spot earlier??? Ever since Oceans I've been looking for a good pupus spot. Pearl was disappointing and Mai Tai is just fried-food central. But Uncle Bo's answered my prayer! It's such a cute, small, hip spot tucked away from Waikiki. Great wine and cocktail selection (I'm not a beer drinker so didn't quite check out the beer menu.) The menu was kind of a Hawaiian, Asian fusion style with lots of Thai influence. Came here for a girl's night out and ordered oyster shooters, crab dip with fried wonton chips, cajun Ahi sashimi, and a seafood pasta. Everything was very very very good! Oyster shooter was a pleasant surprise, the sauce is very different than your average Ponzu or cocktail sauce. It had chopped cilantro and sesame oil (i think) which added fantastic flavor. Ahi sashimi was good, crab dip had lots of crab, wonton chips were too greasy but we just ate it with the warm bread. But the pasta, the pasta was so freaking good!! It was a tomato cream sauce with lots and lots of seafood. It was perfectly done, I closed my eyes and savored every single bite, i was in seafood euphoria. 3 glasses of wine, 3 pupus, 1 pasta was $68 excluding tips. Fantastic experience, drooling as I'm typing...
(5)
Ivan T.
Came here on my first trip to Hawaii ever. This place was one of the best experiences I've ever had. The service, food, atmosphere, drinks, everything. Absolutely amazing. If you go pupu style, get the clams. As for entries, get anything. Everything we had was good. I tried a bit of everything all of my friends had. This place has their bar as a center piece and for good reason. When the night begins, they turn the music a little louder and it turns into quite a nice lounge. It was really cool to meet Bo and converse with him for awhile. After chatting with our waitress a bit it seems that he completely loves his craft and it really does show through his restaurant. Can't say anything better about this place.
(5)
Do J.
Great for dinner, but go on a week night. We had dinner on a Tuesday night - even so, we sat at the bar b/c it was so busy. Food is good, nice portions. I like that main courses come WITH side dishes - not the expensive a la carte thing. Mashed potatoes are delish, the veggies good (and nutritious). Based on this experience, we went back on Friday night for our last evening in Waikiki. Mistake! It was super-busy, crowded, and unpleasantly noisy. Sat at the bar again, which was a mistake this time. Wait-staff busy coming for drinks. Young single women perched on barstools having "girls' night out" - shoving plates to the side (which also shoved ours) to take their own picture (several times), shaking head/ hair (I got sick of the "hair-beating" - and getting her hair in my food), and batting eyelashes at the boyz. If I were 20-something, single, and out to see/ be seen, it would be a perfect Friday night. I'm none of the above, so it was a loud crush for dinner.
(4)
Mike W.
Okay, so I've been here about five times and to be honest I've never really enjoyed the experience. The food is really hit-or-miss. There are things on the menu that are absolutely wonderful as well as some really terrible dishes. The good food includes the clams and a pretty awesome warm spinach salad. If the food was consistently this good I would be back every week. The bad (surprisingly) was the poke. Obviously sub-par fish was used, and we left the dish half eaten. Also, you need to be careful since many of the dishes are mayonnaise soaked. Service was functional. Our waiter seemed young and unprofessional. Patrons were a pretty loud mix of young people. This will be a plus for a lot of people but the place was just too trendy and noisy for me. The rooms are mostly cement separated by chain curtains, making an echo chamber effect. Don't come here unless you enjoy yelling over a crowd. At 10pm or so, the music comes on for whatever reason and it is like eating in a night club. Prices at Uncle Bo's are moderate to expensive, which given the atmosphere and service seems out of line. Uncle Bo's is successful and it hard to bemoan Bo's success. When the place first opened, I remember Bo coming around to every table to make sure the meal was good. however the attention to detail seems to have dropped. Still, the bar is well stocked, they have a pretty good selection of wines by the glass, and if you know what you are doing you can get a good meal. But overall do I like eating here? No.
(3)
kelly k.
i could seriously gain 30 lbs in one sitting at uncle bo's. their variety of pupu's, entrees, desserts, and alcohol sends me in a frenzy! there's never anything i don't like when i come here. no wonder why this is my girlfriend's favorite place!!! let's get straight to the food... - clams: there's this taste in there that i can't quite put my finger on but it's oh so yummy...sweet salty goodness...and if you dip the bread in there...omg HEAVEN - nachos: all i have to say is "why oh why do the best tasting things make you feel like you gained 5 lbs in 2 minutes???" - open faced spicy tuna roll: well, it's not morio's and it's a little creamy but it does the trick - escargot: if you love cheese like i do, you will LOVE this escargot...cheesiness, buttery-ness, garlicy-ness all rolled into one - blackened ahi: gaaaaaaaah the perfect combination of seared ahi, sweetness, and spicyness - spinach artichoke crab dip: can you say winner??? you could dip anything in here and it would taste good - opah mauna kea/ opakapaka chiang mai/ opakapaka chinese style: don't ask, just eat!!! and get it with mashed potatoes! - fried ice cream and sorbet: yummmmm-o! and when it comes to their alcohol selection, it pretty darn extensive. of their specialty drinks, i tried the li hing mojito and caramel apple. both of which were SUPERB. funny story---i went into uncle bo's recently for a birthday and i guess their thing is that they give you a blowjob shot and ring some kind of cowbell. it was pretty hilarious watching my friend trying to fit the rim of the shot glass in her mouth with no hands! teehee! before this review turns into an essay, i will quickly say that the service is awesome, the parking is usually not that bad (street or parking lot across the street), prices are fair, bathroom is nice but there's only one :(, and the food is great! now what are you waiting for??? go get your grub on at uncle bo's!!! just make sure you go running the next day :)
Here are some tips for 1st timers.. Parking sucks so if you can't find street parking, just give up and park across the street for $5. Also, EXPECT to wait a long time to be seated (I waited 1 1/2 hrs last time I went). But there's a reason people wait...their food is GREAT. If you find yourself gazing @ the menu for more than 5 mins cause you can't decide what to get then STOP and just order these items and you'll be satisfied. Dynamite shrimp (tastes like a spicy Chinese honey walnut shrimp), Bocca Rota (cheesy bread with steak and mushrooms), Thai style steamer clams (dip the house bread in the sauce..its delish), seafood trap, and the Poke (kinda spicy). If you want MEAT, their Ribeye is pretty good. Dessert....fried ice cream (hellooo..the words FRIED and ICE CREAM should be enough to get you excited). Now, if your still not satisfied don't worry, it's your 1st time....You'll be back!
(4)
Jacqueline H.
their dynamite shrimp is SO GOOD!!! the interior of this place is very pretty but i found too be a little too dim for my taste. the staff are okay....but I can't really say that since I've only encountered one waitress and she was probably just having a bad day, but still, one waiter represents the entire restaurant for a customer who has only went their once. I practically had to search for this girl for a refill on my water or to add another order in. but aside from the not so exemplary service, the food is great. I was not disappointed in any of the pupus that we ordered. good for late nights with friends :)
(4)
Hola A.
Ok, hands down, the best nachos I've ever had. Seriously. They didn't use your standard chips, it was deep fried won ton chips and so freaking delicious. I was debating about coming here again just to get the nachos to go but unfortch, didn't have enough time to do so. With that said, we came here on a Monday evening so there wasn't that much peeps. The outside does not look as nice as the inside so it's sort of misleading. A minor gripe was how cold it was inside, I think they were blasting the air conditioner to the max. Onto the food, we just ordered a bunch of appetizers aka pupu's and got our drinks on. The standout appetizers is the Bo's Big Nachos and Thai Style Steamer Clams. The broth/sauce + dunking w/bread = delish. We also got the fried oysters, sweet chili calamari, steamed shrimp shumai, baby back ribs, thai style street grilled chicken wings, an entree of steak and I know I'm missing something else but that's all I can remember for now. Anyways, I would come back again solely for the nachos and the clams. The rest of the stuff we ordered was ok/good but def not thee best. If i could, I would prefer to give this place 3.5 stars overall and the nachos + clams = 5 stars. The specialty cocktails that they offered were well, not that special so I decided to go w/the lychee martini which was alright. The prices were pretty decent for all the stuff we ordered so it wasn't so bad. Right as we were leaving, they dimmed the lights and started playing hip hop music which sorta made me want to stay a lil' while longer but no matter, we left to go to another bar afterwards.
(4)
Tricia C.
What can I say, Uncle Bo's does not disappoint!! We make it a point to have dinner everytime we visit Honolulu and have done so the last 3 years. Last night, we had the Thai Style Steamer Clams and they were so fantastic that we were tempted to ask the waitress for a straw. We also had the Oyster Shooters.. so delish just the right amount of seasoning and loved the little sprig of cilantro-- gave that nice bit of freshmess. We also ordered Boca Rota a new one for us-- the prime rib was oh so tender and we loved swabbing up all the gravy that was oozing all over the plate. Bo, thanks for a most excellent night..
(5)
Shaun C.
The dynamite shrimp and the calamari were awesome. Very unique flavorful dishes, and this is the only place to get it. The chef needs a pay raise, well deserved. Another must visit for any Hawaii vacation.
(5)
Anna p.
YUM !!!! YUM!!!!!!!!!!!! YUMMY!!!!!!! Well I have followed this Chef since he was the head chef at the old Lewers Street Fish Market (R.I.P) :( This being finally his own restaurant really gives him the freedom to light up your taste buds. The selection of different choices is amazing. I had a very large Christmas party recently with alot very picky people. Everyone was so happy to find too many things to choose from. The staff is very friendly and the atmosphere is very hip. Classy enough for the discerning foodie but affordable enough for those on a budget and don't even get me started on the ENORMOUS PORTIONS. I LOVE LOVE THIS RESTAURANT and Uncle Bo is amazing!!!!!! However PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE bring back the """""""""""UNCLE BO'S SEAFOOD TRAP"""""""""
(5)
Toshi B.
Had a seafood craving and this place did not dissapoint. Crab cakes, walnut shrimp wraps, seafood dip as appetizers were all excellent...fish tacos and local fish were great too. Service is great too. Would come back.
(5)
Tara J.
Was in HI for business, So Happy to have found this local spot. Great atmosphere & great food for a reasonable price. Real drinks! Aloha!
(5)
Brad U.
the food was so-so; i definitely think this restaurant skimps when it comes to buying the freshest ingredients. my friend and i sat at the bar (the bartender was really nice and accommodating). we sent back the hamachi which was separated and mushy and didn't taste fresh (we dined on a thursday). the rib-eye was gristley (probably select--not choice). the spicy ahi was decent. probably the only item i'd order again. the shrimp dynamite consisted of small shrimps and was tough. the escargots were buttery and cheesy and lacked garlic and pungence. overall, their menu looks great. but the execution is poor.
(1)
Kacy L.
Love the dynamite shrimp and pizza is great too!
(5)
J S.
Overall, we like this place and would go back. We just moved here from the east coast and have been trying to find a good place to go out for drinks and this place comes close. I read other reviews from Yelp and a lot of people recommended dynamite shrimp so I ordered that. It was a disappointment. The sauce was too rich that you could not taste shrimp. The other dish that was a bit disappointing is the oyster shooter, too salty! though with the 2 bad dishes, we still think we would go back there because there are so many choices on the menu that we did not get in to and most of them look good. The other 2 dishes we ordered were good. oh.. the female bartender is a much better than a guy for making mix drinks. We went on Fri night.
(4)
Rose L.
My boyfriend and I just went to Uncle Bo's for the first time last night and we're definitely going back! The service was great and the decor is cool. I had a delicious lychee-tini and he of course had some kind of beer :p Our appetizer was the dynamite shrimp and trust me when I say it's TO DIE FOR! We loved it so much that we ate everything on the plate (garnishes and all)! I swear, if I could guarantee that no one would see me do it ... I would have licked that plate CLEAN! For our main dish I had the grilled salmon with mashed potatoes and steamed veggies. My boyfriend had his usual fetticine alfredo (if a restaurant has that on it's menu, he'll order it). We both liked my dish, but he wasn't too happy with his. He likes the more traditional Italian alfredo. We didn't have any room for dessert so I can't comment on that, but we definitely can't wait to try more dishes ... along with our dynamite shrimp of course! ;)
(4)
Ty D.
I wanted to try this place after reading all the rave reviews from fellow Yelpsters. This place is a hidden gem. The outside of the restaurant doesn't match the hip cool interior. After 3 maitais at Hula's down the street, we decided to go out for pupus. Our waitress was very nice and helpful for our pupu selection. We had the appropriately named Uncle Bo's Dynamite Shrimp, which was highly recommended by our waitress. The sauce was awesome with a bit of a spicy kick, but not overwhelming. I'm drooling over the memory of eating this dish! We also had the baby back ribs, but not the standard version on the menu...our pleasant waitress suggested we get it with the bbq sauce made for the workers of the restaurant. So we went with that. It was great! The pork meat was fall off the bone tender, and the sauce was totally yummo! This place is also known for their steaks. But after these 2 appetizers, we were full! But had enough room for a Leonard's malasada right down the street from Uncle Bo's. If you're lookin for a hip place for pupus, this is the place! The next time I'm in Honolulu, I'll definitely be coming back to Uncle Bo's!
(5)
May L.
food: okay. pricey compares to its quality. drinks: just like any other bars... service: very bad. 3 stars are for the calamari and ahi poke. :)
(3)
Thuy P.
I am definately coming back here to eat, I love sampling many dishes, and thats exactly that my friends and I were able to do at this restaurant. There were 6 of us, we ordered the escargo (ok), ribs (eh), chicken wings (yummy), shaken beef (delicious), 2 orders of oyster shooters (yummy), nachoes ( good) , thai style clams (delicious), calamari (good), 2 bottles of wine and beer, and probable a few more dishes. Overall between the 6 of us, it came out to be $30 each included tax n tip. I seriously awesome deal when all u want is to try everything and enjoy a great night with friends.
(4)
Christine M.
This was a suggestion for our valet guy. We asked for a place that was more local and less touristy. This place for sure fits the bill. Looked like mostly locals new about this place. Its a nice hip lil restaurant. I remember they have a great bar area. The ambiance is geared to the younger hipster crowd. Unfortunately I didnt get a chance to really try out the menu but I did order the nachos cuz i was just too full from eating all day. They Kahlua pork nachos were pretty good. Its mostly street parking and if your not looking for this place you can easily drive by it.
(4)
Cecilia D.
I think our expectations were through the roof after checking out most yelpers thoughts on this place... while it was a pleasant experience, I don't think we would rush back to dine there anytime soon. We had over 7 pupu menu items and at best, three of them were memorable (the nachos, thai spiced chicken wings and shrimp dynamite). One missed step, which is my own way of judging on how much care is put into a restaurant, was the bread and butter. I was so BUMMED that the first batch was day old bread - it was stale :( And I'm not particularly fond of butter in a packet. However, they totally redeemed themselves because after we asked for fresh bread, we got it! Fresh baked from the oven. Yay! All in all, the service was fine, the food quality was relative to the prices, the drinks were FAB (I enjoyed my "vanilla ice cream" -tini), and the ambiance was cool and hip.
(3)
Lucy F.
Service was good. Thai style steamer clams were excellent. Poke- creamy and delicious. Escargot was too heavy on the cheese but not overcooked
(4)
Brian O.
The pupu here is great! highly recommended.
(4)
Shell C.
great atmosphere. great prices. the appetizers are the best menu items. drinks are consistent and well poured.
(5)
Bill P.
Hands down.. The best food in Hawaii.. If u miss this.. I feel bad for you.. The clams are awesome.. The dynamite shrimp,,. Winner.. Don't miss this,,,, the best in town. Hands down. And uncle Bo lives crown.. He will have a drinks or two w you... Don't miss it .
(5)
Hannah Q.
Every time we come, we have not-so-great customer service. Yet, we always come back so that should tell you something about this place. First of all, the ambiance is great--chains hanging from the ceiling giving that edgy modern look, dimly lit rooms, semi-loud music in the background, and a lounge area as well as dining tables. Great for large groups and parties. They have a pretty well-equipped bar as well. This place tends to attract the young adults who are looking for good drinks, small plates, social hour, and a good time. They also have dining tables in the back where it's less noisy. The food here is really good but can be greasy depending on what you order. Great food if you're looking for pupu's to accommodate your drinks. Every dish we've tried thus far has had very bold/unique flavors. I usually end up with the tummy ache though because of all the grease that comes with it. Here's what we ordered: Hamachi/Yellowtail Sashimi: My absolute FAVORITE. You can't really go wrong with yellowtails. It'll be good no matter how it's served. But Uncle Bo adds an interesting twist. It comes with rice, slices of raw yellowtail drizzled with ponzu sauce and a tooth pick with dried seaweed (nori) on top. Take a piece of nori, a spoonful of rice, top it with the yellowtail and omg...heaven. Highly recommend. Plus it's on the lighter side. Six Little Piggies: This is delicious! There are 6 thickly-sliced crispy pork pieces (bacon but without all the salt) topped with some kind of red sauce. A bed of salad in the middle. Each bite overwhelms your taste buds. Highly recommend. Nachos: Really good nachos. Definitely on the heavier side...if you don't want a tummy ache...stay away from these! Came with a load of Kalua pork and chunks of veggies/cream/guacamole. I think you have to pay extra for guacamole though. S.O.S.: AH. Just thinking about it makes me drool. So delicious...it's a pan roasted crustacean dish (shrimp, lobster, scallops, shrimp) soaked in thick tomato/butter base. I recommend ordering it with a side of rice. $2.00 extra for brown rice. Don't miss out! Overall, great place to hang out with friends, great cocktails and delicious food. As long as you don't expect great service, everything is good here
(4)
Jen P.
WARNING!!! Watch your parking time if you park across the street! We had to stop the tow truck driver from taking our vehicle! Our PAID ticket time was only MINUTES past the expiration time! This bald haole guy was checking all the cars and watching the clock! He was just looking for a quick paycheck! Thank goodness the local guy was cool. Frickin' UNREAL! Come on! We saw these tow guys eating in the restaurant!!! And it took us forever to pay and collect our things, say our good byes, and cross the street! Omg! Is Uncle Bo's getting a cut from these guys? Are they towing their own customers?!?!?! Gotta be right?! They had dinner at the restaurant! Anyways, this tow company is ruining business for the area! So dumb! Street parking from now on.... IF WE EVER GO BACK! Lots of other new awesome places in the surrounding area anyways! And ......he told us to "f-Ing pay our bill!" Are you serious? Uncle Bo's menu was awesome by the way. Bold flavors.... Delish! So the star is for Uncle Bo's food.
(5)
Tiffany R.
This place is really weird. It's hiding in the corner in town. When They use anykind chairs that don't really match but, they try to pull off this whole fine dining thing but, they use paper to cover the tables. The waitress was wearing a tank top and booty shorts not sure if that's safe if she drops something hot on herself. All of the waitresses were dressed a little skimpy, booty shorts, body con skirts, tank tops and crop tops.The name of the foods were weird. I got "the greasy noodles" which I think you can get a way better noodles from the manapua man. I also got a hapa potato roll and it was a lumpia with mozzarella sticks stuffed inside with a mashed potatoes under and bacon and sour cream topped over, talk about every stoners dream. It was okay. The big portions of the appetizer makes up for the un tasteful food. I don't think I'll be coming back anytime soon.
(1)
Lex J.
Make note: No Happy Hour. Drinks aren't too badly priced though; Domestic $5/import $6 We always try to make a stop here for a meal when in town. Everything is delicious and very reasonably priced. The service is great here too. Everyone is so nice. The seating is kind of limited so I suggest calling ahead to reserve a table. They have this pretty cool rock wall filled w/ wine bottles We didn't get to try the Boca Rota b/c we weren't introduced to it until we were stuffed and our neighbor table order this delicious smelling goodness. This plate looked so delicious we had to bother them to get more details. We'll be trying that next time around.
(4)
C J.
If you're looking for great food and excellent service, this is the place to go! I've been to uncle Bo's a few times and have always had a great experience. The only complaints that I can make is the consistency of portions and the overwhelming wait time. Most times, the wait is 45 mins-90mins to be seated. I've noticed that when it's busy, the food portions will be significantly SMALLER. Maybe it's because they're in a rush. Who knows? Other than that, uncle Bo's is definitely one of my favorites! Must try these: Boca Rota, loaded nachos, and prime rib! So good! I recommend getting a reservation before coming.
(4)
Felipe S.
The dynamite shrimp were great! That was the only reason I gave them three stars. Other than that, my experience was pretty lame. First, I sat at the bar, and I'm pretty sure the bartender only talked to me twice (order + check time). I'm sitting right in front of the guy and he never asked me if I needed anything. The boca rota was basically garlic cheesy bread, and while the mushrooms and beef were a nice touch, they did not seal the deal with me on this dish. On a side note, what is up with the beer selections in this (and most other) HNL restaurants? Expect either pale lagers or pale ales, no or limited selections of Belgian, IPAs or bocks. Beer snobs beware!!
(3)
Traci T.
01.17.15 - Located across the street from Side Street Inn in Kapahulu, you will find a delicious gem known as Uncle Bo's. You can park on the street for free or there is paid parking across the street or in a small little lot next to the restaurant. Make sure you made reservations before coming or you will be waiting a while. This place is always packed! One thing to note is to make sure you bring your A game appetite when coming here. The portions are big, so definitely come with a group if you want to try different things on the menu. If you can round up a party of at least 10 people, give the chef's special a try. Each person pay $25 and you get eight (or some amount close to that) different dishes. It's all you can eat! The only down side is that you don't get to choose the dishes and it changes each time you go. But if you want lots of one item you can keep asking for more. However, if you have any leftovers you aren't allowed to take them home. My favorites on the menu are the kalua pig nachos and the Boca Rotta. However, on this visit we noticed that the Boca Rotta is very spicy now. Not a fan of that...really liked the original. It's cheesy bread with a special steak and mushroom cream sauce to go on top. The nachos however are still superb. They use won ton chips instead of the usual tortilla chips most places use. You can also add avocado on for a small charge. It comes with a side of salsa and sour cream. Although, on this visit, the waitress put horse radish instead of sour cream! The look on my friend's face when she tasted it was classic! We asked the waitress if it was supposed to be horse radish and she quickly apologized and changed it up for sour cream. My friends bought some drinks. I'm not a drinker, but I did have a sip just to taste. Man do they water down their drinks. What should have been a fruity drink tasted like a watery fruit drink. Yuck! At about 7:00, a homeless man entered the establishment and approached a nearby party asking for money. He was very demanding. I was surprised that no employees reacted quickly to this situation. One of the men from the party told the guy he would give him a dollar if they went outside. Luckily, the man went with him. I heard that the guy offered the man a coupon for free food at Burger King, but the man refused it. I guess free food wasn't in his plan for the money he was collecting. The party later moved to a back room. I swear it must have been everyone's birthday that night. We constantly heard the clanging of a cow bell and singing by the employees. Since we were celebrating my birthday, of course my friend made sure that the employees didn't leave me out...haha! They gave me a free brownie with vanilla I've cream. Not bad...at least it was a soft brownie this time. In previous years, the brownie was rock hard! The place got really dark as the night went on. We arrived there at about 6 pm and it was well lit. By 8:00, it was dark and loud like a club. One cool thing we noticed is that the menus light up as it gets dark. That was really neat! Despite the minor drawbacks, we still left with our tummies full and happy from a great night out with friends. This place doesn't rush you out so it's a great place to just hang with friends.
(3)
Paul C.
I learned on this vacation on Oahu that many of the great restaurants are not along the Waikiki strip. Experiencing the diverse cuisine in this amazing city, whether it be $$ or $$$$ signs, requires a little investigative work on Yelp or asking the locals you meet along the way. Uncle Bo's Pupu Bar & Grill was definitely one of those great finds after learning about it from a member of the Hilton staff where I was staying. From the Pupu Menu, you must definitely order the Boca-Rota! The Boca-Rota is garlicky, cheesy, and meaty slices of awesomeness! Another item off the Pupu Menu you must order is the Kalua Pig Fried Rice. There was a generous portion of juicy kalua pig mixed in this great fried rice. For the main course, I ordered the Braised Beef. This was dish was DELICIOUS! The meat was so tender and the sauce so rich in flavor! Another must order dish is the S.O.S seafood platter! This dish was full of fresh lobster, crab meat, clams, scallops, and shrimps in a creamy stew. Rice is definitely needed for this dish on the side, but dipping the pieces of Boca-Rota in there was also a great combination! My brother ordered the Misoyaki Sea Bass and he loved that dish. Our server was amazing! She was super sweet and gave the best recommendations on dishes to order. In fact, all the employees we encountered at this restaurant provided that whole ALOHA spirit thing you kind of expect on vacation in Hawaii. With the dim lighting and compact space, you kind of get that lounge-esque vibe in this restaurant. There seems to be nice mix of locals and tourists that frequent this restaurant. The place was packed during our visit but we managed to get a table in a reasonable 15 minutes. Prices are quite reasonable, considering the large food portions and quality of the dishes. There is a parking lot next to the restaurant with a flat rate of $5. Bring cash because it doesn't accept cards. Otherwise, parking is not plentiful around this restaurant. This is definitely a place I will check out on my next trip to Honolulu!
(5)
Diana L.
This place has never let me down. Came here to celebrate two of my friend's birthday. Reservations are highly recommended! I discovered that you can do an all-you-can-eat pupu deal. It will cost you $27.99 per person, with a minimum of 10 people. You will get 7-8 dishes off of the pupu menu, however, it's all the chef's choice. You don't get to decide which dishes you want to eat. Luckily, all of their pupus are good! Of the 7-8 dishes that you are given, you can order as much of it as you want. That is a sweet deal! You can bet I ordered those clams all night long! That price doesn't include drink or tip. Everything that was brought out tonight was delicious. My favorite was the clams. It is just so tasty! Our wait staff was wonderful and very attentive to our party of 10. There is paid parking across the street. In the evening, it comes out to roughly a dollar an hour. Having cash on hand will make the process go by faster. The credit card reader on the machine is very slow. I would definitely come back for another gathering, big or small. They know how to keep their customers happy... And full!
(4)
Muranda F.
The meal we had here was easily one of the best meals we have ever had. Yes, it was THAT good. Luckily, we ate here on our very last night in Hawaii because it would have been hard to eat anywhere else after. Coming from NYC, my husband and I treat dining like a sport it was well beyond our expectations. As I first stated : This was easily one of THE BEST MEALS WE HAVE EVER HAD. Pupus : 6 little piggies : EXCELLENCE!!! This is a MUST order item. This was better than good. Boca Rota : Excellent! Delicious and savory. Crabcakes : Really good. Entree : S.O.S : This was one of the best dishes that I have ever had! My husband and I shared this and did not want the meal to end. It is a tad bit spicy, (but not uncomfortably spicy) so I would highly recommend having white wine as opposed to red wine. I cannot rave about this dish enough. My 2 highest recommendations here are the 6 little piggies and the S.O.S. Well done Chef! I can only imagine what the rest of the menu has to offer. The outside of the establishment is very unassuming. The inside is very elegant and clean. I came dressed up and felt perfectly comfortable. Coming casualISH would be okay as well. The service was excellent. From the hostesses to our very friendly waitress, we had a great experience here. Uncle Bo's get 5 stars all around. This place is an absolute must try while in Honolulu.
(5)
Alex P.
This place is over priced and the food is tasteless. Not sure who is giving this place such good reviews as the food is so boring. Dont go here, save your money and time, and go to a better returaunt. My wife got the fish tacos, the meat was over cooked, and the sauce was bitter. I got the seafood SOS, the scallops were boiled and the lobster was undercooked. Could not even taste the lobster flavor. A friend got the marinara and meatballs and she said the meatballs tasted like a meatloaf. The ribeye looked like it was a boiled steak. Overall just a wasted dinner experience that costed me $75 for two people. Again save your money and go somewhere else.
(1)
Jeanie A.
Uncle Bo's Pupu Bar & Grill is the BEST!!!Love love love S.O.S. But you'll love ALL of the rest of the menu and the desert sooooo YUMMY! This is the place to be, ONO kine grindz!!! Also, most of all the staff is AWESOME and service is fast. They have a GREAT selection of alcohol too and bartender knows how to make it right, just the way you want um. They just opened up another one at "The Haleiwa Town Center".
(5)
Vern L.
Service was very slow and food wasn't great. Very disappointed in the overall experience.
(1)
Chris C.
The clams were delicious! This is a must try for all you seafood fans. Uncle Bo's is a cool place for pupu and drinks.
(5)
Daniel C.
Parking: There is parking across the street and street parking on Kapahulu Ave. If you park on the street after 6pm then it's free which is nice. The parking lot across the street is monitored and you pay before you park. Just remember to put your receipt on your dashboard if you park across the street. Food: The food here is really good and we have eaten various items from their menu. If you have a large group, they have an all you can eat menu of the appetizers. We didn't know it but they do limit you on the items you can choose to eat. Basically there is no seafood in the all you can eat deal. It's a nice way to try all the other appetizers though. After doing it once, we will not be opting for this again in the future. All the items were tasty but not very healthy. Prime rib here is about average. I ordered mines medium rare but it came out medium well which was very disappointing. There wasn't much taste to it but it was a good portion of meat. CLAMS is a MUST! It's definitely my favorite item here. The broth is amazing! I don't really eat bread but for this dish, I make the exception! After eating all the clams, I can't but help soak bread in the broth it's cooked in and inhaling it after. Service and Ambiance: They are 4 out of 5 stars in service here, especially when they are busy. A couple of times our server forgot items we asked for but it's understandable because they are so busy during dinner. I've noticed that the servers are very focused after they take your order. They go from point A to point B without making much eye contact to anyone. Noise here is loud, it's really hard to carry a conversation without repeating yourself at least once. The decor is very contemporary and trendy. When you walk in, you'll first be greeted by the hostesses and notice the bar on the left with the pink neon lights behind their display of alcohol. Noy, bartender at the bar is great and very friendly. He made conversation and always kept checking on us when we just want pupu's and drinks at the bar. In the main dining area, there are a lot of tables just spaced enough between each other to give you your own space when dining. There is also a back room with tables and where we went when we had a large party. It's casual here so you don't have to dress up if you don't want to.
(4)
Trish P.
my overall consensus of Uncle's is - the most worth it thing to do here is get the unlimited Chef's special. all day long (not literally of course)! this time around, the server we had was very attentive and super super nice. our dishes this round were: thai style clams - #1 winner!, much better than last time beef and tomato (shaken beef) - winner! artichoke crab dip - last place :( too "chunky" and not dip-like enough fried calamari - standard and tasty dynamite shrimp - winner! nachos - ok, but not a favorite among everyone at the table boca rota - winner! Crab cakes - winner! seriously - grab a group of your friends, and get ready for a feast.... if you need more details, see my first review.
(4)
Nancy V.
Their food here was GREAT! Even better, the prices were GREAT! I got the Malaysian Mule (it was really good and gingery), Boca Rota is a MUST, Dynamite Shrimp, Seafood trap, ahi poke. I will have to say the service was great! Food came out faster than I've ever experienced. All the reviews on here about the dynamite shrimp and boca rota are spot on! Definitely a place you have to eat at when you're on the island.
If you are a treasure hunter then the wait is over. Uncle Bo has a culinary adventure that awaits you. You will be setting next to chefs from other restaurants that will fight you for a seat. High energy wait staff and high end eats with outstanding prices. It looks like a dive from the street but OMG it is a secret that only locals share. Urban classic artsy decor. The place is not the canvas. It is the plate that is the canvas. Uncle Bo is the artist. If you love seafood stop and grab the SOS ask for white rice to go with. I will dream of this creation. My husband had the fresh fish which he thought came out of the ocean moments ago. My daughter has the prime rib and it was flopping over the plate huge. Everything was fresh and exiting. The PuPu is a list that Santa would be proud of. I had a lichee nut martini and I fell in love with the fruity nutty flavor and savored ever sip. Thank you Bo I will be back again and again.
(5)
Lauren C.
My husband and I were visiting Oahu for the first time and were looking for local favorites. A bartender near our resort recommended Uncle Bo's and it did not disappoint! It was the best meal we had our whole trip. It was even better to escape resort food prices. We were able to purchase four items and two glasses of wine for $65 - not too shabby! We had the Seafood Trap, which was basically a seafood soup, as well as the Dynamite Shrimp and Kahlua Pork Sliders. All three items were beyond excellent. We also ordered the Boca Rota, which is a signature item of the restaurant, but it was too rich for my taste. One note - this place is very popular so make reservations! We did not and were faced with an hour long wait. Fortunately, a spot opened up at the bar and we had our meal there - which is first come, first serve. Enjoy!
(5)
Michelle M.
First Visit here and YES I will give it 5STARS for their food! It was around 6pm on a Thursday night where traffic and crowds go through Kapahulu Avenue. We had a reserved table in the back for 28people and their service was amazing when we took our chair. Out came the pupu's one by one on our tables and the first was Uncle Bo's Thai Style Steamer Clams OMG! yes do dunk your bread in the broth and savor the flavor YUMMM. Next Bo Big Nachos with Kalua pig ONO specially with the won ton chips. Then Boca-Rota, Calamari and dynamite shrimp. The flavors I will remember and return on my next trip to Honolulu. Thank you for the amazing service. ** get there early cause it's crowded in the evenings ** MAHALO Uncle Bo's
(5)
Daisy R.
1,000th review!! Uncle Bo's is an amazing find in Honolulu,'the food is great, the staff is friendly and the food is fresh every time.
(5)
Rica A.
Omg I love this place! Hands down best place ever in hawaii! I was in hawaii for a layover and arrived pretty late and thank goodness this was open. The ambiance is pretty cool. It's a perfect spot to hang with friends and enjoy delicious pupus to share and drinks. Their food is mouthwatering! My favorite was the Boca Rota omg I can't even explain how delicious it was you just gotta go there yourself and try it. I really wanna come back for my Boca rota!!!!!!
(5)
Nat W.
I definitely recommend you to make a reservation and come with at least 4 people to Uncle Bo's. Because we didn't have reservation, we were stuck in the back room with cheap chairs and table, along with a huge loud group. Everything is great but huge portioned. I would say order two plates for three people and three plates for four people. You will get plenty of food. So far I have been here twice and ordered dynamite shrimp, Thai clams and Boca Rota. There are so many things I wanna try off the menu.
We had the Pork fried rice and it was fantastic. It is a great atmosphere. Nifty menus that light up and contemporary music blasting. Loved the place. Parking is limited.
(4)
Maria Shea A.
Omg this place is incredibly loud! Food was good...about 3.5/5 and the service was the same. Parking is across the street in a paid lot and we paid a dollar an hour. Do not come here for a romantic night or for conversation, you will not be able to hear each other without yelling! I really expected it to have more of a 'restaurant' volume because of the types of food they serve but there is no restaurant that I know of which is this loud. The moment we walked in the door I was reluctant because of the sound blast. Oh my gosh, wow! LOUD LOUD LOUD! On the way out I saw some very old people walking in who looked genuinely scared. Oh, and also the paper laid across the table cloth is annoying, every time I reach down for my napkin to wipe my mouth I had paper coming up lol. I ripped it and it was much more tolerable after that. My guess is that they are saving on laundry costs by covering it with paper instead of changing table cloth and intending to preserve ambiance by having the table cloths period. And what in the heck is up with those dangling chains in the walkway? Are they steel curtains? I'm not sure but you'll definitely be walking zig zags around them. There will most always be a line for the bathroom because they have one toilet for the ladies and according to my friend; only a toilet and urinal with no dividerin the men's. So I guess men can go as a team of they aren't shy. This is not the place to come for a date or romantic experience. This is the place to come if your friends suggested it because they want to get together and be loud. I personally will not be back unless of course my friends have planned some event here.
(3)
Yoselyn F.
When a friend asked what do you want to have for your born day? I knew I wanted a good drink and some meat. My brain blanked out but finally remembered that my favorite steak is Uncles garlic rib eye! I can't believe I had forgotten how amazing and consistent this place is. We got the boca rota appetizer and each had steak. I left 3/4 of mine for a take out bag because mommy was determined to do dessert. I ordered the new beignets. She ordered the brownies. OMG they were huge. Like family style huge! Needless to say we could barely function after having the sweets. Then they hit me with the birthday drink. Unlike lame birthday song set ups at other places Uncles' is accompanied by a smooth shot of something awesome. All around great experience, food and ambiance.
(5)
Jenjin N.
I only say a lot when I'm complaining. The food was awesome here. Two words... Boca Rota
(5)
Nichole Q.
I LOVE Uncle Bos! Been many times! The only issue is PARKING! The meter was broken so we called the number and paid using the app but our car was still towed. So if you plan on going to uncle Bo's I would suggest street parking or don't bother it's not worth the hassle!
(1)
Julia S.
The hype was not there for me. So many places have opened up where you can get better everything. Service, food, DRINKS (they suck here), vibe, etc. The food is greasy and pricey. The calamari I had was over fried and tasted like it was cooked in old oil, the thai clams tasted nothing of garlic and were way too oily, their talked about boca-rota came with two small pieces of prime rib strips in total on the sticks we got... Their drinks? Mediocre. With such an extensive food menu you would think they would have a good drink/beer selection. You'll find your simple martinis mixed with bar syrups, etc here but nothing crafted. Service is scarce and not the friendliest. Music can be too loud. Overall, good place for late night eats, big parties, oily food and decent drinks. But the hype? Yeah not here. Don't fall for it. Parking is street.
(3)
Lucia K.
If you haven't ever been to Uncle Bo's just stop reading the reviews right now and just GO! Everything about this place is amazing. The food, ALWAYS delicious. The ambiance, super fun and perfect for groups or even couples! I have never been disappointed by Uncle Bo's Pupu Bar & Grill. The service is amazing, all the waitresses and hosts are really kind and check up on you as needed! Parking is located across the street in the paid parking lot which is like $2 for up to 2 hours in the evening. I had the Chicken Alfredo because there's nothing I love more than carbs, carbs, and I almost forgot, carbs. It was hot and delicious, flavoring was perfect, not too salty like a lot of other restaurants prepare their pasta. I have to tell you, ORDER THE BOCA ROTA, do NOT forget to order the BOCA ROTA! You will thank me, its heavenly. I will definitely be back, no doubt about it.
(5)
Toni R.
Hip bar, they have a refreshing menu, looks like this is a hangout place for young locals, very casual laid back vibe. You have to try their Cajun mahi tuna it's phenomenal
(4)
Tasha H.
Wow this place was delicious! I highly recommend having dinner here next time you are in Waikiki! Must order: Bo's Nachos- big enough to split for 4 Boca Rota Ahi poke Fun vibe, loud music, stocked bar!
(5)
Jin M.
-How to Restaurant- First, the night starts off with a round of fresh Oyster Shooters. Then you wash it down with a cold glass of beer like a champ or sip on one of their delicious martinis like a classy human being. (What's that like? Hahaha, just kiddin
(4)
Patty O.
My boyfriend and I agreed that this was our favorite dining place to eat at in Honolulu. Why? Because, two of their entrees were extremely outstanding. 1. Boca de rata - Bread with cheese , and garlic with steak and sauce to eat with the bite sized pieces of bread - 10/10 2. Thai style steamed clams - 1 lb of clams with thai soup, also served with bread. Very tasty, and slightly sweet 8/10 This place gets busy, so either make a reservation, or get lucky and find a seat at the bar (to avoid the wait,..approx 1 hr on a Friday night).
(5)
Denyse D.
Cannot express how delicious the food was here!!!!! It was the first time my boyfriend and I visited a pupu bar and we assumed it was going to be tiny tapa-style share plates so we ordered four. We messed up, the servings were absolutely huge BUT it was worth trying everything, it was all delicious!!! We ordered the boca rota, hot hapa potato rolls, kalua pig sliders and uncle Bo's dynamite shrimp. My favourite was easily the boca rota, the mixture of that cheese + that prime rib and mushrooms = heaven!!!! In all honesty all the meals were great, there wasn't one I didn't like. For dessert my boyfriend ordered the fried ice cream and I ordered the Hobos: taro beignets with icecream. The fried ice cream was okay, too much dough for his liking. The hobos are easily one of the highlights food-wise from my Hawaii trip. No idea what they put in it, but the beignets and the dipping sauce, oh my god. MUST TRY!!!! I would definitely come back here when I return to Honolulu, soooooo good!!!
(5)
Jessica R.
I love it here! although its kind of pricy the food makes up for it i got the shrimp pasta and it was one of the best pastas i ever tasted!!!! the setting is also cute in their and if you wanna chill and drink theres a bar outside to hang out. our waitress was really nice tonight
(5)
Christine N.
This establishment was recommended by bf's cousin before we set off on a foodie adventure for the evening. Our first stop was here to Uncle Bo's. On the outside, you would not expect that the interior has contemporary decor. Parking system $5 flat rate and is on an honor system. You'll hear a clicking sound when you push in the money. Upon entering, you'll be greeted by 2-3 employees at the front. We were expecting a long wait, but we must have lucked out! Literally in and out without any problems. Ordered two waters, Thai style steamed clams $14.95, and the famous Boca Rota $14.95. Complimentary bread also came out, which went well with the clams. Make sure you squeeze several drops of lemon onto each clam bite! mmMmMMMm :) This dish reminded us of a linguini type dish back at home, but did not come with pasta. Everything was DELICIOUS and the winning entree of the night was the Boca Rota yelp.com/biz_photos/uncl… . You definitely will not go wrong if you enjoy meat and cheesy bread! The key ingredient to the dish was their special sauce... *DROOL* We were literally savoring each bite with a smile! That's how delectable it was. These two choices quickly filled our appetite and required us time to digest before our next foodie location. Definitely looking forward to hitting this place up the next time we visit Hawaii :)
(5)
Abby S.
I've been here a few times before and the food never disappoints! The atmosphere is cool and later at night they have dance/club music, dim lights, definitely a cool spot to lounge at. The wait can be pretty bad sometimes because EVERYONE just loves coming here, so reservations can definitely save you, especially if your party is going to be a big one! Try the Boca Rota, it's pretty bomb!
(4)
Alaysa T.
Excellent food and service. Been here 4-5 times. I am never disappointed with the food. Get the dynamite shrimp pupu. Ask for the bread, its always nice and warm. The nightly specials are always delicious. The place gets crazy busy, so make a reservation. It is a small restaurant with a bar so it can be very loud. Not a good place for kids.
(5)
Mei Mei J.
great ambiance/atmosphere! we had the calamari, fried rice & walnut shrimp - highly recommend them!! we went during happy hour - the drinks were good too! looking forward to trying the other items on the menu - ie TONGUE THAI'D SKEWERS beef tongue brined in our special marinade & grilled to perfection
(4)
Andrea L.
Came here on a recommendation and was super impressed by the quality and taste of the pupus. It was our first time trying it and they're basically like appetizer dishes. Our favorite was the Spicy Korean Chicken Wings. That sauce was out of this world.
(5)
Tim F.
A whole lot of YUMMY is served up in this place. A great spot where the locals dine. This place is very popular so make sure you call in reservations in advance. The place was still packed and had a line out the door at 9:30 pm, on a Wednesday, when we left after our meal. The menu is diverse from, pizzas, pastas, steak, Asian fusion and lots of sea food options. I had the SOS which was a seafood medley in a tomato cream sauce similar to a lobster bisque. There were scallops, shrimp, clams and some sort of white fish. Incredibly awesome. The wife is not adventurous so she stuck with a spaghetti and meat ball plate. She like it and it looked really good too.
(5)
Anita L.
This was by far my favorite restaurant that I visited while in Hawaii! A local recommended we go there, and I wasn't disappointed. The food is a pretty awesome fusion of modern Hawaiian mixed with typical restaurant fare, and I loved everything that we ordered. We had the calamari, the taro pulled pork sliders and the Korean fried chicken. All of it was totally delectable but the Korean style chicken stuck out the most to me. It was super crispy, perfectly seasoned and all around just very mouth-watering. I would definitely go here again next time I'm in Waikiki!
(5)
Gesina P.
Wtf?!? How did I not know about this place! Love it. One of the last places serving real ceviche in Waikiki! We also had fried rice and the six little piggies. Plus a glass of la crema Pinot noir and a Bacardi diet our bill was only $58 for dinner. Spend a couple of days I waikiki and learn that 40$ barely covers lunch with no drinks. More respect for the head chef who was out bussing tables and enjoyed engaging guests with convo! We actually enjoyed the food here more than Roy's this year and for a fraction of the price. The ambiance was definitely lower key and trendier. We reserved again for tomorrow with our 10 yr old! Come here and not the tourist traps! I'm a foodie from ny and the Bay Area. Have some fun with the whole in the wall joints. The five little piggies was innovative. Bathroom and back room situation a little iffy but still loving the food! Bathrooms definitely need some updating! If your are staying on the diamond head side, it's a very short walk. Overall, good drinks, service and definitely above average pupu's for the 2015 season
(5)
JoAnna G.
5 delicious very cool stars!! I fell sort of in love with this place. Awesome atmosphere, rockstar food.. what more could a girl want? Seared ahi was hands down my favorite thing on the menu!!! Woah, perfect texture, melt in your mouth incredible! Boca rota was pretty great too.. Cheese bread and steak, Eh can't really hate that. Also, the brownie dessert was heavenly and if I had been wearing socks, they would have been completely knocked off. Chewy, chocolately, warm brownie with a scoop of perfect smooth simple vanilla ice cream.. Mmmm.. Makes my tummy crazy happy. Love Uncle Bo's!
(5)
Rita L.
so we came back from a big party we had reserved the room in the back and it was great! i really was happy with the service! we had a prom theme and decorated the area up! it was fun! i love, love the clams! i love to dip my bread in the clam juice! oh, soo good! the pizza was yummy as well, we had a meat lovers with added mushrooms! this place is really happening, lots of people waiting to get in! love it!!! can't wait to come back and eat my clams!
(4)
Jess A.
Sadly, I found this place overpriced for such average food. Uncle Bo's boasts a hip and cool atmosphere but the pricey food is too much for college kids and young adults who would enjoy this place the most. A friend and I went for dinner and could only afford the pupus; we had the Island Style Fried Noodle, the Sweet Chile Calamari, and Uncle Bo's Dynamite Shrimp. Like I said the food was average and my disdain only increased when an hour later I rushed to the ER due to a huge allergic reaction to the cooking oil they used :/ I normally don't get sick from food so that definitely raised a red flag for me. I won't be back!
(1)
Brig T.
I am in love. Need I say more?
(5)
Ramy I.
Chic Hawaiian tapas and beer. That sums this up in a nice little posh nutshell. Walking into this place, you sorta feel like you're walking into a New York-esque bar-slash-restaurant that's trying a little bit but you don't care. It's Hawaii and it's all good! Anyways, so our group of three friends walk in, and we order from the extensive tapas, aka pupus, menu. We tried the dynamite shrimp which were fried and dressed in a light mayo dressing. Quite good, not too lathered in the white stuff. We also got the tuna carpaccio which were fresh and a bit zingy - in a very good way. You must try that - very refreshing. We weren't too hungry so we ordered beers on top of the two pupu dishes. 5 buck beers - very good, very fair. We all got Widmer Hefeweisens and Blue Moons. Lots of them. We'll go back for sure. And it's open late too which is a big plus! Restaurants close early here in this little 'lulu town!
(4)
Jade P.
Just got back from Uncle Bo with my bf and friend....my friend has been telling me abt this place for months ...I was really excited to go and tonight was the night....we came there around 7 and got a table right away...really lucky for a Saturday night...prior of coming , I yelped the place of course for items recommendation.....based on overall recommendations, I think steam clam is a must....my friend who is not a seafood fan ordered calamari....bf and I loooooove seafood ..so we ordered steam clams and nachos...when the calamari came out...my friend gave a stare as if she thought the waitress brought out a wrong order...but it was the right order.....there was a bowl f soup which I have never seen before..I always used to see aoli or cocktail sauce...the calamari had a lot of batter...can't taste calamari..in some pieces it had fish and tons of batter....I don't think the sauce is a good complement ...even my friend said it wasn't like that before...and she goes there a lot before....next came clams and nachos.....nachos was big...we were going to order more food but after seeing nachos it was enough....the clams like most people commented on here..was good ..dipping bread was good too but I felt like a wow factor was missing.....the sauce on the clams taste like the sauce from calamari....other than big portion, the nachos was ok. Overall, I gave it three star cos two of three dishes were average. But I would consider coming back here again since I still want to try other dishes such as shrimp dynamite and BBQ ribs....hopefully it will not be disappointed.
(3)
Erin K.
This restaurant is away from the tourist crowd and has a great vibe to it. The food was excellent. My husband had the seafood trap and I got the spicy tofu dip as pupus and the portions were so big that they ended up being our meals! My lychee cocktail was not very good but I am not a big drinker. The seating is very limited so get there early.
(4)
Derek N.
The outside doesn't look like much, but the inside is very trendy and clean. The food is amazing (raw oysters are highly recommended). The calamari wasn't such a hit with my table so maybe you should avoid it. I came on a night when the back room was for a private party and there was a ~20 person party in the main room but they let us order food and drinks at the lounge seating right behind the hostess. It worked out to be the best because we got to check out all the eye candy as it came in.
(5)
Melissa O.
This is one of our neighborhood dining places where we drop by at least three times a month. The food is hit or miss. Usually miss when too much of one ingredient is used, like mayo, garlic, cream or salt. (Yes, too much garlic can ocassionally be bad.) I absolutely hated the oyster shooters w/the soy sauce mixture vs. tomato/cocktail sauce. The poke has a 50/50 chance of being a miss due to it being too salty, mediocre fish being used or too much non-Maui onion. The one good thing about the poke is the cucumbers in it! The escargo wasn't too bad but the snails were too small for my liking. The spinach salad is excellent as is the steamed clams, clam chowder and the clams linguine. The bar keep is always attentive and we never wait for drinks. As a regular, you just find what you like and keep to that menu and you'll leave stuffed and happy.
(3)
George R.
Place a little deceiving at first but once you actually get inside it is a pretty nice place. Didnt eat much food but what we did have was incredible. Dynamite Shrimp was our favorite and probably one of the best shrimp dishes i have had in a long time. Escargot second ( a little overboard on the cheese but would still order it again) Crabcakes another great dish but personal taste would have gone lighter on the thai chili sauce nonetheless still a great dish. We did happen to go a little later in the evening and the crowd was a little rowdy however the bartenders said it is a little calmer earlier in the evening. Definitely going to go back to try the rest of the menu.
(4)
Cat S.
My favorite restaurant/bar in all of Hawaii. Great ambiance, amazing food and drinks, fast service and great music. I used to come here quite often with my then boyfriend and we both enjoyed this place a lot.
(5)
Teresa C.
Staff was great and very friendly. Food was not that impressive. We expected a lot more quality food for the price. Skip it and head to Roy's instead.
(2)
Jesse M.
The wifey and I came to Uncle Bo's after reading up on yelp reviews. You guys did not steer us wrong and we were not disappointed. The bad: The parking is a bit difficult since the restaurant is on Kapahulu, a main thoroughfare of traffic. There is a pay parking lot located across the street but it is poorly lit and somewhat secluded. Not exactly a place you'd want to leave valuables in your car. We pulled into the lot, but luckily a street parking opened up and we parked there. The environment is a bit loud inside the restaurant. From the pictures online I thought it was going to be more of an intimate atmosphere, but when we went the restaurant was packed with people and the noise really built up. On the way to the restroom I noticed there was a more private side room that I suppose is used for large groups and private functions. Either way, after I had a drink or two the noise wasn't even an issue. Now for the good: The restaurant looks great. The decorum is very chique' which is quite surprising compared to the very modest apperance of the exterior. There are low cushioned couches and lounge style seating, in addition to regular chair and table seating. The servers are very attentive. They stopped by frequently to check up on us. The restaurant has a massive bar and drink selection. I didn't venture very far into their drink menu and only had beer for the night but what I saw looked quite promising. Most importantly, the food is excellent! We got the thai-style steamer clams as our appetizer. It came out in a giant steaming dish brimming with clams and vegetables. The sauce was delicious; my mouth is salivating as we speak just thinking about it. The wife got the Baked Opah, which was savory and delicious. I got the Chicken Alfredo which was equally good. The overall quality of the food was great. Dining here made for an excellent evening, and we will be sure to come back again.
(5)
todd r.
I had a much different experience than most of the reviewers for this restaurant. We ordered 4 dishes and they were all forgettable or were sent back. 1. Warm spinach salad, The garlic dressing was so thick, intense and bizarre that we had to send this back to the kitchen. Only having a few bites, I still feel the garlic oozing out of my pores. 2. Calamari, this should have been sent back. We received a soggy pile of creamy greasy breaded food. If you scraped off all of the breading and mayo sauce it was edible, but not very good. 3. Scallops, while tasting a little fishy, these were the best of the bunch. They were also subjected to a pool of cream sauce, but that was easily avoided on this dish. 4. Crispy potstickers. Tolerable, but again too greasy and nothing to warrant them costing much more than a cheaper take-out restaurant. Did not taste fresh and was too heavy. The addition of a dipping bowl with only a teaspoon of spicy mustard was just strange. The service was, however, quite good. The bar looked very well stocked, and I would recommend it for a fun place for drinks.
Go for the Pupu's! It *is* a "Pupu Bar"! Entree's were not that great compared to the Bocca Rota. Heaven!
(3)
Stephen R.
Opah Maunakea is the best fish dish ever! Wow. That and a good glass of red wine is what dinner is about. If you love shrimp, they have a dynamite shrimp appetizer prepared the same way. Spinach dip is also good. So many good things. It's reasonably priced, portions are great, love this place.
(5)
Megan G.
I really had a great time here. I had family in town and we took them here for some pupus to share. We shared the ceviche, poke, kalua pork fried rice, seafood dip and the cheesy beefy sandwichy dish whose name I cannot remember. It was fun! Good food good wine good service... look forward to a repeat visit!
(4)
Rachel L.
I've been here before, for a party. I remembered the food as being tasty and exciting. This visit the food was also good... But I think I am a victim of my own t.v habits. Damn you Top Chef!!!! I ordered the Chilean Sea Bass(aren't they always making sea bass with crispy skin?). It was good, but a bit overpowered by the dill lobster sauce that was too rich with not enough acidity. The portion was huge. And it was an ok dish but I wouldn't order it again. My boyfriend ordered the crispy potstickers with Asian chili sauce, the BBQ ribs and rock shrimp. Now the rock shrimp originally comes with a mayonnaise sauce..(which my bf won't eat). The waitress very accommodatingly suggested we get the shrimp tossed with garlic...uhm...yum!! Little deep fried shrimp with just the right amount of garlic! The ribs were ok. And I didn't get a bite of the potstickers so I guess they were awesome! We did order the boca rota... Prime rib bits mixed with mushroom, bell pepper, and served with cheesy garlic bread!!! Double yum! We finished with the fried ice cream, which was good. Kinda like sweet bread wrapped around ice cream. Not truly fried. It was still good. Overall the portions were huge. The service was friendly and efficient. The food was tasty.
(4)
Janice S.
i first thought this place was a tavern off of kapahulu from the looks of it outside. do not judge a book by its cover!! i met up with some friends here and felt underdressed because it was the cutest little lounge inside with all the swanky cool peeps getting their happy hour grub on. i felt like i was rockin the hobo chic look with my slippahs and raggedy beachwear. the food was delicious and the prices weren't bad but we didn't make it in time for happy hour rates so had to pay full-price. i'll definitely come back during happy hour tho! and i probably try to make myself look more presentable ;P
(4)
Christina S.
Just went here with my BFF for some pupus and cocktails. Food is delish....definitely coming back for the clams and hamachi sashimi. Didn't like their lycheetini or fried ice cream. It's like an undagi with ice cream inside. It's pretty loud in here so if you're trying to have a convo...or girl chat like me then it may not be the best place to do it.
(4)
Nissa G.
Pretty good, portions are large on the pupus! Try the fried rice! Yum
(3)
Shay F.
I've been here a few times...and I enjoy their food, but nothing really sticks out in my mind.
(3)
Cyndi C.
Soooooooooo happy we found this place last year. It's where the locals go for excellent food and fun. The Dynamite Shrimp is to die for as well as the Calamari & fried rice. Portions are huge so be hungry when you get there or else you'll find yourself wishing you could take the left overs home to you hotel room but you only have a tiny fridge :-(
(5)
Dav S.
Maybe I didn't get the right stuff. Already, when I entered this place, I thought they were trying too hard. Of course, it was a Sunday night so the place was a bit empty. We came here because friends suggested this place, although it wasn't on my original itinerary (perhaps there was a reason why). We ordered what was suggested by our waitress. The dynamite shrimp was drowned in the aioli and the steamed opakapaka chinese style fish was a bit dried and bland. There was no wow factor except for the price. I was definitely disappointed. Do come back for the drinks and have some pupus elsewhere.
(2)
Dan R.
Good pupu!
(5)
Valentina A.
A-okay place that I personally didn't find too impressive. Super crowded and the decor reminded me of some night club/bar. The tables are small and close to each other thus creating a cramped feel. Food was also just okay...a bit greasy. Garlic shrimp was good though, but nothing spectacular. Pupu plates are the way to go there.
(3)
C O.
My wife and I have been here a few times now and I think its time to provide Bo (and my dearest yelpers) with a bit of feedback. This restaurant is trying to do way too much with a kitchen that doesn't seem to be up to the challenge and with a budget that doesn't allow for the best ingredients to make it happen. I'm incredibly cautious when I see a "fusion" bar and grill that does pizza, pasta, fish, steak, asian, and dessert. Each time we've visited Uncle Bo's we've confirmed where that trepidation comes from. They cannot seem to do anything great---everything we've had is just, eh, alright. Something is inevitably undercooked, overcooked, soggy, burned, full of fat and gristle, or season to the point of being inedible. They are sooooo close to good---just not there yet. They have an impressive bar and the barkeeps have a strong hand. Sometimes that translates to quality drinks and other times it translates to a martini that tastes only like vermouth. Come early---or make a reservation. You can park across the street. It's always bumping inside and the staff is helpful and full of good energy. I cannot say I'd recommend anything on the menu but at least their top shelf vodka is good:)
(3)
Aya T.
I didn't eat any food so this review is for the bar only. PROS: Modern space, nice martini menu (my faves were the Pomegranate and Sunday Afternoon Delight), full bar (nice selection of vodka), drink prices were great, chill atmosphere. Good place to hang out with friends. CONS: Our first waitress was terrible, seemed to only take a few orders at a time while ignoring others at our table. We were a big party so you would think the waitress would have paid extra special attention to us but she didn't seem to care. Only 2 bathroom stalls so there is a line to use the restroom. Some of the people at my table ordered the nachos which came with Kalua pork and wonton chips that looked pretty tasty. The portions on the food looked pretty big as well. I will come back for drinks since it was affordable but I think there are better bar options here in Honolulu.
(3)
Kristen C.
Came here for dinner w/o reservation for a group of 6 and we were lucky enough to get a table in the back but had to leave before 930 because there was a party with reservations. It was only ~7:30 so we had plenty of time. From the looks of the outside you would be surprised when you walk in because it is actually bigger and way nicer than it looks from the outside so just step right in and give it a try. However, they have 2 different rooms, the front of the dining area is more chic like a lounge and bar area with oddly metal chains hanging right in the middle of the walk way between the bar and tables. In the back area, which is were we sat seems more intimate with white paper table clothes and lit up candles. There was also a projector and screen playing television shows, on this night nbc, so that was kinda of odd too. Anyway, we were seated and our drinks were taken. Since half of our party wasnt there, it give us time to look over their menu and they have a lot of pupus along with some steaks, seafood, pizza and pasta. When the rest of our party came they looked over the menu and we were ready to order. Most just got pupus to share while I shared this seafood bake with shrimp and opah encrusted in a panko parmesan crust with mash potatoes. Other things that were ordered were the manilla clams which comes w/ bread, kalua pizzza with ham, pineapple, mushrooms and onions, the ribs, chicken wings, kalua pig nachos w/ wonton chips, and some kind of seared ahi. After waiting a few mins or so the food came out pretty fast. As for my dish I was kind of dissapointed because it only came with 2 pieces of shrimp when the description of it made it sound like it would have more. Nevertheless it was good, and the fish was well flavored and moist. The potatoes were also pretty good. As for the other dishes, I sampled the clam broth dipped w/ the bread and that was really good and the pizza was also good, the crust is thin and crispy with big chunks of ham and pineapple. I also tried the "nachos" and those were really good, they replace tortilla chips with wonton chips which adds a really unique and local twist to the usual nachos. Throughout the meal our dirty dishes were taken away and but our waters werent really filled in a timely manner so I was left with an empty cup till we ordered dessert. Even though I was really full I couldnt pass up dessert, especially since they had fried ice cream! So we got two of those, one for each half. Awhile after, the waitress brings a soup cup of ice with the spoons in it so that was odd...i guess we need cold spoons to eat w/ your dessert? haha...Anyway, awhile after our ball of fried ice cream comes and the first thing i notice is that its fried in an andagi ball!!! YUM! At first it was a bit hard to break into it because the middle of the ice cream was still a bit hard but the shell was still a bit hot and nice and crispy...mmm...Overall the food was pretty good but beware of the temperature because its cold, at least in the back it was and it even got colder when the night progressed so bring a jacket if you're sensitive to the cold as I am =P
(4)
Kevin R.
DELICIOUS margaritas! It helped that I was with people who "knew people". We got a table fast on a Saturday night. The service was great. The servers are all "easy on the eyes". Uncle Bo created something off the menu for our party. It was so ono! I will be returning soon.
(4)
Sierra F.
EXCELLENT service , AMAZING food
(5)
Peggy L.
My friends and I stopped here on the way to a concert. The service was fast and friendly and the food was AWESOME! I loved the seared ahi and the shrimp appetizer was great, too. Can't wait to go back! They are busy so go early or be patient...
(4)
Elaine Y.
My friends and I were hungry and didn't know where to go. We asked the bell desk at our hotel and the guy said to go to, "aco'po's." I was thinking, "Aculpocos? A Mexican restaurant"? We asked him again the name and he said, "Aco'Pos." Coming from LA the day before we were still not used to the local acent, so we had to ask him to write it down. He wrote the magical restaurant's name, "Uncle Bo's." I have to admit, I was first very suspicous of a place called, "uncle" anything. We parked across the street at the little lot for $5.00. We later discovered you can probably find street parking for free. The food is kind of asian fusion (which I usually dislike) but they made it work at Uncle Bo's. We walked in and there was a swanky bar and restaurant. We were taken to our table passed this bar and restaurant area, to an exended portion of their restaurant. This part had a huge projection screen TV and had more of a casual feel to it. It was a bit cold in this extended area and I actually felt like if the restaurant/bar in the front was someone's house, we were sitting in someone's garage with a big projector tv. If you are going with friends, I don't think it matters where you sit, since the food is the same. If you want to have a "nicer" feel to your meal, maybe reserve a seat in the front of the restaurant, near the bar. We ended up ordering Manila clams, chinese chicken salad, a steamed opakapaka fish and dynamite shrimp. Hands down, the manila clams were amazing. We used the bread to sop up all the sauce. The fish was also ridiculously flavorful and fresh. I would skip the salad and the shrimp. The salad didn't have anything special to it, and the shrimp was over sauced and breaded for my taste. I like seafood to be simple and flavorful and not oversauced or breaded. I am glad my friends and I ordered a bunch of food and shared it so we can try out different things. I would definitely come to this restaurant again when I visit Honolulu.
(4)
Erin M.
Definitely one of my favorite spots to go for drinks, pupus or dinner. Great atmosphere. Cool artwork, unique drink list, good wine selection, and great food. I love the Ginger Bliss cocktail...it's whiskey (and i'm no whiskey drinker) but it's excellent. Their dynamite shrimp, calamari and spicy tofu dip are my favorite pupus. Their food comes in good portions. I like their warm spinach salad and seafood curry dish
(5)
Julie C.
Uncle Bo's is PHENOMINAL!!! Every time we come to Hawaii (about once a month) we go to Bo's 2-3 times and every single thing we have had there is unbelievably great! Staff is friendly and Bo makes you feel like you are a welcome guest in his home! We have had Boka Rota, Dynamite shrimp, Calamari, Ceviche, Potstickers on the Pupu menu and all are to die for! Baked Opah Mauna Kea, all the steaks are fantastic and I recently had a daily special of Opah topped with scallops and shrimp with a lobster dill sauce that was delicious. Best of all, prices are reasonable-not a rip off like alot of other Waikiki restaurants. I'm torn writing this review because now it will be more difficult to get in as Bo's popularity increases!
(5)
James B.
The food at Uncle Bo's is ok, but too expensive. They have some good dishes but you are mainly paying for atmosphere. This place has gotten very trendy and I think people rate this place so highly based on the scene rather than the food. If you want good food go next door to Irifune.
(3)
Manuel Labor J.
Drinks and Ho Suk Lee were great.
(4)
Alicia L.
We made a decision to come here based on other yelpers. It is definitely a 4 star-er. As an appetizer, my hubby and I had the dynamite shrimp. Although it looked very good and tasted very good, it's definitely not something you could eat a whole lot of. It was extraordinarily heavy and creamy. It might have been better with some rice...or a little less of their sauce. I had the seafood pasta dish without clams and it was very good. It had a distinct taste to it that I haven't tasted with any other pasta dishes. I would have it again if i had a chance. My hubs got their steak. He seemed to like it. The place is a very casual place. We had dinner there around 6, so it was just starting to get busy. There is a full bar there, so it appears that this place turns into a hang out place later on at night.
(4)
Sue W.
Uncle Bo's has been recommended to me by all my local friends as a great bar lounge feel restaurant with great pupus! We tried the recommended, dynamite shrimp, huge portions a little too much mayo, which seems to be a Hawaiian thing but still really good. The seared Cajun ahi was so good, my favorite. The poke was good, a little more time in the marinade would have helped, but really fresh simple poke. Kalua pig nachos was huge and gotta love the bacon and nachos thing! I would stick to pupus and make a meal out of them with a bunch of friends and lots of drinks!
(4)
Chad K.
I wasnt expecting the menu to be as diverse as it was nor was i expecting such a crowd on a wed night. Im not sure if it was just a few large parties or if thats the norm for Uncle Bo's on a weekday. I would describe the decor in the front room as a mixture of contemporary and industrial, a very hip look to it. They have a metal chains? bound together like drapes hanging through the length of the room which is a bit obtrusive when trying to navigate to the rear room. It does provide quite the look though but doesnt seem very practical being that you have to weave between them while everyone stares at you as you enter. The rear room where we were seated was more of an addition for extra seating and serves that purpose, its not really decorated as intensely. The appetizer list was very long and everything sounded good. We tried the spinach artichoke dip, it had a good amount of artichoke and spinach but it lacked seasoning, I dont hold this against them at all however because I prefer "not enough" over "too much". We both ordered the fillet minon which for $19 for which I was skeptical but it turned out to be very very tender! It did lack a bit of seasoning(again) but I tend to like my steaks on the simple side, though a dash of salt was missing. The fillet was also a little larger than normal file ts and again it was so tender, i would easily get it again. I appreciated the fact that the fillet wasnt marinaded in butter like other steak houses do, the steak is flavorful enough in my opinion. Aside from the lack of seasoning on the appetizer and the steak, which doesnt bother me, my only criticism would be the noise. It gets really loud in the back room so if your dining for two you may feel as if youre having to yell at your date. The food and the drinks I would highly recommend, the only drawbacks are the parking, having to cross a 6 lane street at night on kapahulu ave can be challenging and the noise level. I would easily go there again. 3.5 stars!
(4)
Harry D.
Awesome! cool vibe, the food was pretty good! Good deal for the small plates, and good drinks. I'll definitely go back next time in HNL, maybe late night it would be real fun
(5)
Matt M.
This place is dope! We left from Side Street and shuffled on over to Uncle Bo's. I didn't have food because we had just eaten but the beers were great. I had myself a nice Sierra Nevada and was damn happy to have it. The service was great. The crowd was a nice hip group. The place is clean and spacy. I will be back for sure. Definitely a great place to spend an evening.
(4)
Coco H.
Best Pupus on the island! The dynamite shrimp is just that. Great service and cool local vibe. We came back twice in one week because it's "the spot". Shout out to Ross!...Super waiter. I would have given 5 stars but they need to improve the martini recipes and clean up the woman's rest room.
(4)
Y C.
Ok, more like 3.5 stars because 1) decor is cool 2) vibe is loungy 3) pupus are good 4) drinks are way decent. But the dinner, except for the huge portions, are lukewarm and inconsistent in quality. And not sure if they redid the back room? I think this is where all the larger parties are relegated to (or was it the ultra-cool, or the exact opposite people, go? :). The back room was kinda ghetto and didn't fit in with the overall vibe of the place. Parking is across the street in an unpaved, semi-lit lot where sometimes homeless people hang out. Or there is street parking along Kapahulu if you can find it.
(3)
Peter M.
The food was very delicious. I'm European and stay on the island for 4 month. Since i arrived in march, this was the best food we had until now. I really like the style of the Restaurant, something between a bar and a restaurant.
(5)
Izzy B.
Absolutely terrible food and way overpriced for the garbage they served. Pizza tasted like Tombstone. Sauteed vegetables were soggy and clearly not fresh. How could they charge over $20/plate for such truly awful food?
(1)
Gina L.
Hawaiian fusion cuisine in a hip restaurant in Kapahulu, a nice break from Waikiki. A good place to meet friends for drinks and pupus. Street parking only.
(4)
Dana F.
I LOVE this Bar/ Restaurant, I am recently 21 and ever since I turned 21 five of my friends have had a birthday dinner here, we have never left unhappy with service, drinks, or food! Parking wasn't free, but it was convenient, right across the street, 3.00 for the night; not that bad. When you look at the restaurant from the street you wonder if this is really IT, but when you walk it the atmosphere is very chill and hip always filled with a young/outgoing crowd! I recommend that you make a reservation and go with around ten people, they will either give you the room in the back or in the front where all the action is! I had a blast in both sections! For food I strongly recommend the Sauteed Sea Scallops, Spicy Tuna Wraps, and the Dynamite Shrimp as appetizers! As for drinks, Uncle Bo's has awesome Martinis! All different flavors, I personally like the Pomegranate flavor. A full bar with a wide selection of beer and wine is also a PLUS! Although haven't eaten a full meal here, I have heard the main meal food was okay/good. Pupus and drinks along with good atmosphere and company is all I need to make me happy.... See you there! :)
(5)
Jason D.
Went here on a recommendation from a friend and was quite suprised when we walked in. We were expecting a bit of a dive, but inside, the place is beautiful, hip and sleek, while still being inviting. We enjoyed our meal so much we went back the next night as well. We were told to stick to the pupu's, and there were so many options that it was easy to do! The Seared Cajun Ahi with Honey Glaze was probably some of the best ahi I have EVER had, in fact we ordered it both nights! The scallops were big and juicy and cooked to perfection The Dynamite Shrimp was just that, Dynamite!! (Had it both nights as well) The only somewhat dissapointment was the Crab and Artichoke Dip. This dish anywhere else would have been good, but it did pale compared to the other dishes on our table. I also wanted to share that the two of us ate 4 plates and had 2 cocktails each and were pleasantly full and our bill was only $60.
(5)
kesha t.
Ive been there twice and each time i wasnt disappointed! I wasnt absolutely wowed but it is still good eats. Fun atmosphere with lots of space for larger parties. I like the shaken chicken and their pastas.
(3)
Hideki K.
I went to Uncle Bo's on Valentine's Day with some friends. I was only able to order the firecracker shrimp and the oyster shooters, but both the dishes were delish, especially the oyster shooters ! I'm definitely coming back here on my next visit to HNL.
(5)
D J.
Aww Yea this place is the goods. Get some Pupu's with yo friends. Seafood ceviche was awesome, parm crusted shimp was awesome, seared ahi was delicious.
(5)
alejandro m.
This will be my fav hangout from now on... great atmosphere, great food, great drinks and great service. We got a table right away and we had drinks on our hands within 5 minutes of sitting down. I recommend ordering from their pupu menu and have a tapas style dinner. We order the walnut shrimp wraps- superb and their fish tacos have to be tops in the island.
(5)
Brad F.
This was my third time to Uncle Bo's and i took my girlfriend there for the good drinks, and excellent food. My close friend and his buddy went there a week earlier and hated the food! But i knew that good ol Uncle Bo wouldnt let me down so i had to make sure they were still great. I order the Seafood trap apetizer (the best broth i have ever had) and of course their prime rib fire seared.... AMAZING! I sat their the whole night raving about how it was the best steak i had ever had. Will always go back to this place and most likely bring my family when they are in town.
(5)
Michael B.
"ORGASMIC" is the word. This place does deliver a Decliious delectible treat to your tastebuds. The pesto pasta is so filling yet tastey enough to compliment say....a Mai Tai. Speaking of Mai Tais, have the bartender serve you what they call a Hawaiian Iced Tea like you're not certain it will give the kick it would. They will definitely pour the 4+ liquors with a heavy hand then. Don't get the escargot, the true taste is masked by the butter and cheese. DEFINITELY get the Thai-Style Steamer Clams and lap that muthalovin sauce up with some nachos or bread. Yea, I said it... BREAD. =P.
(4)
Mari C.
great food and lots of tasty cocktails to choose from. :) went with my husband, my cousin, and my cousin's girlfriend. there was a bit of a wait (saturday night), but that was to be expected. the only thing about this place is that it's LOUD. it was tough to hear from time to time, but it IS a bar, so....again, that's to be expected. other than the noise level, it was a great experience and we will be going back again!
(4)
Maria B.
The boca rota is awesome, I also enjoy the clam appetizer and the prime rib. Its a great place for large parties or just hanging out with the hubby.Very modern and cool vibe. And theyre open late so perfect for a bite afterwork or partying
(4)
JJ G.
The wife and I loved the place! Pupu's were outstanding. Need to have one in Reno / Sparks Nevada.
(5)
Kristine T.
My bf and I ate dinner here our last night in paradise *sniff, sniff It's in a cutty little area, would have never discovered it if it wasn't referred by fellow yelpers. We stuck with the pupu menu. Everything was pretty delicious - oyster shooters, (couldn't really find these anywhere else in HI !) fried oysters (my fav.), potstickers were good, a little plain though, dynamite shrimp was good but very, very, VERY rich, and the spicy tuna dish was a little strange to me. The seaweed seemed to be flavored oddly so when you ate it you couldn't really taste anything aside from the salty seaweed. I had the Crossings Pinot which was good, my bf enjoyed his Tempranillo but the pours were a little small. Service was pretty good. Dinner ( 6 small plates) and 3 glass of wine only came out to $60 ! The only bad thing, and I almost gave a 3 star rating was the very loud, slightly obnoxious club and techno music that was playing during dinner. Not really my thing so that was my least fav. but if you like this or it doesn't bother you then definitely try Bo's !
(4)
John L.
If there were pupu's heaven, this is it! The quality of food is as good as 5 stars restaurant. Our server, Regan, was very helpful and friendly. The service was fast and attentive. Our tour guide, Kieko from the ATV tour recommeded this place to us. It is away from Waikiki but totally worth the trip and away from all the tourist. We had the dynamite shrimp, fried calamari, ahi poke & dynamite tuna roll. I highly recommend the dynamite shrimp & fried calamari. They were amazing & delicious! One thing tho, they serve big portion. So make sure you either go there hungry or with group of people. We would definitely go back & recommend this place to everyone!
(5)
Lili G.
food was good but service was a bit rushed. our waitress and busser kept on asking us if we were finished with our plates not long after it was served. warning: do not park in the prepaid lot across the street. in my rush to go eat, i inadvertently left my ticket upside down on the dash board only to find a boot on my car and had to pay $160. no leniency whatsoever from hawaii boot removal. obviously trying to make a quick buck!
(3)
Hillary J.
not bad, great service, good atomsphere - a little too much sweet ness in their food for my liking, but i will be back for sure..
(4)
David E.
Three stars for the food. Five stars for the scenery. Four overall. This place is totally like Hooters in terms of the service. Tight shirts, tight shorts, and tight bodies. :-D The food was decent. Nothing to write home about. Our party had the nachos with kalua pork, warm spinach salad, kids corn dog, and the maumakea. The nachos were ok. They were a bit wet, which made the chips soggy. There was a bit too much ham and not enough kalua pork but the mix was great and gave it a nice salty flavor. The chips were GREAT! I just wish it had not gotten so wet with the toppings. The fries were better than the corn dog. The corn dog tasted like one you would make at home out of the box. (per the 10 year old who had the pleasure of this meal.) The wilted spinach salad was fairly good. It was nothing to write home about though. Decent choice if you want a salad. The best by far was the maumakea. The sauce on the fish was perfect. It made me wish I had skipped the nachos and just had this instead. So yeah, the food was ok. But like I said, the servers were cute and the service was good, so four stars.
(4)
Justin S.
Food is pretty good here and reasonably priced. This place gets crowded at the beginning of the night so my advice is to make a reservation. Don't order an entree, that kinda kills the whole point of coming here. Order 4-5 different pupus and kick back with some drinks. The waitresses are cute here as well guys. Not the reason to go but its always a plus. Also great place for a date. It's fun and the place has a great ambience.
(4)
Melissa L.
This restaurant is amazing. The first time I came, I had a great experience eating dinner and having drinks with friends. I had the shrimp dynamite and the opakapaka which were both very flavorful dishes. the cocktails were yummy too. I loved the atmosphere, a great place for friends to get together and just hang out. Tonight I went there again because my friend decided to have her birthday here. Another amazing experience!! We tried the chef special (10 people or more) which consists of limitless appetizers all night for 25 dollars per person. She would keep bringing in food until everyone is full. This place has a very extensive appetizer menu with lots to choose from so there were lots of variety. Unfortunately no take out is allowed but there's always a catch to these things but it didn't really bother us at all seeing as what a great deal it was This was a great idea for large gatherings because then everyone could share family style and eat a variety of different foods. The waitress was really nice, food was fast without sacrificing taste or freshness, very reasonable price, and great drinks. I had the blueberry lemon drop which was good, and my friend ordered the honeydew melon martini which was also awesome. The only drawback from me giving this place five stars was the atmosphere Luckily we were placed in the back area where the larger parties sat because in the main dining room the music was pretty loud which may make it difficult to hear one another, but other than that, I would definitely come back and get the chef special because it really was worth every penny!!
(4)
Jerrel C.
cool atmosphere, good food and reasonalbe prices for drinks....the clams are my favorite.
(4)
Reiko S.
This place is really good but you need to know what to order. The boca rota is great and the ribs. Salads are just alright. Pastas are ok too heavy for me. Dynamite shrimp is really good too. Shrimp lettuce wraps are just alright. Stick with apps and you can't go wrong. It gets four stars because service can be slow.
(4)
jacko l.
Expect a wait. We waited 30 min. on a Friday night, but its well worth it. Seemed like a locals hangout. Great Italian/Asian fusion. Pretty hip vibe. Dark, red, a little loud, and great food. Loved the cheesy bread with chicken and mushroom. Nice crunch and texture contrast. By far the best dish we had there. Steamed clams were ok. Too sweet. Tasted like it had MSG in it. Seafood pasta was on point with huge scallops, good sauce and al dente pasta. Would go back again.
(5)
Micha C.
This is a hole in the wall that's got it right! Friendly staff and HUGE plates! Prices were just right for the amount of food and the quality. It's a fun place to go with your girl friends to just chat and catch up. It can get really crowded here on weekends.
(5)
Namahana S.
My favorite place for my pau hana I absolutely love the atmosphere there and the customer service always kicks ass I almost never have to ask for a another drink and my favorite severs always make sure im taken care of even if there already off uncle bo's is my cheers and have nothing but praises for them I'll see u guys for my weekly fix
(5)
Anne M.
My last night in Hawaii was a few nights ago and my friends and I, we decided to go eat somewhere a little more local than the restaurants found on Kuhio or Kalakaua. The restaurants on those streets are pretty much the restaurants that we can find in San Francisco. So Cheryl's friend Lauren directed us to Uncle Bo's a restuarant on Kapahulu, just a 5-10 minute drive from the main strip. From the outside, the restaurant looked a little questionable but as we walked through the doors, the place was pretty swanky. The front are is more of a bar/lounge where you can sit and have pupus or dinner along with your drinks. Since there was no room in the lounge for a party of 3 we opted to eat in the back. We were kind of scared that we would be by the bathroom but when we entered the backroom it was very clean and very inviting. Later on in the night, we met Uncle Bo, the chef who informed us that ther person who designed the restaurant is actually from San Francisco. It explained the the semi-chic atmosphere. The three starving girls that we were (it was already 10:30pm and the last meal we ate was at around 2:00pm.) we decided to order pupus and a main course. I, of course, ordered th ahi poke, Marj ordered the calamari, and Cheryl ordered a beef pupu. Then we each ordered a pasta dish. When the pupus came out -- ohhhh MAN! They were HUGE. We didn't expect them to be soo big. They were pretty much meal-sized. The prices, however,were sooo reasonable and that we didn't expect the ffod to be so abundant. reluctantly, I began to eat the Poke, afraid that I was eating what I was paying for. I was a little scared that the fish would be old and icky but as soon as I took the first bite, it was HEAVEN. Absolutely delicious! Needless to say, we canceled our main course items and stuck with the pupus. We ordered three more dishes to share with each other and dessert as well. This place was definitely worth going to and next time I go to Honolulu, this will FOR SURE be a must go place before departing back to the mainland.
(5)
Justin S.
Tried Uncle Bo's for the first after driving by it 100's of times. We had dinner and it had potential, but it was just OK. My wife and I might give it another shot, but it might just be for a cocktail and pupu's, not dinner.
(3)
marc a.
We took a four night vacation to Honolulu in late March and ended up starting off our night at Uncle Bo's two of those nights. Just that fact alone is a testament to this place's replay value. The bartender at our hotel, obviously a local, recommended this place to us because of its ability to host large groups of people who enjoy good food and good drinks over good conversation. If you're looking for classically trained French cuisine and white tablecloths, this isn't your spot. What impressed me about this place wasn't its extravagance, but rather its contemporary setting that makes even the most touristy or tourists feel a hint of their own local watering hole, a six hour flight from home. Ho Suk and Bo, partners in this venture, immediately establish this foundation with their welcoming and friendly attitude. The servers obviously have a healthy working environment and are eager to please. We actually ended up hitting the bars with our server on the second time around! Hawaiian hospitality was exceptional. Personally, the more enjoyable experience was sharing a plethora of appetizers over beer and shots of whatever your heart desires from their fully stocked bar. There was also an impressive wine selection for those of you with more refined palettes. Memorable dishes included steamed clams in an amazing broth, dynamite shrimp, and oyster shooters. The entire menu was comprised of dishes I would love to eat when drunk: heavy use of mayonnaise and definitely not afraid to use the deep frier. However, these aren't pupus you'll find at your local TGI Friday's. At the point of presentation, you can tell that these selections were thoughtfully created by a trained chef combining years of experience in the restaurant business into cuisine that fits the venue. The dishes were far from simple, but combined familiar flavors and ingredients in ways that were frustratingly logical. The menu had me thinking "Why didn't I think of that?" for the majority of the night. Then I remembered that the extent of my culinary knowledge could be summed up in a two page essay. At the end of the night, it was all about the hospitality. Bo and Ho Suk are definitely hands-on restauranteurs, and it definitely upgrades the value of the dining experience they're selling here. If you enjoy great company over drinks with cuisine to match, you must check out Uncle Bo's if you're ever in this neck of the woods. These two definitely have something special going on here.
(5)
Beauty C.
Food was so awesome! Eat the tofu mushroom dip.... To die for! Their drinks are good too! Kept getting the blue martini.. Can't remember the name... But yummy!
(5)
Cheryl D.
Hi Anne!!! I loved Uncle Bo's too! It was pretty inside - and open late! The food was SO good. Outside did not match inside - but it's part of the charm... it made me feel like I was really finding a local secret. Thanks Lauren! Uncle Bo came by to say hi and ask us how we were enjoying our food - nice touch for any restaurant. At our request he open one in San Francisco - he said the designer was SF based.San Francisco designer indeed - it had the metallic ball strand curtains like Sake Lab - with better lighting and furniture- very see and be seen but not frou frou. I wore flip flops =) Why else did those two guys find their way back to our table? If you want to try everything - like we did - go for the pupus - which are generous. The oyster shooters were so fresh we didn't use the hot sauce. Uncle Bo's shrimp was tasty and perfectly cooked. I finished with a lychee sorbet. Very refreshing. Anne - YES!!! We will have to go again next time.
(5)
Damon K.
Omg! Everything is unique and original. The good is supreme. Perfectly cooked with sauces that wake up dormant taste buds. The combination of ingredients is genius. The food comes out super fast. The staff help one another so that your service is fast. Amazing atmosphere but very noisy. The art work is awesome from a local. Place is very busy on weekends with long waits. Make reservations
(5)
Clarissa M.
Five stars for the service and taste and quality of the various pupus our table shared. We completely devoured the Thai Style Steamer Clams (not spicy at all and broth so tasty especially when you soak the house bread in it), Bo's Big Nachos (something about crispy won tip chips makes your mouth salivate even more), Cajun Seared Ahi (not spicy at all and fresh fish seared just right), Boca-Rota (totally unique pupu that is worth a try. Barely could taste the garlic though and I love garlic), mini prime rib sandwiches on taro bread with sides of horseradish and au jus sauce (I'm not a fan of taro bread so this dish was my least favorite and the meat was colder than I would have preferred), fried ice cream (ice cream was so frozen had to let it sit to defrost before eating. Patience is rewarding though so tasty), and warmed fudge brownie ala mode (definitely a just try for chocolate lovers). We left around 10:30 pm and by that time the restaurant turned into a club - dimmed lights and pumpin music. Regardless of the chaos and noise that typically comes with this environment the service was dead on attentive, efficient, and friendly!
(5)
Amy L.
A night of good food, good friends, good conversation, laughter and of course and abundance of alchoholic beverages started off at Uncle Bo's. My friend last night said he loves the atmosphere here at Uncle Bo's and he can loudly say so beause he is an "Atmosphere Whore"...and with a claim like that you can believe him. Ceilings draped with light fabric and ever changing colors of mood lighting gives off a touch of modern flair. We ordered a variety of tapas to share (see pics). I loved the Cajun Seared Ahi, definitely one of my favs of the night. Fresh fish, seared perfectly with the crust on the outside and rare on the inside. Flavored great with a little afterkick of the Cajun spices. The calamari is a must. It's not the calamari that I loved but the sauce that accompanied it. Wok-fried w/ choy-sum & fresh tomatoes in sweet chili sauce...so different and it worked great as a dipping sauce for the calamari that was crispy and the squid was fluffy, not chewy and rubbery at all. The escargot and boca-rota was good...at first. After a while, it just tastes heavy. Must be the overwhelming toppings of the cheese and butter. I wasn't impressed with the Rib Eye steak...too much fat, lack of flavor, and definitely not the best cut of meat. It was a bit chewy, tough, and not tender. But do you know what I absolutely thought was really really really good here? BREAD BASKET! Yes, the bread that you have to request for them to bring out was amazing. Fresh baked bread, a slight crisp crust on the outside, soft soft soft on the inside. I loved it and dipped it in the sauce that came with the calamari. I'm trying to cut down on white carbs but I wanted to order another basket. I would definitely come back to try the other items on the menu. This place does a great job of a fusion of the local flavors of Hawaii and offers a great place to hang out with friends for a night of drunken fun. MUST GET THE BREAD! BTW...did you know that chicks dig guys with a farmer's tan?
(3)
Misty P.
Holy crap this place rocks. I love their creative menu and pupus. Great food, atmosphere and drinks. I love that they have a wide selection of beers including Newcastle *and* Tiger beer! I think it's the only establishment on the island that I have seen that sells Tiger beer. Totally reminds me of Thailand and Vietnam. Anyways, the food here comes out fast and it is delicious. The Thai steamer clams are yummers as well as the dynamite shirmp, roasted pork with jalapeno salsa, boca rota - which is cheese and prime rib dip with flat bread (holy cow!), and the Asian inspired oyster shooters are out of this world. The only downside is that the place is tiny and if you don't get here early, good luck getting a seat. They don't take reservations either. Parking also is not available so, you either have to park in the pre paid lot across the street or just find street parking. Nevertheless, the negatives are totally minor compared to the service, food and drinks.
(5)
Blake T.
The night I moved to Oahu from the mainland I got settled into my new place and Google searched a restaurant nearby. Twenty minutes towards Waikiki later I ended up at Uncle Bo's. This restaurant was not much to look at from the outside and I started to question the good reviews I read on Google. When I walked inside I was immediately relieved at the ambiance of the restaurant and all the beautiful girls there. I took a seat at the bar and the bartender took my drink order right away. I perused the menu and decided on a few pupu's. It seemed pretty pricey but I was hungry and ordered the calamari and pot stickers. When I got my food I realized that the price was pretty reasonable for the portions. The calamari was cooked to perfection and the pot stickers weren't too bad either. I was starving and ate as much calamari as I could but the pile of squid didn't seem to dwindle. After looking around I realized that this place was perfect for a group of people to order four or five appetizers and be completely satisfied. My roommate took me there a week later and we had the Boca-Rota... WOW! The garlic bread used as the base for the delicious and tender prime rib, mozzarella and soft, sauteed mushrooms was just what this ha'ole needed, especially washing it down with a nice Black and Tan. I've been there several times since and still ate the Boca-Rota... in case you haven't gotten the hint, order the Boca-Rota. It's fun to say too. They had just put the hummus on the menu and I don't think it will be taken off any time soon. I'm not a big hummus fan but it was certainly tasty and seasoned with aloha. It's in a nice location near Waikiki and good walk or cheap cab ride to experience a nice Hawaiian pupu experience.
(4)
Camie K.
Trendy & hipster. Cool interior - a lot more spacious upon entering. Had the deconstructed hamachi sushi and spinach/artichoke dip with fried wonton chips. Also had the cucumber drink. All very delicious. All around great service.
(4)
Nadine F.
Let me clarify, I'm giving Uncle Bo's one star for food and drink, and five stars for service, but the food was so bad that I can't in good conscience give it more than one star. I wanted to like this place, I really did. I loved it when I walked in, the atmosphere was kind of fun and hip, but still casual, and EVERYONE working there was extremely nice, from the hostess to the waitress to the bartender. It actually pains me to have to give the restaurant such a low rating, because I don't want to hurt their feelings in case they read this. We ordered one drink, one entree, and a bunch of pupus, and nothing impressed: The lemongrass martini tasted so much like medicine that my dining companion and I couldn't drink more than one sip each, and the glass remained full throughout our meal. The Boca Rota was your basic cheesy garlic bread that you can get at any pizza place, but with a scoop of chopped beef and mushrooms in the middle. It was nothing special, but definitely the least bad of the four things we ordered. The spinach artichoke dip was kind of dry and hard to scoop. We ate it more out of hunger than enjoyment. Every type of seafood in the seafood pasta was overcooked, dry, and chewy, though the sauce was OK. It's annoying to have to pick the seafood out of a seafood pasta. The wings were so bad that my dining companion couldn't eat more than one bite. They looked soggy, and based on his reaction, I had no desire to try them. They were so bad that we actually had a long argument at the end of the meal over whether they were too terrible to pack up and give to a homeless man outside (I said we should no matter how bad they were, but he said that they were so bad that it would be insulting to the homeless man.) We did end up giving all the leftovers to him, and there were a LOT of leftovers. In the end, the server and hostess either overheard our complaints or sensed our unhappiness and full plates and asked us if anything was wrong. We asked to have the drink taken off our bill, because we felt like we would have been terrible people to ask to have the majority of our meal taken off. It was all unenjoyable, but so much so that we didn't want to send it back and ask for anything different, because we didn't feel like they had anything better.
(1)
Jennifer A.
This place is a must go to with friends when they come to visit... The Boca Rota which is beef with mushrooms in a cream sauce served with slices of cheesy garlic bread- AMAZING!! The Dynamite Shrimp are unbeatable... If you go with a large group (not specifically sure how many but def 10+) they offer an unlimited pupus! They start at the top of the pupu menu and go all the way down (minus the raw items) and keep it coming... WHOA!! It was amazing- and a great way to try all the different items
Love love love this cute little joint. Ace it in all categories: Food, environment, settings, service. Some friends of mine that are locals brought me here and hands down must be one of the top places to have visit. The pupu's were all we ordered and it was FAR more than enough. Everything is so flavorful. I wish i recalled everything we ordered. Oyster shots Poki salad Pork belly? beef & mushroom stir fry? served with sliced Cheesey bread Shrimp with Parmesan Hummus warmed taro beignet Anyways, when in Honolulu, GO HERE with friends!!!!!! Get reservations first.
(5)
Travis S.
My parents came to visit, and I had some great leftovers from Uncle Bo's in the past, so thought I'd take them here when my dad asked if there was any place we'd like him to take us for dinner. The first thing to say was, upon entrance, the music was piercing, loud and annoying. It was awful music that teenagers/ravers like to listen to, not suitable for dinner at all. The settings were cool, and the layout was okay, a little strange. The main entrees were as expensive as my restaurant in Waikiki. The waitress was real nice and went over the menu and drinks, and explained the special. It was all good. They had 3 IPAs, my girlfriend got a good cocktail...golden. Now we're gonna get down to why this goes from a 3-3.5 star (music) dinner to a one star night. My dad asks if there's an end cut to the $28 prime rib, and the waitress makes sure to go and ask the chef. She comes back and ensures us there is. Pop is stoked, and orders the prime rib, and asks if the cook will cook it up a little extra and make sure it's well done throughout. Strange, but it's how he likes it. He likes beef, can't stand blood. But he got a fatty end cut that was medium rare at best. Meanwhile, I ordered the filet, medium, which came pressed, about 3/4" thick, overcooked on the edges and good in the middle. I kept giving my dad the well done edges while he poked around his fatty prime rib that tasted more like an undercooked pot roast. My girlfriends kalua pork rice was amazing, and the nightly special knocked my mamas socks off. But when the patriarch, the most important man at the table who is paying the bill, and is VERY specific in what he asked for, gets a cut exactly what he didn't ask for...1 star indeed. It seems purposely neglectful and rude. We didn't complain, but now that I thought about it laying in my bed, I'm angry. My dad took us out to a $145 dinner and didn't even enjoy his meal. I feel like an ass for taking him here. My advice: stick to the seafood and pupus...the meat dishes were garbage. Pure garbage. And turn down for what? Your guests at a wine bar at 6pm.
(1)
Jason M.
Looks old and dingy from the outside, but the inside is actually pretty nice. We got there around 5:30 and it opens at 5, and as soon as we got seated the place began to fill up instantly. So either go early or make a reservation. We only had Pupus and it was more than enough. Based off other suggestions, we had the boca rota and dynamite shrimp. Dynamite shrimp was good, but not spectacular. Boca rota on the other hand, DELICIOUS! It's a pretty heavy dish but well worth it! Only negative in my book was parking (paid across the street)
(4)
Emerald G.
This place was recommended by a local during our honeymoon. Fun atmosphere and best fish tacos I've had! Our waitress was friendly and helpful concerning how the food was prepared (due to my shellfish allergies.) highly recommended!
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Trendy Noise Level : Loud Good For Dancing : No Alcohol : Full Bar Happy Hour : Yes Best Nights : Thu, Fri, Sat Coat Check : No Smoking : No Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Bryan T.
This is by far my favorite place to come for drinks and food. Service is always amazing, very friendly, very efficient. Highly recommend the oyster shooters (it's non alcoholic but they can add vodka if you like, phenomenal either way). My second favorite dish is the dynamite shrimp pizza. Sounds strange but tastes like Jesus! It gets pretty crowded as early as 5pm at times, so would recommend you make reservations.
(5)Fiona L.
Via Hawaiian local recommendation we stopped by to get our oyster fix on. For 8pm, it was not bad, but the wait a bit long as we were told a 45 minute wait for a table. We weren't about that waiting time, so we sat by the bar instead. About a 10 minute waiting by the bar, my boyfriend checks back on our table wait-list. Lots of empty tables, so waitress offers us one. Pretty off on their timing, but I'll take it. Menu is extensive. Coming from Cali, we knew oysters were a must. We also decided to order the S.O.S. which was a seafood kettle bar stew. First round oysters: Oyster shots. Four pacific oysters each with its own shot glass. Filled with a good ratio of ponzu sauce and slight lemony hint. It was very easy to down with, versus a shot with vodka. Great start, on to the next. Second round of oysters: Rockerfeller. Each oyster was situated on a spoon. Less messy and great idea. I believe it was also pacific oysters they used. Lots of various tiny herbs and spices (mainly garlic though). Each spoonful packed a punch, but we were definitely ready for our entree. Entree round: S.O.S. (seafood stew). Sadly, this was a literal stew and didn't come with rice so we ordered a side of rice. Description of item read as kettlebar. I've had some delicious kettlebar stews in the past, so I had high hopes especially with a great start of oysters. Sadly, I'd rate it a 3/5 stars. Don't let the 3 mislead, because it was still delicious. But the sauce lacked a lot of the creaminess and the amount of seafood was disappointing. For the price, it was not worth it. Drinks and service was awesome so I'll give it a 5. The place feels like home with an Hawaiian twist. Location is great with other great eats nearby. But no fret, because Uncle Bo's got everything covered.
(5)Stephanie N.
Came here 2 nights in a row while vacationing on the island... Shared between my boyfriend and I.. We did order drinks at the bar while waiting to be seated, and had a reservation the next night. Lava Flow's and Mai Tais, can't go wrong... can you? It is a pupu bar, so I recommend going in to share plates and ordering a few to try from like we did. First night: 1) Dynamite Shrimp - 4 stars! It's like an amped up honey-walnut type of shrimp. It's got a little spice kick, but isn't necessarily spicy. It was soo good! 2) BOCA ROTA - 5 stars!! Oh. my. goodness. It's basically prime rib and mushrooms cooked with heaven, served with their garlic bread. 3) S.O.S. - 5 stars!! If you enjoy a lobster bisque, this is to die for. Portion just right. I got it with mashed potatoes and am now craving it again as I write this! 4) Nachos (cant remember exact name) with avocado - 3 stars. It was good, but the portion was so huge. Paid extra for avocado, which you can do without if you prefer. I wish they came out first, they actually came out last.. Second Night: 1) BOCA ROTA - except this time, we got a HUGE portion! Not sure why that is. The first night we hardly had enough for the amount of breadsticks. But the second time, couldn't even finish it. Drools. 2) SOS - Was a bit less thick the second time around. But again. This and the boca rota alone is what makes me want to come back. 3) Spinach artichoke dip - 3 stars. Would order something less ordinary.. The chips are wonton wrappers deep fried. It could have been more cheesy, ours was sort of pasty and weird. Our servers were so kind, the bartenders and hosts as well. Around 8pm they turned down the lights, turned up the music, and brought out menus that lit up! So cool..
(5)Mikey H.
My buddy said we were going to pick up food to go from here, and I'd never been, but had driven by many times. It doesn't look like much from the outside but once you're in, the place is great! Very modern and spacious! Tables look cozy, and they have a nice bar set up. Friendly greeting when I walked in, and they have a nice little lounge area to sit and wait. I didn't know what he ordered, but from the online menu, this is what I gathered: Dynamite shrimp...nice and crispy with just the right heat. Thai-style steamer clams...amazing! Loved the broth and the crispy crust french bread to dip into was great! And the deep fried calimari...very good! Prices are reasonable! My only regret is not coming here for dinner at least once. I would just like to experience the ambiance. That will have to wait until next year! Tanks uncle Bo! See you next year!
(5)Roxanne Lynn T.
It's been years since I've been here and this place doesn't disappoint in service and variety of unique food they offer from the last time I was here. The atmosphere is quite dim but gives it a modern casual dining type of ambiance as you enter the restaurant. Great for groups but reservations are highly recommended as it can get quite busy here for celebrations and gatherings. They offer so many different pupus, soup/salads, pastas, pizzas, fish/seafood, meat/steak choices that you can choose from. For a party of 10, it seemed more reasonable to just enjoy pupus as we drink the night away with good company. The pupu side of the menu was so extensive that we didn't know what to choose. Thankfully, the server had offered us the chef special for $27.95 a person that comes with an assortment of pupus that the Chef would pick for the night. We thought that would be a great deal considering that we were so indecisive of what to get. This way we left it up to the Chef to surprise us with what's to come for dinner. And we could order as many times as we want but the catch is that we couldn't bring any left over food home. Technically, that's like a buffet style. The more food the merrier. Seems to be like a great choice if you want to get your money's worth especially for a group 10+ and more that this special is valid for. I was pretty impressed that the food came out pretty quick! We had about 10 or so pupu plates come out one after the other. We literally almost had no space to eat because there was a lot of food. As amazing as the "all you can order" kind of special, we never made it past round 1. It was all too overly satisfying and filling to the tummies to think of ordering more. On the Chef's Specials Menu we got a couple of orders each for: -Pot Stickers with sweet chili sauce -Crispy Crab Ccakes -Uncle Bo's Oyster Shooters -Spinach Artichoke Dip with fresh won ton chips -Calamari served with choy-sum & fresh tomatoes in sweet chili sauce -Shaken Beef Steak with thai herbs and veggies Uncle Bo's Dynamite Shrimp Bo's Big Nachos Boca-Rota garlic cheesy bread Off the menu -Escargot -Uncle Bo's Oyster Rockefeller Quality and portion of food was on point. Everything was good in its own way. I love the dynamite shrimp! The nachos was a big hit. And the Boca-Rota is probably one of my top favs! Prices are a little high here but it's worth it for the unique food they offer here. The portions were a lot actually for our party but we demolished most of it. As much as we wanted to eat more, we couldn't. Drink prices are your typical prices you'd find at other bars especially for those signature cocktails. Parking is available across the street or street parking if you find any on the main road. To save the trouble, I'd pay for parking. It's waikiki so expect it to be like that at most places. Definitely will be back when we have other group gatherings.
(5)Roxy W.
Location/Parking: The bar/grill is located off Kapahulu Avenue next to Irifune. There are paid parking lots next to to the bar/grill and a paid parking across the street. The parking across the street cost $4 for 2 hours and $6 for 10 hours. Service: The hostess were able to seat us 10 minutes early from our reservation time since our party of 10 arrived early. The waitress was friendly, calm and informative about the menu and drink specials. The food came out fast after ordering it. Our waitress constantly checked on our drinks throughout the night. Price: We had a party of 10 so our waitress suggested the $27.95 per person chef choice special. We also ordered oyster shooters, oyster Rockefeller and escargot for $10 each. Specialty drinks cost $9-$11. Our bill came out $500+. They do not add tip for large parties anymore so don't forget to add tip. They do have a tip suggestion on the bottom of the receipt that came in handy. Food: We got a wide variety of pupus from the chef choice special which included the Boca Rotan, dynamite shrimp, clams, calamari, artichoke dip, shaken beef, nachos, crab cakes and potstickers. My favorite dishes were the Boca Rotan and the dynamite shrimp. Most of the people in our party loved the nachos. They gave us a ton of food but we demolished most of it. The special allowed us to get more of a dish if we wanted but we were all full from the first round. The oyster shooters were delicious!!! It's too bad it wasn't part of the special. The oyster Rockefeller and escargot was okay nothing special. Special Occasion; We celebrated 2 birthdays and the birthday girls were sang to by the workers and got BJ shots. (The shots were on the bill so it was NOT complimentary.) There was a baby shower party across from our party. Decor/Ambiance: The vibe at this bar/grill is a modern artsy feel. I love the quirky decor in the back room. The decor dangling on the walkway is unique. Overall, I enjoyed my first time here! The food was amazing. The service was awesome. The drinks were strong and unique. The food and drinks can be on the pricey side but you just have to watch what you order.
(4)Amy Y.
The birthday girl, my friend, wanted to come here for dinner. It was busy on a Saturday night around 5:30PM. When we got in the host said there was one table available. She limited us to 2 hours to eat because there was a reservation at 8PM. The restaurant was packed with people eating and drinking. We looked through yelp reviews to see what was popular here. We got some free bread and butter for appetizer upon request. We ordered the popular boca rota $15, shrimp pasta $22, spinach and artichoke dip with wonton chips $10. The bread was soft on the inside and toasted on the outside. Sooo good. boca rota is definitely a must order for appetizer. It's a cheesy toasted bread with steak pieces. It was kinda salty though. The shrimp pasta is really good. The sauce is creamy and tasty. Spinach and artichoke dip was a big appetizer. It's chunky artichoke, not too oily, but a bit salty. Everything was really good, but so filling. A really great place to eat out. It's hard to talk though, because it gets very noisy. The servers are awesome. They are very attentive.
(4)Jenn Y.
Get the chef special if you have a large party of 10+ for $27.95 a person it's all pupu picked by the chef kind of a random surprise, but It's perfect!!! My favorites from the special: Uncle Bo oyster shooter Uncle Bo's dynamite shrimp Bo's big nacho Boca-rota We ordered off the menu: Escargot Uncle Bo's oyster Rockefeller Just eating off the appetizers menu was good enough. Pretty big portions. Everything tasted awesome and it's worth the price!!! Drinks are good too. I got Sweet P, my BF tried the peach lemonade and Hawaiian Ice Tea. Got to meet Bo too, loation guy. He said they are opening another location in Haleiwa soon!!!
(5)Sasha L.
Whenever tourists or friends ask me for a recommendation on a place to go for dinner during their visit, I always make sure to mention Uncle Bo's. Their drinks are always on point (I love the "nuts n berries" martini when I'm in the mood for something sweet). I've tried almost everything on the menu and everything is delicious. But my absolute favorite thing that keeps me coming back is this clam dish they have. It's clams/tomato/butter/garlic/secret deliciousness that's served..in a clam shaped dish. It's simple but if you get that and order some of their bread on the side to dip into the juices for this dish..it's the best thing ever. Very excited to hear that they're opening an Uncle Bo in North shore side!
(5)Jill K.
There is something I just love about Uncle Bo's. It's the perfect feel-good recipe. Homey, but modernish décor, friendly staff, extensive upscale menu and drinks and a great ambiance. How can you go wrong? It's a great spot for a date or even a family meal. Plus, hanging out at the bar for a few cocktails never steered me in a bad direction. Come early or make reservations if you don't want to wait. Yeah, their Boca Rota is THAT good.
(5)Kurt N.
I had booked this place for a surprise dinner for my wife's birthday. We had at least 18 people for the dinner and Uncle Bo's was able to accommodate us. Due to the popularity of the restaurant I made sure to call way in advance, I believe I called at least a month in advance. At first I wanted to book a place like Side Street Inn on Da Strip but they were already booked for the night. Uncle Bo's is not a very large restaurant, but I'm glad they were able to seat us all together. Our table was located in the back of the restaurant which was fine since it gave us our own space with surrounding smaller tables around us but that was fine. Everyone seemed to have loved the food and the service from the waiters and waitresses that helped us which is always a plus for me when I write reviews because customer service is tops on my list for a nice experience at a restaurant. I'll definitely be back with my wife so we can try all the different dishes and be fatties with each other :)
(5)Sebastian M.
This place never disappoints...although it's not a cheap place to eat, the ambiance and food selection is amazing! I always recommend this place to visitors and always make sure it's a place to go to when family and friends come from out of town! We decided to celebrate my brother's late birthday here and my dad's last day before traveling to the mainland for school and this place did not disappoint! For PuPu's we had to have the Clams!! We also ordered a cheesy bread with steak and mushrooms, Korean fried chicken and my Hubby's favorite, AHI POKE! I also was able to order the delicious Lichee Martini and was feeling great after the 4th one! My parents had the Ali'i special, Mike had the rack of Lamb, my sister in law had the fish and brother Jeff and niece Chloe shared the Alfredo pasta! Me and my hubby got the red sauce pasta and Marlon snacked on all the PuPu's that we had ordered prior to our diner choices! We made sure to wrap up what we couldn't finish and made sure that we had room for their amazing fried ice cream and we also ordered two of the brownie ice creams!! It's defiantly a great place to spend time with great company!!! This place has yet to disappoint! Even for my family, who haven't been there...couldn't stop raving about the great good and amazing service! Maybe next time we'll split the bill with them instead of fronting the total cost lol, but joking aside...this is definitely a place I would give 5 stars to!!! Service was exceptional, and we never had to ask for any drink refills or ask to remove any empty places. The waitress had a few other tables with large parties, like ours, but she never skipped a beat with the service! Our tab was a whopping $400 (including the tip) but totally worth every penny! It's nice to spend quality time with family, and especially at a place that serves family sized portions!
(5)Stacia S.
I love it here. I hadn't been here in over a year due to moving off island for 10 months. We came tonight and the food is exactly how we remember it. The Thai style steamer clams are so good, we tried the Shaken Beef tonight as well, and that was delicious. We heart Uncle Bo's.
(5)Lena V.
LOVE this place! What to order: Boca Rota Hamachi Sashimi Bo's Big Nachos Calamari Fettuccine Alfredo Tongue Thai'd Skewers ALLL so delicious!!! You MUST get the boca rota. Its amazing. Everyone is so friendly, service is great, food is delicious, drinks are strong. The menus even light up! How cool is that!
(4)Latifa S.
Pupus for days!! I've been here countless times that I've lost count! :) And lost track of time to review this place. Better late than never I suppose. So what's good at this place that located on the street of MANY food? A lot of things. The fact that it is pretty tiny and popular makes it that much better. And it is semi chic. Chic enough to come dress up and have a pretty night out. If you get in that is! :) Few things I love - basil clams!! The best clams ever. No seriously, they were amazing. I fight the crowd and lines just for this. They are perfection. They have many things and anything you can want/crave. Seafood, pasta! Massive portion of steak!! But pupus are where is at! Thai clams - get this!! Boca rota ~ garlicky, cheesy bread goodness top with strips of steak. It is so good that its bad! You can get this as a pizza style too. Way too heavy for me but my friends LOVE this dish! Spicy wings - Korean style! Messy! Tasty! Ahi poke - this was good. Hamachi sashimi is better with a nice kick! Oyster shooters - these are always my favorite. Oysters, zesty garlic and cilantro sauce. Even my friends that hate oyster tried it and liked it. Take away? If you take away the appearance of the rugged shells and such, oyster isn't all that scary :) For the non oyster lovers anyways. Kalua pig fried rice - massive! And tasty! Oyster Rockefeller - way too cheesy and rich for my taste. I prefer my oysters raw. Kalua pig sliders - on taro buns! I've also tried their crab cakes and massive steak. They are all pretty good but pupus ( non deep fried items) are my favorite here. Did I mention how pretty their décor is too? It is quite pretty! it's usually our first stop on the night out with my friends here because, well you avoid the lines! Drinks are good. Food is tasty! Their drinks are stiff! :) Oh yea, you can make reservations if you have a big group! Pupus for everyone!!
(4)Laura G.
Great service, great food! Must try their specialty pear cocktail!!! We tried everything, highly recommend!
(5)Jenna T.
Reservations were booked for a Friday night but they still accept walk ins. For a party of 2, without reservations, we were seated in 20 min. The establishment is very modern and chic. There were some people dressed up and others very casual. Although the decor makes the place look fancy, it doesn't require semi formal attire. Staff are professional and very pleasant. The menu is overwhelming, but use the yelp pictures to help guide you to what to order. We started with the Boca Rota which is pictured countless times already. The sauce itself was mouth watering. But to have soft garlic bread with slices of prime rib is truly exceptional. The shrimp pasta was alright. The garlic rib eye was juicy and tender. The taro beignets are beignets. I couldn't taste the taro at all. Although it wasn't horrible, it would've been more irresistible if it was served with coconut ice cream. I've also had fluffier beignets. Their molokai mule was refreshing and the best mule I've had! The coconut soju balances well with the ginger beer! This is definitely a worthwhile place to visit whenever in oahu. Make reservations or walk in early. Can't wait to visit again to try more! Mahalo!
(5)Trung L.
One of my Local friend took my GF & I here while we were vacationing, the atmosphere was very busy, seems like a nice trendy place with alot of Locals. My friend ordered 4 Pupus (what the locals call appetizer) for us to share. UNCLE BO'S DYNAMITE SHRIMP - Was good, not great. They did put too much aoili on the shrimp making it a little soggy with the fried batter. SEAFOOD CEVICHE - My GF wanted this, I had a few bites, but it didnt stick out much to me, so I dont quite remember if I liked it or not. BOCA-ROTA - This was my favorite Pupus that I tried, the prime-rib strips were seasoned and cooked nicely, the garlic cheese bread was merely extras that came with the delicious meat. AHI POKE - This was good, nicely cut big portion of Ahi. Now the reason why I'm giving this place a 2/5 was because of the server/waitress. While it was clear that there were people still eating at the table (ME), she came back a few times to clear the dishes of the people that were done. I just felt like she was rushing to bus the table. The thing that irked me the most though was when she came back the 3rd time, she actually took the utensil that came with the AHI dish, and was looking around on the plate to see if there was any left before taking it. Seriously, you can wait til we're done to take our dishes, but dont poking around. Maybe I'll come back and try this place if i'm ever back, and if the service is nosey and rush again, I might be incline to request to speak with management.
(2)Jessica C.
When I lived in the Kapahulu area, this was our go-to late night restaurant, any night of the week, but especially Sundays because that was my boyfriend's day off. The food is always absolutely delicious, and it is brought out to you as it is ready, rather than waiting for everything to come up. The result is that you can eat constantly, and everything is piping hot and/or fresh. The Sunday night bartender is on point. Super friendly, always remembers my drink order, and is very prompt with every step of service. He is also friendly without being obtrusive, which is so important in a server or bartender.
(5)Linda S.
Uncle Bo's was recommended to me through one of the tour guides as one of the restaurants I should definitely check out. I made reservations and I am glad I did! It was packed in the evening and there was a long waiting line. As I entered the restaurant, I noticed that it was really loud. I told the hostess that my family and I would like to be seated in an area where we don't have to raise our voices to talk to each other. If that was going to be the case, I will give up my reservation to another party and go elsewhere. The hostess was very accommodating and was able to move other parties around to make sure I was seated in an area that works for my family. I am pleased by the great service from this restaurant. The entire staff was very friendly throughout dinner and my waitress was tentative. Every dish I had was flavorful and the portion was huge! For seafood lovers, I highly recommend the thai steamer clams for an appetizer (manila clams simmered in garlic chili oyster sauce) and the citrus butter lobster tail for dinner. The lobster tail was cooked to perfection! I had an awesome time. :) Thanks Uncle Bo!
(5)Tori K.
Been here a couple times and I love it. My girlfriend and I just order a few pupus and it's a lot for us! We love getting the boca rota and the mini Kalua pork sandwiches. We got the shrimp once too and it was so good! We love coming here on dates but if you want somewhere quieter make sure you make a reservation for the back tables or you'll be sitting near the bar where it is very loud. The service is great, good comes fast, and tastes great We are going to try the Haleiwa location next since it is closer to where we live
(5)Kim l.
Our shuttle driver recommended this place since it was walking distance from our condo. We made our way there for dinner around 6pm. I would have never given this place a second look just by the facade. It looks like a nightclub from the outside. We walked in and were pleasantly surprised by the spacious interior with interesting ceiling fans and decor. We were seated right away in a booth and ordered: -BOCA-ROTA garlic cheesy-bread, prime-rib strips, sautéed mushrooms, and mozzarella cheese: 3/5 the first three pieces were good, but it got too heavy and old fast. -UNCLE BO'S DYNAMITE SHRIMP wok-fried in garlic chili aioli, topped w/ parmesan panko crust: 3/5 reminded me of walnut shrimp minutes the walnut. The sauce was too heavy and overpowering. -S.O.S. Pan Roast w/ lobster & crab meat, clams, scallop & shrimp: 4/5 this was the best dish by far. The sauce was good and the seafood tasted fresh. Be sure to order white rice with it. Hubby ordered a beer and total came out to $60. Food is too heavy for my taste.
(3)Hanna P.
It's pupus for dinner! Definitely excited to try Uncle Bo's for dinner during my stay in Hawaii. I've booked marked this place for the longest time and finally had the opportunity to try it! During peak days and hours, reservations seem to be a must. Thankfully, we had reservations for the night so right when we arrived, we got seated to our table right away. The Food: They have a large menu which includes pupus or tapas/small plate style, or entrees ranging from seafood, pasta, and pizza. The menu was almost like a book! But, we decided to get all pupus for dinner so that way we can try a little bit of everything. Some things we ordered that night was the boca rota, chicken wings, Thai clams, dynamite shrimp, and ceviche. Everything was quite delicious! Definitely my faves were the boca rota and Thai clams!! The clams had such a great flavorful Thai style broth that you just want to slurp it down with a spoon! Boca rota was also a great selection as well. It was a mixture of steak and cheese with cheese bread. Super delicious. The Service: our waitress was awesome! She's the one who suggested a lot of the food we ordered and definitely didn't disappoint. She was super attentive with our drinks and had no problems with anything throughout the night. If you're in the Honolulu area, Uncle Bo's is a must try especially with pupus. A great little restaurant for your drinking and eating pleasure!
(4)Lori L.
We came to Uncle Bo's for pau hana pupus. The restaurant features a bar playing sports on TVs and two dinning rooms. The menu has pizzas, mussels, lamb, and prime rib. We ordered the Kalua Pig Nachos, $15, and Beet, Apple and Goat Cheese Salad, $13. Both had issues. The salad was lightly tossed in an oily vinaigrette that didn't have any flavor. We asked for more dressing but didn't end up using it because it was just more oil. The Nachos were confusing. The components, ham, kalua pig, tomatoes, onions, cheese and mushrooms sautéed in a sweet, BBQ, wine sauce weren't harmonious and there was so much liquid on the plate, we drained a cup out on to another dish to keep the won ton chips from getting soggy. If you do want to check this place out, the space is comfortable and good for a drink with friends, paid parking across the street, and they take reservations.
(1)Denise P.
My family and I have been going to Uncle Bo's for the past six or seven years for special occasions. Why is this my first review? Because whenever we go there, I forget to check in on Yelp and take pictures because I'm busy inhaling my food. Afterwards, the thought of writing a review is just too much because I am stuffed and just want to sleep. Yes, you're supposed to wait three to four hours after you eat before sleeping. However, if you're not ready to roll over and sleep after eating Uncle Bo's Succulent Rib Eye Steak with Garlic Mashed Potatoes and Sautéed Mixed Vegetables...then you most certainly will be drowsy after polishing off their Fudge Brownie Ala Mode. I made it a point to take a nice long nap before we went to Uncle Bo's and drank a Starbucks' venti Frappuccino to keep me wired. It worked! My honey and I both ordered the Garlic Rib Eye steak and our son ordered the Shrimp Pasta. For appetizers, we ordered the Spinach Artichoke Dip with Crispy Won Ton Chips and Escargots. The customer service, the DELICIOUS food, the overall time, and the prices - continue to be consistently outstanding. The only drawback is the one person bathroom. However, that has not deterred us from going there and it shouldn't deter you either. Cheers!
(5)Mary S.
I had really high hopes for the food here based on the majority of the yelp reviews. But here are some things to note. -the place may not look like much from the outside but it is beautifully decorated and upscale on the inside - we did not get there until 7:30 and it was packed on a Wednesday. A real local joint. We were able to score a seat at the bar and our bartender Reina was awesome!!!! The cocktails were great and they have a good selection of beer and wine. -they DO tow at the lot across the street I witnessed a guy walking out and having his car gone. The tow trucks are sitting in the lot waiting for your time to expire. We just walked the almost mile to get there. -now to the food. Hmmm. Like I said I had high hopes but I think I ordered the wrong dish. Everyone raved about the boca-rota and on paper it seemed great, but after 2 bites I could not eat any more. It was sooo rich! Reina was nice enough to take it off our bill. I think it a dish better shared. And it was good but there is no way I could tolerate the richness. My husband got the clams and enjoyed them. He said the best part was dunking the bread with butter in the broth afterwards. Try it! I will for sure go back and try a seafood dish. They had many great things to choose from.
(3)Tara F.
This is my first 5-star review! My friends and I walked in on a Friday around 5:45. We had 5 in our group and were not able to make a reservation because their phone system was down for the past couple of days. Three of us were waiting on two more to join our party. They were able to seat us but informed us that they would need the table back at 7:30. While we waited for our friends we ordered the Boca Rota. LET ME TELL YOU, if you eat here, you NEED to order this. NEED TO. It is so delicious I can't even explain! Two of the people in our party loved the Boca Rota so much, they got the Boca Rota Pizza for their entree, I got the SOS which was freaking delicious, pretty spicy, and FILLED with generous amounts of seafood. I think I had at least three large shrimp, theree large scallops and four or five clams, and there were lumps of lobster throughout my dish. It was SO good. Yes, I only tried two dishes but they were so delicious. I also tried the calamari which I thought was alright. the dipping sauce/soup that they gave with it was alright. Overall I def recommend the Boca Rota and the SOS. So delicious. Service was nice and friendly, even though they were crazy busy. The food took a little while to come out, but thats to be expected given how packed the place was. If you can, make a reservation.
(5)Jonathan C.
So I was there is February for the first time ever and it was freaking awesome!!! We ordered the braised beef cheeks, the rack of lamb, the fish of the day with shrimp, the thai style steamer clams, boca-rota garlic cheesy-bread and the wok fried calamari. So... they were all delicious!!! It was pretty busy as it was dinner time, but the service was great and I really liked the atmosphere. it was upbeat which I liked. It made me happy just being there. Probably because the food was so awesome. Definitely going back when I visit later this year.
(5)Johanna M.
I have been to Uncle Bo's on several occasions, mostly for birthdays and other events that require large groups. It's been a love/hate relationship with the service, but in terms of the food, everything is good. I've had a lot of different items from pasta to seafood to beef....they really have something for everyone. A lot of times, I notice the food is heavy and can knock you out for the rest of the night. Some of my favorite options: Boca rota is ono. Make sure to share this....it can be a heavy meal for just one person. Thai-style clams are delicious with their amazing sauce. Make sure to get some bread to soak up the sauce. Dynamite shrimp are crispy and salted deliciously. Nachos are bomb...seriously. They are heavy, but oh so ono. SOS is probably one of my faves. It is super rich...again, get some bread to soak up the sauce....so yummy! You really can't go wring with this menu. I actually have not tried any desserts because I am always so full from the pupus, but they look pretty good. They have a full bar, so no BYOB opportunities here, but their drinks are pretty good. I can attest to their lychee martinis...sometimes they have forgotten to put a lychee in there, but they'll bring some out in a cup if you remind them you're missing your lychee. Remember that this is a pupu bar...that means the dishes are meant for sharing...bring some friends and share some awesome pupus.
(4)Daniel Q.
Best place for pupus, dinner, drinks & service! Our favorite place in Hawaii!!! Their opening another location on the north shore soon.
(5)Bubba S.
The food here is great!!! It's very popular so it can be a wait to get seated. Parking can be tough but but its all good....I'll be going back here again soon
(4)Zaneth Y.
This place hands down has the best foods ever! If you're looking for a great chill spot for food and drinks! You might want to consider this place. Parking: usually have to pay and park across the street in the public parking section or if you don't want to pay there's always street parking. Atmosphere: there's a front bar and restaurant side and a back entree with more of the dining sides Outside of restaurant might not seem like much but inside is pretty nice. You can come in dressing casual to dressing up. I wouldn't recommend formal attire hahah Food: Hands down amazing!!! You pretty much can order EVERYTHING OFF THE MENU! But stick to the food items that have the heart icons. You will not be disappointed. Customer service: depending on your waitresses . Some of the girls can look stuck up and be no help at all and some are actually nice and very helpful. Overall I would always come back again! If you haven't tried this place already, you better put it on your list of places to eat!!
(4)Rob G.
I love Uncle Bo's. If I could give you a single piece of advice about this place, it would be to just go there. You can stop reading now and head on over. I know you will leave there full and happy. So if you are still reading, then that means you didn't believe me, or you just want more info we here you go... First let's start with parking. There is a pay lot right across the street or you can find ample street parking (free after 6pm on weeknights) Next I would always suggest putting in a reservation. You can usually call the same day and leave message on their machine and they will call you back around 4pm when they start to get ready to open at 5pm. If you are looking for a Friday or weekend reservation you should call a few days ahead. They take walk ins but that could lead to a bit of a wait. The loser to 5PM you get there the better your chances. Initially Uncle Bo's looks like a hole in the wall from the outside but once you enter, it is another story. There are a lot of tables in the front and back sections and a large bar with a display wall of alcohol bottles. Guinness, Stella, Bud Light, and Widmer are all on tap. They have a good mix of wines and cocktails as well. Now as far as food goes I can say that I have never been disappointed with any of the food I have ordered. Favorite appetizers: Thai-Style Steamer Clams, Dynamite Shrimp, Boca-Rota, , and the won ton Big Nachos. Main dishes: Baked Opah Mauna Kea, Crab Salad with Avocado, Rack of Lamb, S.O.S., and the Shrimp Pasta. Dessert: First and foremost the Warmed Fudge Brownie Ala Mode!!! The Green Tea Jubilee is also good if you are looking for something less sweet. If you have a group of 8 or more then you can ask for the all you can eat appetizer menu. For about $30 per person you get about 8 different appetizers like the ones mentioned above and a pizza or two. Its all bottomless. Once you run out of one you can ask for another. This is great if you have a gathering, holiday party, birthday, etc. You get to try a lot of the best apps on the menu and will leave full and beyond happy. Bottom line: Go eat here.
(5)Lucy R.
I usually always struggle with ordering food because of a garlic allergy BUT this place was able to accommodate SO AMAZINGLY! Lovely food! Went in a group of 5 which it gets a little busy. Wasn't waiting too long. Enjoyed the dim lighting and had good service.
(4)Zen Y.
I am writing this after my 7th time getting up from out of bed to vomit from food poisoning received from Uncle Bo's. After 4 hours of stomach pain, sweating, and vomiting, I am finally able to reflect on the destruction that Uncle Bo has caused my innerself (literally). But get this, back in 2014, I came to Uncle Bo's with my wife. I had the Sea Bass back then, and I got food poisoning that night too! 1 year later, thinking it was a fluke, we went to dinner there tonight... boom! It happened again, FOOD POISONING, from Shrimp Tacos... Yelp has 4 stars for this place, but if you look at other review sites, it is 1 star, and other patrons claim food poisoning too. So, its a cool atmosphere, but the product is unclean. Beware...
(1)Anthony C.
I can't speak about the food because we never actually ate there. I know that in restaurants when your a walk in your usually put at the bottom of the list behind the people that actually made reservations. This was certainly the case at this places. My biggest complaint would certainly have to be the hostesses that work the front. We were told it would be about 30 minutes at 6:45 but by 7:45 it was going to be another 30 to 45 minutes. The response from the girls at the front was for lack of a better word not polite. Besides the eye rolling and and total lack of professionalism they certainly did not really care whether I stayed or left. My recommendation is if you do not make a reservation for this place find somewhere else to go. I would not give my money to a place that employs staff like that. Especially he people who are the ones that set the tone for the whole evening.
(1)Vera B.
We drove by this place several times and wondered if it was any good. After reading the Yelp reviews and salivating over the food pictures we decided to try it out. This place has a great ambiance, delicious hand crafted drinks and food to satisfy any taste palate. We left full and satisfied. Will definitely come back if ever in Hawaii again.
(5)Everett H.
First off I want to say they "squeezed" us (party of 6) in at 730pm. Second the food was awesome and the portions was much bigger than anticipated so order accordingly! I got 3 appetizers and ended up taking half of two of them home. Third, the waitress was very friendly and attentive to our table. The noise level was a little high but you'd expect that in a bar and grill. I would highly recommend this place and would go back!
(5)Kelly S.
My favorite bar in Oahu!! One of my friends that recently moved to Oahu took us here for some drinks. It's a cute little place with good food and great atmosphere. We came around 9:30 on a Saturday night and there was a little bit of a wait. Luckily we made reservations and were seated right Coolest thing about this bar is their LED menus. My friends and I were so fascinated by it we almost thought It was a touch screen. Haha anyway, the first drink I ordered was two in the pink. Our server suggested it and it was a little too strong for my taste. Other drinks I tried were Sweet P and lycheetini and they were sooooo good. I hate the taste of alcohol but these drinks were on point!! As for the food, we only ordered the boca rota which was pretty good. I wanted to try other appetizers but everyone ate dinner before we got there. I'll have to try more food next time I visit Hawaii. Overall great place with tasty drinks and food. I'll definitely be visiting when I go to Hawaii!
(5)Dom A.
Love love love this place! Came here last minute before the rush & they were kind enough to sneak us in! Food was amazing as always! Love the dynamite shrimp, S.O.S., Boca Rota!
(5)Myrna H.
I would give them 5 but they didn't have enough space everything else was very nice .
(4)Jonathan Y.
Great food, nice and professional staff and out of their way service to come run my leftovers out to me outside after I forgot them on table. Thank for your aloha and ono grindz! I live on another island but will make it a point to go here again when I'm back on island!
(5)Maruel U.
The food was average - had the BBQ Kalua pig sliders on taro bun, the crab cakes and the greasy noodles. Just ordered pupus throughout the night but had tried the pasta's as well. The BBQ sliders weren't memorable. The crab cakes I enjoyed. And the greasy noodles weren't great. The pasta was also a bit dry. But I enjoyed the service and the work of our waiter and waitress who served a big party of 30.
(3)David F.
The first time I came here was in 2012. One of my friends that live out here took us to this place to eat. Parking is a bit of an issue because of where it's located. Luckily there's a parking lot across the street and we found a spot. The boca rota was good! The clams the were good as well. They provided bread that we dipped in the clam sauce and it was super good. My girl got a lychee martini that was nice and strong. This is one of the places I will make sure I hit up when I'm visiting hawaii.
(4)Alviesan T.
There was 10 of us and we got full just overs a variety of appetizers. We didn't even get to order main courses. The food is definitely worth the drive from the west side. I gave them a 5 star because in addition to the quality of the food, service was excellent. Our male server made sure we were comfortable and served everything in a timely manner- very accommodating and kind. I recommend making reservations ahead of time. The ten of us just walked right in to our big table, no wait:)
(5)Mike A.
Definitely worth the wait. Amazing cocktail and beer selection, phenomenal appetizers, and the fish tacos are kickass. Try the Beef Tongue skewers and their Mai Tai!
(5)sam c.
We love this place, they have a great sea food and great customer service, We were in vacation for one week and we had dinner twice in this place we just love it. make sure you make reservation before you go there, or if you have time at least one hour wait.
(5)Natalie S.
Uncle Bo's Never Disappoints!! I get the Dynamite Shrimp and Lichee Martini every time- every time it's amazing!!! Service is always fantastic and it's always a great start to a fun night out!!!
(5)Jacqueline T.
So far, one of my favorite places to eat in Oahu! :D YAY FOR PUPU!!! What is Pupu? it means small dishes/appies :D Was lucky enough to be invited for a wedding rehearsal gathering at Bo's. And what did they order? Just endless amounts of Pupu dishes! and NONEEEEE of them disappointed me. Each dish, each bite, was just bursting with flavors. Cooked well, and was super juicy. There were two items that were similar to each other.. but no complaints. Everything else.. was very different. I was so glad I was able to try an array of dishes. Will definitely be coming back. For more pupus!! and probably some main courses too this time XD Sorry no picutres. Didn't want to disrupt the flow of the wedding rehearsal gathering! My only fall back was.. parking was just a whee bit difficult to find. But you can park across the street for $2 an hour :)
(4)Lori E.
We were referred to Uncle Bo's by our Uber driver as we drove by. He said it was local favorite not to be missed. Though the outside left us wondering if we would want to eat there. However we decided to try it after reading the yelp reviews. We walked from the Hyatt Regency to Uncle Bos, about a 25 minute walk. The line was out the door, and the wait was 40 minutes. We decided it would probably be worth the wait, so wait we did! Inside---people young and old, tourists and locals a like. A good selection on the menu. I started with the Fried Rice Appetizer which was made with Kalua pig, delicious! For my entre I choose the SOS-- a seafood chowder, stew, soup ( that's how they refer to it). OMG! It had a little bit of a kick to it but it was OuTrAgEoUsLy delicious! I am hooked! I will return here on my next visit to try something else from the menu. Don't miss my favorite, new dinner spot!
(5)Elaine C.
Went to the new Haleiwa location on opening night. Was nervous the service would be slow and that our order would somehow be wrong. Was pleasantly surprised to be wrong on both fronts. The staff was exceptionally attentive and our food came out so quickly that our dinner conversation was cut short, but we were totally ok with that. As a note for parents... The keiki plates are HUGE! Might want to order one and have kids split it because the servings were large enough for an adult. Highly recommend the dynamite shrimp!
(5)Cindy N.
Good food, good meat, good god lets eat! Love this place! We ordered the six little piggies, opah piccata and the Boca Rota pizza. They were all delicious! My recommendation would be the Boca Rota pizza. It's a large pizza topped with lots of prime rib and garlic cheese. They really don't hold back on the toppings. It's absolutely delicious!
(5)Wendy D.
Once again Uncle Bo's has exceeded my expectations!!! The staff was amazing tonight and the food was just Amazing!!! Because it was crowded we didn't get the best seats, but lucky for us we know how to make the best of it. Mahalos for making my sister's visit one to remember.
(5)Rainy L.
We went there on a Monday night. Called ahead for reservation but the person answered the phone wouldn't take one; she said "there's too many for two at that time (7pm) already, so just walk in". Hmm weird. That's the first time ever I've heard something like that. But no big deal, we sat ourselves at the bar. Ordered some drinks, my lynceetini was quite strong. I guess that's a good thing. Saw so many reviews on here about boca rota, was not a disappointment at all. Of course; cheese and creamy beef sauce. What can go wrong with that. Braised beef with pasta of the day was my dinner, it was yummy. I just hoped the side veggie that came with it would cooked a little longer cause I'm not a fan of almost raw carrots. Another person got a rack of lamb with pasta on the side. Overall; this is a good place for good food and to hang out. It was busy even on a monday night or maybe cause it was a holiday. The portion was big and the price wasn't too bad. I would recommend for you to try!
(4)lucy t.
Uncle Bo's is pretty awesome, my favorite dishes are the calamari and seafood trap....mmmmm...num nums! Great for work dinners, family dinner, date night.. All in all a great spot.
(4)Coreen L.
A hidden little gem of deliciousness in the heart of Kapahulu! The menu at Uncle Bo's has a huge variety that's sure to meet the needs of your party. I've been here a couple times and it seems to be crowded all the time - so mentally prepare and do yourself a favor, make a reservation. The staff here are ON IT all the way through - from reservations, arriving being seated and throughout the service. And the food arrives fast and furious, so pace yourselves if you are planning to order a bunch of stuff. We didn't do a good job pacing ourselves, so all our food seemed to arrive at the same time -- salads, appetizers and such that we intended to share but made the table crazy and chaotic! But it was all so yummy, we didn't care! Our hit list included: Boca-Rota, Dynamite Shrimp, Bo's Big Nachos, Spicy Tuna Wraps, Hamachi Sashimi, Warm Spinach Salad, and Garlic Rib-Eye -- ohhh...la, la -- don't forget dessert too! We had beignets which were delicious! Drinks were merry and fine as was the service (cant' say enough about the service given the chaotic environment)
(4)Nakita C.
I honestly don't know anything on the menu other than the clams. Every time I come here I always get the Thai clams with extra bread. The broth is amazing. I just soak the bread in that broth and enjoy. The caveat- the clams usually have that grittiness when they still have sand in them. So I usually eat one or two and if they're fine that night I eat the clams (and don't need the extra bread). However if I have one or two and they're gritty I just don't eat them. I guess it's weird to order something just for the broth but hey, it's that good.
(4)Julie D.
I was looking for a "local" Resturant to get away from the tourist feel, and this was perfect! At first glance, the Resturant looks small, but as we were seated, there was a whole back section to the Resturant that wasn't visible. The server was formal, and extremely polite! On the menu, we got ceviche for the appetizer, and lamb as well as sea bass. The ceviche and sea bass was flavorful and original. The seasonings are one of a kind, and the fish was extremely fresh. The lamb was cooked well, however I do have to say, I felt like the "gravy" on it was salty and heavy. For the dessert, taro beignets were to die for! This is also an original dish that I haven't seen elsewhere, so I highly recommend! The service was excellent, as well as the food. It should have been more obvious that seafood should be more specialized on versus lamb, but I would absolutely recommend eating here!
(4)Mich S.
Had to try this place out from other yelpers reviews. I must say this place is awesomeness! We gotten lucky for their was a reservation opening on a Saturday which is prime at 7pm. Our server was super sweet! She made us very comfortable and suggested foods Uncle Bo's signature dishes. So we ordered all appetizers and our drinks. The food didn't take long to come out. Their oyster shooters oh so yummy! All the appetizers are delicious! Their desserts are yummylicious! The atmosphere are cool and cozy, they play music to make you shrug your shoulders and do a happy dance as you eat & drink the night away. The owner came by every table and meet & greet each guests. That made our night experience special! All the staffs are super friendly and helpful. Parking is located across the street. Make sure to stop by the parking machine to pay or else a tow truck comes by every hour to check every car. Please call to make reservations for people do wait an hour. For this place is super busy! We definitely will be coming back again!
(5)Maggie N.
No happy hour, only four draft selections. Bartender ( one if them) busy with "regular". Rice dish was tasty, chicken not so much. Serious problem with music system. Dance music? Too soft then too loud then too soft. Friday @6pm should have A game. Sports channel on but no closed captions.
(3)Kissie D.
Oh my! So good! Great service! Had the Boca Rota. Amazing! Mai Tais are good and strong not too sweet. Had the special. White fish scallops and shrimp. So good! Of course our waitress was adorable and her service was awesome! Crowded so do t be in a hurry. We will be back!
(5)Nicole M.
Wow!! Had dinner here a few hours ago, luckily it was only the Mr. and I only - so we got seated fast - couple seconds wait! Servicenis nice and efficient - you can tell the waitress was busy and the restaurant was packed; but she gave us our drinks fast and checked to see if we knew what we wanted to order and also checked a few times to make sure we were ok.! Ordered the Boca rota and the dynamite shrimp. 5 stars for the Boca rota and 3 stars for the dynamite shrimp!! Damn that Boca rota!! I know it's just garlic cheese bread - but what makes it good is that mushrooms and sauce with PRIME RIB!! Damn!! The mr. Was so impressed about it! He said it was one of the best things he ate --In Hawaii! Dynamite shrimp was ok- I've had better but glad portions are pretty big so you get your money's worth! For two people that was more that enough- we had to takeway. Place is pretty trendy- lots of TVs which may be good for a good spot to watch a sports game. Would def come back if I was in the area!
(4)Kimberly A.
Oh. My. Stars. My new husband (honeymoon in Hawaii, woo!) and I roll in to Honolulu starving, get picked up by college buddy Jason, who immediately takes us to Uncle Bo's. We paid for parking and Jason says, "It's worth it." I look at the outside of the building, and, dude could use a makeover. Jason says, "Just wait." The hostess says it will be about 45 minutes (turned out to be an hour, on a Monday at around 630pm). I've got a one way ticket to hangrytown and don't want to ruin the reunion with impending tears or bursts of rage so I calmly assert that I need a mothaf*uckin snack. Jason implores me to wait. Lots of buildup. High capacity for disappointment and regret at a missed snack opportunity. Well, THIS PLACE IS MONEY. You get inside and you're like, "Say whaaaat?" It's like an ugly person with a fabulous personality. Jason orders us Kalua Pork Fried Rice, Six Little Piggies, Crab Cakes, Boca Rota, and some beers. I entered a blissful state. I realized halfway through that I was enjoying Jason's stories about getting with chicks way more than I normally would because I was just SO HAPPY. The service was cool, I don't know, I would be willing to french kiss anyone who brought me this caliber of deliciousness. With every bite my husband and I exclaimed, "This is the best thing I've ever eaten." You can't go wrong. It doesn't matter what you get, it's all made with an imaginative passion for food and all of its potential. I love you Uncle Bo.
(5)Cy K.
I celebrated my birthday here on a Sunday night. My friend suggested we try this place since she thought it was good. -Making reservations were easy. I called and the person who answered said "Bo" I think that's what she said? Anyway, I made a reservation for a large party and she kindly explained to me that for a party this big (15 people) they DO NOT split the checks and suggested that everyone pay cash, OR if everyone pays by debit/credit card they need to all pay the same amount. (I thought that was a lil weird) But it was no problem. She also said that we have a 2 hour limit, and that they need a credit card to hold the reservation. ?(that was a first to me) -Atmosphere was kinda strange. There were chains hanging from the ceiling in the main part of the restaurant, . I thought we were in a strip club for a second. LOL! We sat in the back area where they hold larger groups. There were nice paintings on the wall, with little lighting except for the sun beaming at our faces for a while. It was nice, but a little hot. There was no music playing up until we were leaving. -Service was really good. Our waitress was very attentive to all our 20 guests. she made sure everyone got what we all needed. At the end I got a little brownie sundae which was very unexpected and awesome! -Food was okay. A lot of my friends didn't really care for the food. Most of them had the opakapaka. I on the other hand LOVED my pasta. I got the blackened chicken pasta I believe. It was very creamy and garlicy with a little spice. My husband had the rib eye which was really tender and juicy but a bit salty, He enjoyed it! -Parking is across the street and is $4.00 for 4 hours (sorry if im wrong) You MUST watch the time because I heard they are very strict and they will tow! Also, be careful and lock up because there are people hanging around the parking lot.
(3)Loni D.
Good stop for pupus and drinks! Got the oyster shooters (good), crispy pork belly (meh), and nut wraps (yum!). Almost didn't order the nut wraps bc they didn't sound too exciting... But they ended up being the stand out dish! The kind of lettuce they use is really special, kind of soft and puffy(?). A nice, refreshing snack. Doesn't taste like your eating nuts and lettuce:) I'd skip the pork belly tho, small serving and the texture wasn't as good as other pork belly I've had, could've just been my serving tho. There were plenty other exciting things in the menu I'd like to try!
(4)Ernest P.
This was my 7th and probably last time visiting this establishment. My first time was June 2014. I found the food to be outstanding along with the service.. So, we decided to visit once a month... As time went on, I noticed the quality of food was declining (taste and appearance). I give this establishment 1 star because of the customer service. You see, the owner, uncle Bo walks around the restaurant quite frequently and mingles with quests. However, every time he passes my table, he turns the opposite direction and doesn't even acknowledge. It's unfortunate that he has this negative bigotry towards me and my company. However, I will find another establishment to spend my money in. Want OUTSTANDING Asian fusion and 5 Star service? Go to The Lucky Belly or The Pig and The Lady!!
(1)Gigi K.
I am not a picky eater and I don't normally do reviews but this place was disgusting. My family had to get another dinner after because we didn't want to eat our food. They couldn't even make something as simple as mashed potatoes. In the middle of our dinner it turned into a "night club". You couldn't see your food or hear anyone at your table over the obnoxious music playing. One of the worst eating experiences I've had. More like poo poo bar
(1)Ken W.
If you're a couple or a foursome you can ignore the references to large groups and loud noise. You're going to be seated in the front room which has an upscale look and, while not quiet or romantic, certainly allows conversation. But you didn't come here for ambience. Food and service are both very good. Some strategic planning is required before you order, though, especially if you're in a hotel without a refrigerator for leftovers. Both of us have very healthy appetites but we could not finish three pupus: Boca-Rota, pork belly sliders, and shaken chicken. Companion is not a seafood fan, unfortunately, because those clams looked amazing. The chicken was a bit salty, other two dishes tasty and complex. Enjoyed meeting people on either side - Japan on the right; Scotland on the left. Lots of sharing across tables. The basil-chicken pasta from the Japanese table was especially good. Bill for two with tip and one one drink each was under $80. Great deal! Note: No bread or water unless you ask. One check per table.
(4)Tiffany P.
What a hidden gem! It was recommended to us by a local and it didn't disappoint. The inside is nothing like it appears on the outside. GREAT food, GREAT atmosphere, GREAT bar and wait staff; super informative and super nice. John, the bartender, is fantastic! Always willing to offer great suggestions on food and drinks.
(5)Cheryl C.
The Boca Rota was amazing! The rest of the food we ordered was good except the oyster rockefeller. They should remove that item from the menu. Seriously bad. Other than that I was happy. Service was a bit slow, but it was a little busy and the server was very friendly so it didn't bother me too much. Will definitely be back for the Boca Rota.
(4)René M.
Highly recommended! Love the ambiance. Good music. Lighting is dim. There's a bar area to hang out at and the staff are very friendly. We shared a couple of pupus. The Prime Roast Sliders (on taro bread buns), sesame scallops, walnut shrimp wraps, and the Boca Rota are all good. My favorite out of the four would be the Boca Rota! You have to try this. It is amazing. I have had better scallops but the sauce and mushrooms it comes with are good with bread. A must try! Food, service and atmosphere are great!
(5)Tom M.
This place was recommended by a hotel bartender several months ago, and we finally gave it try. Definitely a local find, with a friendly staff and fun food. While the food is a bit uneven, we liked what we ordered, and our drinks were really good. Bo's menu may try too hard to please too many people at once with their wide variety of items, but we liked our selections. It's not much to look at from the outside, so the modern interior is surprising. It is casual enough to feel comfortable, nice enough for a date, authentic enough to be hip. Everyone raves about Happy Hour, and we enjoyed it, too. The wine list is not exactly inspired, but the cocktails were very good and the bartenders aim to please. Above all, we enjoyed the many (local) people we talked to. It may not be the most sophisticated place in town, but we loved experiencing something unique.
(4)Richard M.
Great local spot.
(5)Jodi L.
Appetizers were outstanding. Oyster shooters. Artichoke dip. Ceviche. Potato spring rolls. Garlic shrimp. Hawaiiian pig roast pizza. All excellent and generous portions. Table of 6. Our mistake ordering chicken parm there. Steak pizza was ugh too. Greasy. But go for the apps. Fresh and delicious!
(4)Mary Ann B.
Ordered to go: Must have: Crab cakes Thai clams Boca rota Just okay: Crispy Pork belly This is for take out. Food is pretty good but damn the Thai clams are a must get item! Like lemme drank that sauce with a straw slurp slurp. Lemme get to my other fave the boca rota had my faves in it: prime rib, creamy sauce, mushroom, and cheesy bread. Like damn Gina whoever came up with that I need to high five cause I could not get enough of it. I wish I was back there right now just to stuff my face.
(4)Nikki H.
My first time here on Friday night with a fabulous group of ladies! There were 6 of us dining this night and so we all ordered something off the menu that we wanted to try and then shared it. I love doing family style because it relieves me of having to order something I don't like, and I usually want to try what everyone else has. I love a get together with my friends, we always have a fantastic time when we go out, so my night out here was still fun. I just think that the food could have been better all around. WARNING: DO NOT ORDER ICED TEA TO DRINK. THEY BRING YOU NASTY INSTANT TEA! MAJOR FAIL!!! We ordered: Hamachi Sashimi - which was okay, but SUPER small portions. You basically get a nibble. Not a great plate to get on your own. The Pork Butt - Again, small portions, only okay for one piece and wouldn't fill you up on your own. The Beet Salad - PROBABLY my favorite..and since this is a pupu place, that's sorta sad. The Pig Fried Rice - delicious. Spicy Uncle Bos Dynamite Shrimp - The other favorite. LOTS on the plate, great for sharing or having on it's own. Boca-rota - I wasn't impressed with this. I honestly don't believe that was prime rib, and not sure what it was, but it was referred to as tasting "boiled" at the table and I agreed. Meh. The service was great, but the restaurant was loud as shit. There seemed to be 4 Bday parties going on & a bachlorette party as well. So, if you have a hard time hearing, you're screwed. Also, I think they wax the concrete floors, so if you're in heels please be careful.
(3)Lisa W.
To our stomachs, we apologize for not coming here sooner!! We've been coming to Oahu once every 6 years now and have passed Uncle Bo's. It was recommended to us the first year we were here.... This year it was recommended again, we went in... OMG!! The clams.... Yummmmmmmmmmmmmmm!!!!!! Had the beet salad, then unfortunately got full. Had to feed my dessert stomach the Oreo Haupia Mud Pie though. Ohhhh, the coconut flavored ice cream, nom nom nom! Thank You Uncle Bo!!! We will be back!!!!!
(5)Tash M.
Uncle Bo's is usually a name that comes up when thinking of places to eat (live around the area.) My bf hadn't eaten here before so I decided to take him here. I've come before with friends and I'll break it down into 3 sections: 1) Some things I'd stay away from are: * French onion soup: SUPER salty. That's all you taste...lacks the traditional look/taste. * Pizza: 3 times I've gone here the crust is burnt. And very dry. 2) Some things I'm iffy about: * Spinach artichoke dip-there is pesto or something herbal in there I didn't care for. * Boca rota- sorry, guys but this was not that great to me: it's soft, cheesy garlic bread sitting atop some white sauce with small bits of steak. Flavors didn't mesh well for me (confusing) and it was hard to eat. There was a lot though! *Music is a little loud for such a small place. *Parking. Across the street. Min $2.00 which warrants 2 hours. 3) Some things I like: * The thai clams/broth was tasty. * Though the pesto taste in the spinach artichoke dip was overwhelming, I like how it came with won ton chips. * Service is usually prompt and the girls are smiling and nice. * Their menus light up! Trendy inside; outside is misleading.
(3)Kehau C.
I've only been here once. I'm not a seafood girl so I went with the greasy noodles. "Greasy" to be emphasized. It was okay. Thought the portion size could have been a bit bigger. The atmosphere? Very loud. Again, I emphasize "Loud". I appreciated them seating me in the back of the restaurant which is obviously where they seat their local customers. However, they did not pay attention to me and my bf rather to the larger parties. We had to ask for water and honestly if your water is low it should automatically be refilled. It was an okay restaurant, but I'm not into the loud atmosphere and unacceptable service. Also, I believe they should offer more choices of food for those who are not seafood lovers.
(3)Patricia L.
It was our last night in Oahu before heading back to the mainland. My boyfriend and I started up looking for places to go to eat and drink. We ventured out from Waimanalo to Uncle Bo's, and we were not disappointed. The portions here are huge, so don't mind the prices of the dishes. They're definitely meant to share, and I can see it being a perfect place for a birthday dinner of some sort. My boyfriend and I decided to go all out and order everything we wanted. First off, I ordered the pear paradise cocktail which was made w9ith pear vodka, housemade pear lemonade, and cucumbers. It was very refreshing! Here's my theory about the menu. They give one star for Bohana's favorites and two stars for diners' favorites. All the food we ordered had either one or two stars. The thing is, we enjoyed the food with one star more than two stars. So in conclusion, I prefer the food that are the chef's favorites rather than the diners' favorites. The diners' favorites were too heavy for my taste, and more one-dimensional in flavor. That being said, the food was generally delicious! One Star Dishes: - Bo's Big Nachos: Came with kalua pork, ham, mushrooms, onions, tomatoes, mozzarella, and hoisin sauce. They were served with sour cream and salsa on the side, both providing some freshness and bite to a heavier dish. We also added avocados to them as well. But the best part is that the chips are fried wontons. THEY ARE THE BOMB. The kalua pork was delicious and flavorful. Kyle and I aren't huge fans of ham, so in our opinion that could have been omitted from the dish. All in all, it was one of my favorites that night. - Black sesame scallops: This was the smallest portion of them all, but they were delicious! The sauce it came with was mushroomy and delicious. We kept scraping at the dish even after all the scallops were gone. Two Star Dishes: - Boca Rota: Everyone raved about this on Yelp, and it did have two stars... But honestly I could have done without it. It's a cheesy garlic bread dish served with mushrooms, mozzarella, and prime rib. It's not bad, but it's too heavy, and one-dimensional. It's something that I might find at a BJ's type of restaurant. - Spicy Baked Opah Mauna Kea: This one had fresh island fish and was baked in a garlic chili aioli and topped with a parmesan crust. It's served with fried garlic shrimp. The shrimp was delicious. The fish itself was way too heavy. The "garlic chili aioli" wasn't spicy at all and just tasted like mayonnaise. It was underwhelming. There's always room for desserts! Even after the feast (we packed some of it up to-go too)... we had to try the dessert. Why? Because the menu said "taro beignets." Okay 1. I love taro and ube everything. 2. After our trip to New Orleans, we love trying beignets. So of course, we ordered them. AND WE WERE NOT DISAPPOINTED. I'll come back for this alone, if I have to. The beignets were purplish from the taro, and they were still light and fluffy, like a proper beignet should be. They were sprinkled with powdered sugar, which was melting because the beignets were so hot and fresh out of the fryer. The beignets are served with vanilla ice cream and a coconut syrup. It was just phenomenal. I didn't want myself to get full so I could eat more. Honestly the spicy baked opah dish made me want to give this place a 4, because I felt that it doesn't deserve any more stars... But the taro beignets just made it a 4.5, and because I loved it so much, I'll round it up to a 5! It's just THAT good!
(5)Kurt K.
Totally awesome. We were told about this place by our waiter at our hotel. Man did he hit it right. The pork sliders great. Ahi huge portion, spicy though. The Boca Roto is crazy good. Humus was delicious and the home made pita slices were warm and delicious. We took half the portions home. Pick out four order two and you will be full. Make a reservation on the weekend. We got a table but had to be finished by a time. Good came out fast and tasted great.
(5)Brandy W.
Please don't kill me for my unpopular review! Another month and it's another meals on heels evening. My girlfriends and I decided to try the famous Uncle Bo's Pupu Bar & Grill. I have heard stories about this place since I first moved here. It probably was even the first restaurant recommended to me. Our group of six made our reservation over a week in advance, but I was still disappointed to find our table in the back of the restaurant, where it seemed to be the loudest. As we filtered in, our table decided on sharing a variety of pupu's. We ordered hamachi sushi, kalua pork fried rice, boca rota, dynamite shrimp, pork belly, and beet salad. The hamachi sushi was a very tender slice of fish, but we all only had one bite to share our table of 6. Be prepared to order at least 2 servings. The kalua pork fried rice seemed to be a hit with out table, but I didn't see a huge difference from normal fried rice. I was the MOST disappointed with the boca rota. The steak tasted poached more than grilled, which zapped all flavor from the beef. I preferred to eat the bread without the steak (serves me right for violating No Meat Fridays during lent!) I barely remember the pork belly, but I do remember the beet salad being delicious. I do not like beets, but I could easily avoid them with the rest of the salad. My favorite was the dynamite shrimp, which seemed to be a page from the chinese restaurant (honey walnut shrimp I believe). Parking is not as difficult as everyone makes it out to be. Park in the lot across the street and ask someone to explain how to pay with the machine. I was surprised that most of my friends easily found parking on the street.
(3)Kate M.
Get here at 5:00, or be prepared to wait while your stomach growls and your lip wobbles with sadness. The pupus here are fantastic, and the portions are perfect for sharing. The clams are served in a broth that can only be described as ethereal; the beef tongue is cooked to perfection; the seafood trap is flavorful and comes in a bowl that almost overflows; the hamachi sashimi is cut perfectly, complemented with jalapeños and served with perfectly crispy nori and sticky sticky rice...I could go on and on about the expert execution of this menu, but you should just go, because you won't regret it. It doesn't look like much from the outside, but inside is a modern, busy restaurant with attentive waitstaff, a great selection of food, and a very comfortable ambience. Make sure that you try the taro beignets after you've tried all the pupus you can, they should not be missed, and they are so good you might just dream about them.
(5)Joanna H.
Had the most delicious meat lovers pizza. My husband has some ahi tuna pupu and he loved it. There was a 15 minute wait for a table so we sat at the bar instead. Bar tenders were pretty busy but food was Yum!
(5)Elizabeth L.
Chic lounge for locals, does large groups well. Great vibe and cute decor. Loved the Thai basil chili clams - super fresh and tasty. Dynamite shrimp was also tasty, lightly dusted and not overly salty. The Boca Rota (prime rib in a mushroom cream sauce, served with toasted garlic bread slices) was tasty but a bit too heavy for our tastes. Fried ice cream was a disaster - literally had to carve it b/c the batter was too thick (thus cold) and ice cream was frozen solid. Recommend Uncle Bo's.
(4)Marlon T.
The first thing they will ask you after you sit down is if you parked across the street in the private parking lot where the rules are very stringently enforced--if you're parked 1 second longer than you've paid for, your car will get towed. Basically, avoid parking across the street at all costs! Anyway, we went with the popular dishes like the Dynamite Shrimp and the Boca Rota. Everything was very flavorful good. I recommend these two items plus more if you're in a quality well-presented food mood. Furthermore, you can't come in here and not notice the trendy atmosphere as well as the certain look-standard for all the servers (you'll see). I like how this place is open until 1AM. It seems like a lot of people celebrate birthdays or whatever here so if you want to come in a large party, be sure to make a reservation. I sort of would only recommend coming here if you're really hungry and it's an occasion because their product is not cheap and it's definitely better to sit-in even though you can order take-out (for foodies, the presentation can enhance the enjoyment of the meal).
(4)Noelani C.
The food is AMAZING! We had the Thai Style Steamer Clas and Oyster Shooters to start. These are an absolute MUST! The sauce that the clams are in is PHENOMENAL! We ordered a batch to-go after we were done! I ordered the Opah Piccatta which was INCREDIBLE! The Opah was cooked PERFECTLY, and the pasta and piccatta sauce was DELICIOUS! My husband order Braised Beef Cheek. This is the 2nd time ordering this dish and he was not disappointed! The beef is so TENDER and FLAVORFUL! For dessert we ordered the Hobos, a basket of warm taro beignets served w/ 1 scoop of vanilla ice cream and vanilla creme anglaise. These beignets are OVER THE TOP! The space is small and loud if it's busy but the food is TOTALLY WORTH IT! Our waitress was super sweet & very attentive. Mahalo for a FABULOUS dining experience!
(5)Aj M.
Meh. Food was mediocre at best. It tried really hard at being gourmet or whatever but didn't hit the mark in all cases. I was with a big party and we literally ordered about everything on the menu and it was all just ok, but flavor was not right on most everything.
(3)Deano G.
Words cannot express how much I love this place. The food, the decor, the service are all top notch. Do yourself a favor and go... and go hungry. Order a few pupu's and if you're still hungry when your done, order more. I liked the clams, others in my party didn't love clams. The fried rice was almost the best I've ever had. The UNCLE BO'S DYNAMITE SHRIMP were out of this works (especially when you add them to the fried rice! The BOCA-ROTA was incredible and should be served as a main course... Please do yourself a favor and go.... It's the first of second stop we will make on our next visit right before/after the noodle house.
(5)Judy And Joe N.
I've visited this establishment twice now. I didn't remember my first visit much, so agreed to trying it again. I think that considering both the prices and the quality of food, they are overpriced. Our table ordered dynamite shrimp (the best dish of the night), crab cakes (too sweet, too much sauce, too much breading), steamed clams were good, crab legs were good, the prime rib was overcooked, and chicken marsala pasta was just ok. Cocktails are about $10 each, but they are generous with the amount of alcohol. Service here was also very friendly. Attentive, but not annoying.
(3)Susan C.
We came to Uncle Bo's for the first time a few years ago on a friends recommendation and have been coming back and bringing friends who visit Oahu every chance we get. The food is always delicious and we never mind waiting for a table because we know it's worth the wait.
(5)Pamela S.
Tonight was awesome. I was part of a party of 22 and we did the pre fix pupu menu ( min of ten people) and oh my gosh... Yum! We tasted about 10 different pupus and its all you can eat for $27. I almost never came back here because the service was so terrible about five years ago, but today was a different story. Our waitress, Tiffany was so great. My only complaint is that it is really loud and crowded but you kind of get used to it as your dinner goes on. (Probably not a great place for kids.)
(5)Millie H.
We came here for my oldest sons birthday last night. I had such an easy time making a phone reservations for such a short notice, upon greeting the hostess were very gracious and nice. Our waiter was off the hook though! He was sooo on it... We had to feed a bunch of hungry teenagers so with me trying to hold my composure, get them some appetizers to put some food in their mouth n get the night going. Our waiter was awesome! He kept the food coming, he was very observant of when we needed something and the last treat. Having my 19 year old still smile as they sang him happy birthday ... Totally unexpected for him. But, all in all the 6 kids n 2 adults loved the onolicious food and of course, well I love their food! Sooo Ono! Great customer service
(5)Cheri L.
LOVE the food here and the atmosphere is casual and upbeat. Staff is friendly and service is GREAT! One of my favorite places! You gotta try the Boca-Rota and Thai Steamer Clams! The Crab salad is delish, too! We also got treated to a free desert when we came here for a birthday! Uncle Bo and Ho Suk (the owners) are THE BEST!
(5)Laurabeth M.
This place sure is interesting... I love it and yet I'm not excited to come back. Food: 4.5/5 - Seared Ahi: (4/5) Nothing real special about this one. I would've rather have had anything else, but the world supposedly doesn't revolve around me alone. - Boca Rota: (5/5) For those who don't give a dang about carb loading covered in cheese and steak grease, this is the best thing that will ever be in your mouth. The combination of consistencies from mushrooms, steak, perfectly heated cheesy bread is just mindblowing. **Also, if your focus is on drinking, as mine always is, the Boca Rota is the perfect dish to feed two people. No entree or side pupus necessary. House Riesling: I should've made a note of what this was, because it was absolutely divine. Normally you order a house win and it's some Robert Mondavi blend you have at home, but this was excellent. Service: 4/5 Our server was really sweet, and actually paid attention to my birthday, which is a day before hers. I was a little put off by the tight, low-cut red spaghetti straps and short shorts of all the wait staff. I'm not sure how my man keeps his eyes on me, because mine were certainly on them. Call it envy. Despite being sweet and eyecatching, she had great sales tactics and perfect check-back times. She knew when to ask if we'd like another, made good eye contact, asked if we'd like to start on entree orders when clearly we were just in it for pupus and cocktails. No real pressure though, which I appreciated. Ambiance: 4/5 If you've ever been here, you gotta feel me that weaving between those hanging grouped up chains is sooo tempting. The lighting is great, the décor is lovely. I think they did the best they could with the layout, even if I did get bumped into a few times on my way to and from the restroom. My Fun Story: When you walk into a restaurant and hold up two fingers to indicate two people, I feel like it should go without saying that you don't have a reservation. The place was empty and the manager asked us if we had a reservation, to which (to my poor, hunger-induced judgment), I replied "Of course not. If we had a reservation, I would've given you our names, wouldn't I?" I realize now that was terribly rude, but the hostess thought it was hilarious. +1 for good sense of humor.
(4)Kat O.
-Cajun seared Tuna is A+ Good portion, quality and service - Steamed sea bass with steamed bokchoy and rice came - not that great. Didn't care for the rice or the Bokchoy. - Grilled beef tongue - nah, - Greasy noodle - too salty but great noodle.
(2)Mike B.
Very cool place, awesome looking bar and decor inside. I had the braised beef here which was amazing, I was really surprised at the size of the portion I got. I could not even finish all of the food, I was expecting a smaller dish, but the food was great. I kept trying to it all. My only complaint was both the bottles of beer I ordered were not the coldest. They seemed a little warm, perhaps the cooler they were in was messed up? Other than that everything was great and the staff was very friendly. I will definitely be coming back.
(4)Joe L.
By using one word to describe this little gem I choose "Wow". This is a local favorite off the main drag in Waikiki and I was really blown away by the food. We started with the Dynamite Shrimp which yes was dynamite. I loved the aioli sauce they used and the panko breading which wasn't too crispy/crunchy. For my entree I ordered the Baked Opah. This is a 10 out of 10 seafood dish. The Opah was so fresh and had amazing flavor & texture. I also loved the steamed vegetables they had with it. The person I was with had the S-O-S which I had a few bites of and also was extremely impressed by. My hats off to the chef. This guy knows how to make a meal and impress customers. The manager brought us their "Hobos" dessert which I went nuts over. This is kind of a taro / malasadas dessert with ice cream. This was a perfect ending to the meal because it wasn't overly sweet but still a great dessert. The service was very good too. The waitresses were very helpful with the menu, very attentive to the table and genuinely kind girls. I 100% recommend this restaurant to anyone that visits Oahu. It will be the first place I go to on my next visit. I will probably make it back to Uncle Bo's before the end of my business trip.
(5)Felix P.
If I were in Honolulu for four days I would eat here at least two of them. Bartender makes amazing drinks Wait staff is super friendly Food is amazing...what more is there?
(5)Stefan L.
At first I thought the prices were a bit high, considering the location and decor, but when I saw the portion size I did a complete 180. Add to that excellent service and very tasty food and you've got a winner. We were a party of 6, sharing a bunch of different dishes and loved all of them. I was really amazed how fast we got our food - it can't have taken more than 15 minutes! If I lived in Honolulu, I would be a regular!
(4)Kori H.
Uncle Bo's is highly recommended. I've never been disappointed in service or food quality. I always get the seafood ceviche and walnut shrimp wrap to start, so yummy and enough to share with 2-3 people. Uncle Bo's fish tacos are one of my favorite items, juicy and filling. I've probably had majority of the plates on the menu and can truly say they are all delicious. I was there for a party of about 12 people and they accommodated us very well, we took a little long to order and decide but they were professional and served us at one time (which we requested). Be prepared to dish out at least $70-$90 for a good 2 person night out! I will definitely be back and introduce Uncle Bo's to more of my friends.
(5)Jim T.
This place is awesome. Food is spectacular. Group of 4. We ordered Boca Rota, Beef Cheeks, Prime Rib, baked opah, and I had SOS. Are you kidding me? Unbelievable!!! Cheeks were better than a mothers love and I wanted to roll in the SOS. Seriously contemplating staying an extra day so I can eat here again. Easy parking right across the street for $1 per hour.
(5)Mark Q.
Pupus, pupus, and more pupus -- a great way to eat. A little bit of everything. Menu: We went the pupu route and didn't order entrees. Wide arrangement of pupus. We had the oyster shooters and they were quite tasty but the sauce mad them a tad salty, needed a bit of acid to help with the salt. The nachos were amazing. Kalua pig nachos were interesting and quite delicious. Sweet salty and crunch all at the same time. Escargot was cook nicely covered in cheesy goodness. The thai style steamed clams were nicely cook, not too chewy, and in a rich broth. Ask for extra bread and dip it into the broth, YUM! Drinks: Full bar and Assorted beers. A nice selection of wine by the glass and by the bottle. Definitely recommend buying bottles if your with a group. Price: The price was decent. If there were only two or three of us, it may have been more expensive but since there were the check was split between 6 people it cut down on the cost. Ambiance: Great place to have a big group of people. When we went here, there were quite a few large groups. The ambiance is almost party like. Location: Its quite easy to miss this as the signage outside is quite discreet. The website also makes this place look very classy but from the outside it doesn't reflect the same decor. You'll need to park in the street.
(4)Donald S.
Got here @ 6:00pm anticipating the awesome nachos I've been hearing about and was told by the hostess that we can be seated but they'll need the table by 8:00 pm because they're expecting a big party. Like who goes to a place with awesome food and drinks and then gets told you only have two hours to socialize. REALLY???????!!!!!!! REALLY?????????!!!!!!!! The food is awesome by the way. That is my reason for the two stars.
(2)Trish H.
This place is AMAZING! I would give it more stars if I could. The first time we went, was on a recommendation from a friend. I was a bit skeptical to try it out, from the outside it doesn't seem like much. A bit of a hole in the wall... BUT, as always, looks can be deceiving and we all know not to judge a book by it's cover. The service is friendly and the food is incredible. There are a ton of pupus to choose from - the Nachos are my favorite and the Boca Rota is pretty damn epic, too. The portions are generous (an understatement), and every thing is wonderfully cooked and seasoned and mouth watering. I have had fish both times, and both times I was blown away - and I generally don't order fish at restaurants. I would definitely recommend this place for date nights, gatherings with friends, or even a family dinner (our two kiddos were kindly accommodated with chocolate milk, grilled cheese and the best french fries I have ever tasted). I love this place. I can't say enough good stuff about it. I can't wait to go back... definitely worth the trip from Kapolei to town for the yummy food!
(5)Anton Z.
Great place for drinks and pupu's. Went here for our first dinner in Waikiki, and it's going to bye tough to top this place. We decided to share a few of the pupu's, rather than get a whole meal each. The nachos had a mix of kahlua port and ham with tomato, while the "chips" of fried wonton gave it a fun texture. The spicy tuna wrap had a great creaminess and flavor, and the hamachi sashimi was fun because we would put them together with however much rice we thought we'd want. We also had the firecracker shrimp, which were wok fried and covered with aioli and panko breading. The food was amazing, and there was tons of it. The drinks were equally as memorable. My partner had the pear blossom drink, a delightfully refreshing drink along with the spicy food. My drink had gin and lychee, and was slightly sweeter though equally as refreshing. Overall, a wonderful place to have a reasonably priced and brilliantly balanced meal.
(4)Sally C.
All the food I ordered tasted fantastic. Calamari was good, although I think that's a difficult thing to mess up. The only reason I knocked it down one star was because the chicken wings we ordered were more room temp/warm than hot. The server was good about keeping my beverage orders coming, although twice she took my drink glass without asking while there was still a sip left, which wouldn't be a problem if I wasn't drinking expensive whiskey. That also helped to knock the rating down a bit. All in all a pretty good place to go to chill with friends and get some pupus. I'd go back.
(4)Jesse C.
Anna D.'s awesome husband put together this "little" party for his beautiful wife. He ordered just about everything off the menu and tempted us to try everything. All we had to do was show up and eat. I can do that! It's on the main strip of Kapahulu. I've drove passed it but never stopped in. This place was jammed pack and they had a few tables with reserve signs but no patrons. I'm quickly greeted at the door and spot the birthday woman. "Happy Birthday, Anna D.! " I sat and was quickly tossed a plate and food. Whoa! My kind of party. I can honestly say of the things I tried I liked all of them. That's quite a feat.
(4)Denise K.
This place is always packed and parking is kind of a doozy, but I give this place 4 stars based on one dish that makes my mouth water just thinking about it! Their clams! Whatever sauce they use, it is soooo finger-licking good, that you will want to drink it, slop it up with bread, put it on rice (you get my drift).
(4)Lauren S.
I thought this place was more of a bar than a restaurant for some reason. It's also a little pricey! But there's a lot of space here especially if you have an increasingly growing group that shows up at different parts of the meal which is cool. Lots of pupus and liquor choices...just wish there was a little bit more beef or pork options...I'm allergic to a lot of seafood which is lame. Service was a little shoddy and I had ordered stuff that never got delivered but when the check came they wanted to charge me for that or see if I wanted to wait around for them to actually make it. Uhhh no thanks, I've already been here for 2 hours. Lame. Kept messing up the bill and charging my friend like twice with a huge ass bill. Eh I dunno, Uncle Bo's...I dunno....
(3)Ryan K.
Sometimes I think I was born without the ability to stop eating. I stop when it becomes hard to breathe. Not only were the portions generous, but very delicious contributing to my shortness of breath. There is something for everyone. See the updated menu on their website link.
(5)Rise D.
I need to write an update for Uncle Bo's because of the stellar customer service I experienced there the other night. Thank you so much to Andrea who was very kind, patient, and professional the entire night. I recently threw a birthday party for my bf here and made a reservation for 25 people. It was a bit stressful to plan a large party because I was told that they charge for people who don't show up. So when I was planning the party I made an estimate of how many people my bf wanted to invite to his party and gave them my credit card number to hold the space. They told me I could come early to decorate. On the night of the party, I arrived early to decorate. The tables were all ready. My only complaint is that I bought confetti to put on the tables, but no one had told me on the phone earlier that confetti wasn't allowed. :( Since we had a large party, we had the option of ordering the $25 all-you-can-eat pupus, or ordering off the menu. The only stipulation is that EVERYONE in the party needs to agree on the same option. We ended up deciding to go with the $25 all-you-can-eat pupu option. At first I was hesitant and didn't know if everyone would want to eat that much since the party started at 9:00 pm (I figured some people might have had dinner earlier), but I'm glad we all decided to go with that option. There was SO much food. Dynamite shrimp, clams, meat lover's pizza, boca rota, dip and won ton chips, and more. I really like the clams and shrimp, but could have passed on the pizza. The all-you-can-eat option is cool though because you get to sample so many different dishes. Anyone who's planned a large dinner party knows how annoying it is when people take forever to RSVP. Besides that, one of my bf's friends invited two other people we don't know without telling me. Therefore, we ran out of seats and my bf had to tell some of his friends who hadn't arrived yet that there were no seats left. His friends were understanding and came anyway to sit next to us and order some drinks and food at the bar. Andrea told me kindly that she saw them taking a little bit of food from our table and therefore would be charging them $25 each. I was disappointed because they had only been there for a little while and there was so much food left that it would have gone to waste if no one else was eating it. I told my friend and he understood. However, Andrea talked to her manager and said not to worry about it anymore because she felt bad that no one told me I couldn't use confetti and the clams took longer to come out. Plus, she understood that our friend wasn't there for too long and he had already ordered food at the bar earlier. I thought it was really nice of her and I was grateful that she understood where we were coming from. Uncle Bo's also offered my bf a free birthday shot and sang happy birthday. That was cool. All in all, it was a great night and I hope our friends had fun at Uncle Bo's. The waitresses divided our checks by tables which was helpful, and it was also convenient that everyone had the same menu option and just had to pay drinks separately. Uncle Bo's is a really good venue to host large parties, but you need to keep everyone who is invited on close watch because if they don't show up, you will get charged, and if you are caught eating food when everyone else had already ordered, you could be charged. Thank you so much again to Andrea for being so understanding and attentive to our party. She made the whole night easier and made what could have been a stressful party planning experience turn out fine at the end. Also, thank you to one of the managers, Ho Suk, who sounded nice and happy to hear about Andrea's excellent customer service when I called them back to put in a good word for her.
(4)Nikki N.
I actually think of this place everytime I feel like eating out. It may not be where we end up but its always one on my list. The food is excellent and I ALWAYS have fun here. My friends and coworkers choose this place regularly for get togethers. The clams are first priority when coming here. The drinks are always flowing and they have FRIED ICE CREAM! I recommend this restaraunt to all of the guests I service and they come back with Raving Reviews! The waiters and waitresses are very attractive too! haha just saying...
(5)Nicole C.
EVERY TIME I've been here, I've always had a great time. The food is great, especially the Thai-style steamer clams which are delicious! Apart from the food, the setting and ambiance is pretty nice. I admit, sometimes the wait for a table was pretty bad, but I don't blame them - they're really popular and people keep coming back for a reason. The last time I came here, I took my friend who was visiting from the mainland and I'm so glad we ended up at Uncle Bo's. I wanted to show her a good time and Uncle Bo's did not disappoint!!
(4)Ryan M.
I've only been here once and it was for a party so we had a set menu for a large party. Here are the things I enjoyed and remembered eating: Steamed clams were good and buttery, the pizza had a lot of toppings and tasty, pot stickers were ono, fried rice had good taste and lots of ingredients. We had a few more stuff, but I just can't remember because they had so many choices with the set menu. My girlfriend didn't enjoy this place because the day before she had her wisdom's pulled. So, I'm going to take her here again in the near future and try other dishes. She really wants to try this place because all she could eat was soup.
(4)Sue C.
YUMM!!! I have to say I followed the advice of other Yelp users and did the Dynamite Shrimp!! And it does taste dynamite!
(5)Ori T.
For some late night food--and when i say "late night" i mean anytime after 9 pm since everything in waikiki seems to close around that time--at a great price and great lounge-y lay back vibe go to Uncle Bo's. It was like 10 and we were looking for a place to eat and found this on Yelp I believe, and so glad we found it! finding parking is the hard part, especially if you don't wanna pay $4 to park across the street, but once we got in it was exactly what we were looking for. Great food! loved the nachos and the fried ice cream, they had the vodka i like so I couldnt complain. Also, some good looking locals came in and out as we ate so I was more than happy =)
(5)kristine f.
I have given this place multiple chances, especially because I absolutely love the ambiance. But the food is a letdown. The only thing that I actually would order again is the Escargot. The bar has a nice feel to it which has a chic and classy look. But other than that, in a nutshell "Methinks not." I'd rather save my cash and go over to Irifune.
(1)Chris T.
Love this place! I've been meaning to rate this place... The first time I went, I wasn't sure what to expect judging by the outside, but once you get inside it's pretty trendy. The owner is very nice and is always hospitable. The food is delish and the staff is friendly. Parking is good (across the street) - haven't seen valet in a while...guessing there wasn't a need with parking so close. Uncle Bo's is on my "safe" list where I've experienced consistently good meals.
(4)a p.
Love this place. It is a true hidden gem. Us locals couldn't have asked for a better place to come to our neighborhood! They are open late, and it is a great place to meet with friends. After 10pm the music turns up and you have a great lounge type vibe in the bar area. Everything is reasonable and there is a great list of martinis and wine. Service is fast and the owner is always around. He makes sure everyone has a great time. I always get the cajan seared ahi....... i dream about this app, it is amazing, and really reasonable. Also worth trying is the calamari, dynamite shrimp, great pizza too!! Already go there almost once a week... you should go!
(5)Rhiannon R.
I came here during my visit to Hawaii in June 2010. Two people recommended this place on the same day so our group decided to try this place for dinner. One word: gross. I did not try anything that I liked. Here's what we ordered: Bo's Big Nachos - The chips were soggy and wet Ribs - They were loaded with garlic and other toppings and did not have any sort of sauce which made them dry. The other items on the menu have been removed and replaced with others. Hopefully the new items on the menu are better.
(1)Deb F.
We tried to find non-chain places to eat on our trip to Waikiki, and so we ended up at Uncle Bo's. What a treat! We really enjoyed ourselves. I have to give props to our server, who handled our demanding party of 7 (including 3 kids) with patience, a smile, and a great attitude. She was rewarded with a good tip. Now to the food. Here's what I noted from our order: Shaken beef, Nachos, Crab cakes, a steamed fish entree (Opakapaka, I think), Oyster shooters, kids' meals, and drinks. I think the runaway faves were the Shaken beef and the fish, but truly, it was all good. OK, maybe not so much the kids' meals, but hey. We all shared the food among the adults and everyone liked it all. The music was fun and current and not too loud. I think the atmosphere later in the evening would be fun without kids; lounge on the sofas and have drinks and apps. Next time I'm in Waikiki (whenever that may be), I will definitely go back to Uncle Bo's.
(5)kahau m.
Eh. what you doing afta work? nuttin. why. we go UNCO BO'S!!! shoots! we go. been to this place many a many a times. all good. martinis? great. pupus? great. spicy shrimp? spicy! and tasty. always have a great time. staff is friendly and welcoming. sit at the bar! if there's a stool and if there's room!
(5)Katie K.
Last night was my third time at Uncle Bo's. The first was my 21st bday, which does not count--as it was a blur, and the second was just drinks; so finally I feel that a review is in order! A co-worker and I got off work fairly early, were starving, and ready for a pau hana outside of Waikiki. Let's see...Kapahulu...Uncle Bo's, perfect! Open late with a full food menu--my kind of place! The place was still packed when we walked in a little after 9 (always a good sign), but were able to get 2 seats at the bar. Actually those two seats were separately by a gentleman at the bar, but the host knew we wanted to sit there and kindly asked the guy to move over one--wow! They have a pretty good selection of wine and beer, with a few on draft. All I needed though was an ice cold Sierra Nevada and I was a happy camper! Food wise, we ordered the Veggie Pizza and the Cajun Seared Ahi. I love that they have a huge selection of pupus here and everything is pretty reasonably priced. The veggie pizza was good, but way too saucy! The seared ahi however--AMAZING! Wow, this was great ahi and perfectly seasoned. I will return for this ahi dish very soon!! Overall, the service was great, and I left with a full tummy and a smile on my face (though a couple of mind erasers may have enhanced this smile!). Uncle Bo's--I will see you again soon! Thanks for a fun night!
(4)Christina Y.
Visited this place for the first time, while we were waiting for a table at Side Street Inn. Great atmosphere, the pu pus were delicious, and so were the drinks! Would definitely come back here again to celebrate a birthday or just to have a girls night out.
(4)Patricia L.
This place is super popular! This is definitely the place to be on a Saturday night. The atmosphere is quite trendy. The décor is almost lounge like...right down to the metal curtains near the bar. We came here around 8pm and the wait was 45 minutes long! Thank goodness for the fully stocked bar! The girls sipped on a few mojitos and my bf had Guinness. The mojitos were quite delicious I might say. After the long wait, we were finally seated in the back room. They have an extensive menu including many pupus. We ended up ordering the Thai chicken wings pupu to share and I ordered the sea bass with garlic mashed potatoes, the bf ordered the lamb with sweet potato fries, and my friend ordered the fish tacos. The chicken wings were ok...I think they would have better if they friend the wings before coating them in the sauce. The sauce was delish though. My entrée came with a fairly large portion of seabass. I was pretty stuffed after I finished eating. I also tried some of the bf's lamb, which was pretty good, but still bloody. I also really liked the sweet potato fries...not too oily and perfectly crispy. My friend said she loved her fish tacos. I definitely recommend this place for a night out with friends to enjoy some drinks and good food.
(4)Sergei N.
What a sweet ass bar. The food is as good and flavorful as any restaurant you might randomly pick, the atmosphere is top notch without forcing you to feel like a complete douche bag if you're wearing shorts and a hoodie. Got the carpaccio, chicken wings and butter fish and it was thumbs up from the entire table. This is the kind of place that makes me sad to go back to SoCal and forces me to plan out my next 2 week vacation before my current one is over. Bye Hawaii =/ I misses you already.
(4)Daniele D.
Alooooha Uncle Bo's! =) So I found this place on Yelp while visiting Oahu and it had some of the best ratings on the island so I wanted to make sure we stopped in at some point on the trip. I convinced my bf, his bro and the bro's wife (all from Oahu but living on the mainland) to go there to eat before heading over to Mai Tai's to meet friends. I'm really glad we did. This place is tasty, classy and had a great atmosphere! Of course, we went early because we had to get to MT's by 7 pm so we didn't get to experience a "crowd" but I hear it is a cool place to hang out. It really did have a nice vibe when we were there and I liked the decor. This is really an asian fusion tapas bar. The best pupu's we had were: Spinach Artichoke Dip (Def didn't get my share cuz people be hogging it. HA!) * I am not a huge fan of restaurant "dips" but this was REALLY delicious Spinach Chicken Pizza (is that considered a pupu?) * I really enjoyed the flavor, crust and sauce on this. Someone at the table said it had too much cheese...is that possible??? We also had the Shaken Beef, which was okay but not great. Glad it is many, many hours away from my house by plane or I'd frequent the joint. Can't remember what my drink was called...but it was really good and strong! I saved the rest of my drink consumption for MT's. =) Overall a must visit location. A little pricy overall but worth it. Random afterthought...both of the waitresses working were preggers. Does anyone else find that interesting? I was a little afraid to drink the water.
(4)Elizabethgray K.
This place looks like a dump from the outside and then looks like some swanky martini lounge on the inside.. Tiny tables all close together... You really get to know your neighbors and all about their love lives or whatever drama is going onsince you are VERY close. We got a bottle of wine that tasted weird so, we sent it back with no issues, I then got a glass of a different kind of wine which was really good. For pupus (or as we texans call 'em, appetizers), I ordered the dynamite shrimp I think they were called and some ahi tuna pupus Both super great! My dad and I then split a fish meal that had dill sauce (also really good but, didn't top the pupus). I would recommend coming here and just ordering lots of apps. P.S. No parking.. you have to pay 3 bucks to park across the street.
(4)Brad K.
Many apologies for never reviewing this place even though I eat here all the time! Ambiance is solid! Staff is informative, friendly and helpful! Owners constantly in the mix with the guest. Food is outstanding upscaled comfort food! Chef Bo, Partner Ho Suk, and there staff keep this place packed everyday of the week! Call and ask for reservations! They have a solid all you can eat app menu for parties of 20 or more guest! You'll get all you can ask for and more! My #1 choice when entertaining large groups!
(5)Diane S.
I had my wedding rehearsal dinner here and it was perfect. There was many different types of food to fit everyone's tastes. My favorite apps were the Boca-Rota cheesy garlic bread topped with Prime rib and the calamari. My meal was the special of the day which was sea-bass with dill sauce. It was amazing. Overall the food was great, the service was spot on and the prices were reasonable. I can't wait to go again.
(5)Weezee L.
Good appetizers. They have drafted Guinness. Nice hang out. They play lots of clubbing musics. Wish they play more contemporary and island musics.
(3)Brian K.
This is one of those places where you want to try every item on their menu! I have yet to order something that wasn't good! The modern, contemporary, New York-style feel on Kapahulu Ave makes this place unique. The modern artwork gives this place the right vibe. Seafood seems to be their specialty. It's a pretty chill place to hang out with close friends or bring a hot date! ;) Prices are appropriate and have a full selection of drinks, including a decent wine list. Parking is the only thing that's holding me back from a 5-star rating. Street parking can be difficult sometimes. I usually park up the street and take a short walk. As Nikki mentioned, yes, the waitresses are attractive, but more importantly the service was friendly and attentive.
(4)Daniel C.
Uncle Bo's is a trendy bar that features delicious dishes and a good selection of drinks. It is in close proximity to Waikiki and great place to start for a night of fun. The food is always good here. The entree portions are large but not overwhelming. I had the ahi poke pupu, which tasted great for the most part except the sauce was a bit too salty. For my entree I had the panko crusted opah. It was awesome! The fish was perfectly cooked with a crunchy outside and moist tender inside. The spicy sauce complement the opah well. If you're ever in Kapahulu, you must check out Uncle Bo's. It is a great place to have dinner or start a night of partying. Expect to pay about $20 to $30 per person with drinks. They have excellent service and I would definitely be back!
(4)Cy C.
Is this a bar or a restaurant? Its actually both but I think it leans more on the restaurant side. It does have a huge bar but not much bar stools to sit on. So don't expect a place to stand around or sit and drink and meet people. However there are a lot of tables for you to sit, drink and eat. I've never been here for dinner but . someone told me Uncle Bo's is good for drinks and pupus, but not a great dinner place. I have to try it myself, but I'm pretty dam happy of the appetizers I had here. This is definitely one of my favorite places to hang out for after work for drinks and pupus.
(4)Keane S.
I've been kind of lazy on yelp, I've mainly been reviewing my favorite places. Uncle Bo's is definitely one of them. I've been about four or five times now, and I've seriously enjoyed every dish so far. The menu is large but not overly complex, the flavors are delicious and the overall feel and look of the restaurant is great for what it is -- a nice modern restaurant/lounge. Service my past few times was decent, but my most recent visit I would say service was very good. The waitress was very friendly and refreshing, we didn't ask too many questions because we had a good idea of what we would order but she was good with checking up on us, the others in the restaurant (I'm assuming floor managers) did a great job with water refills. Timing of the food was appropriate and most importantly all the food tasted wonderful. Some favorites to try: "Baked Opah Mauna Kea, Dynamite Shrimp, Seafood Ceviche, Boca-Rota, Clams" Overall it's an awesome place to go with friends, family or a date, it's a welcoming place that for all the reasons above simply just works.
(5)Tracy Lu G.
We asked a local cab driver where the locals eat and he recommended Uncle Bo's. Hands down, it was our favorite place to eat. Our party of 16 walked 15 minutes from Waikiki Beach and we were seated with a 5 minute wait on a Friday night at 6 pm. The food was fantastic and creative. I especially enjoyed the clams with a dipping sauce/soup which was to die for.
(5)Melissa K.
I love this place!! We came here with a rather large dinner party and ordered lots of food and lots of wine. Even though the restaurant was packed to capacity, the service was outstanding and the food was absolutely phenomenal. Every dish was superb. I'm definitely in food love heaven.
(4)Kate Y.
Dynamite shrimp with dipping bread is must try. Drink is in the big glass, not over prize, big portion food, def my favorite dining place in Oahu.
(5)Caroline T.
Undeniably good, love the atmosphere and a MUST to visit when you are in HAWAII! My friends ordered for me and everything we had was delicious! 2 of everything please! Must try Boca Rota, crab salad, pizza! Yes Pizza is so cheezy and yummy. Oh and get the mussels and dip the sauce with your bread! Great date night. Kid friendly too.
(5)Alex Y.
The food here is AWESOME! the quality of the pupus are great and the taste is unheard of! First look = local, low key, and shabby. The outside is very deceiving, but once you step foot inside the outside just doesn't do it justice anymore. The space inside has a contemporary feel to it, but yet it still has a family feel to it. Parking sucks, but what can you expect when you're on Kapahulu. Luckily I found street parking, and after all the food that I ate the walk is perfect before heading back home. I was invited to a birthday party, and Uncle Bo's accommodated well to about 20 of us. I don't know what kind of deal was made, but it seemed like we had an unlimited amount of pupus coming out for just $25 a head. For those that can't eat that much it's expensive but for those that can eat a lot its well worth it!
(5)Cheryl E.
After reading other reviews for this restaurant, my curiosity and appetite were whetted. I have to say that the reviews were spot on! Our waitress was efficient, polite and beautiful to boot. [I am a grandmother, so don't get the wrong idea you guys] We took my 90 yr. old mom, and her sisters 87, 85. They LOVED the food and raved about it dish after dish. The ahi appetizer and the Thai clams are excellent. Flavor were multi-layered and clean. The clams definitely deserve 5 stars. Also deserving 5 stars is the Kailua Pig fried rice ,which is another of their signature dishes. Although it contains a lot of ingredients, it is not just a hodge podge of leftovers thrown together. The flavor was excellent and the spinach definitely put a different spin on the fried rice. The waitresses and staff in general are 5 star folks. Kudos to you all! I did not give 5 stars as an overall, as the broiled sea bass, which was nicely done, was served with some fairly mediocore blanched veggies that were fairly raw. the sauce was a bit floury and pasty in the finish. my suggestion would be to broil the veggies as well and serve the sauce on the side and not drown the dish in it. That said, I loved the atmosphere and found the food exciting. I will be bringing folks from the mainland here [and we get lots of company]
(4)Cynthia W.
This was my first time here and I loved everything! The menu all looked yummy, drinks were very reasonable priced and yummy! I had the Perfect 6 and it was delish...it was just right. We had the Thai Style steam clams and that was delish. It is definitely something I will go back time after time when I go visit my bf in Honolulu! Everything is affordable and the selections are great!
(5)Toan D.
Good food not great. Dishes tend to be on the sweet side.The service is consistenlt friendly and very effecient. Hip-young crowd. Exciting and fun addition to the neighborhood of Kapahulu.
(4)Jayme N.
Likes: Thai style clams, Kalua nachos. Dislike: baby-back ribs The ambiance is great and the food is reasonable. We also had the spicy tuna wrapped in Korean nori - it was good but would've been better if they gave the whole piece of nori instead of cutting it in half. The ribs were a disappointment but the rest of the meal covered for it.
(4)Vincent Q.
After weeks of anticipation and various comments made me excited, I was finally going to Uncle Bo's! This time we had twelve people eating, but after our experience here, I might be hard to get that many ever again. Although this is a pupu place, and I had anticipated having a table of pupus, our party ended up with plates for themselves, so I didn't get to try as much food as I had wanted--it wasn't the same family group I usually eat with--share-and-share alike (but that's our bad). Spinach Artichoke Crab Dip (with Won Ton chips)- 3 1/2 stars- Definitely tastes like what it is. I've had spinach artichoke dip from many places, and it seems to be a staple for both restaurants and eaters, as even I have made a batch for myself at home. The addition of crab didn't take this dish anywhere new or exciting for me. I will compliment the price, which puts it well in range of other dips without crab. The won ton chips act as a weird scoop, cracking under the weight of the thick dip; but so does regular chips. I suggest trying something unique instead. Uncle Bo's Dynamite Shrimp- 4 1/2 stars- This was very good. The creamy sauce was not totally mayonnaise, and had a lighter flavor. The spice was hot enough to make me feel a tinge of sweat, which was a delightful surprise. This is one dish well-chosen. You probably don't even need the shrimp in there. Thai-Style Steamer Clams- 4 stars- Another good plate. I did expect more, because of the hurrays my friends would spout. The clams have a sauteed tomato seemingly cooked in a separate pan, because I could taste wine. The base sauce was so good they were using bread to soak it up. Filet Mignon- 2 stars- My friend didn't even eat half of this, and she said it was better before. I ate it, with the splash of blood, and it tasted like meat, lightly seared. As she stated--her garlic mashed potatoes, like the one I got, had no flavor of garlic. Indo-Lobster with stuffed Crab in parmesan crust- 2 1/2 stars- Since I wasn't going to eat everything, I decided to get one of the expensive items on the menu. At this point, I didn't even want to eat my food. I let the chef on my right have a taste, and she said it tasted like nothing--that made me very excited. -__- I eventually ate, and it was lobster. The stuffed crab was tasty, but with the dark, cave lighting, I couldn't even see what I was doing as the shape of lobster tail is ridges--they should serve it with a spoon. As I'm not totally a fan of lobster, I always hope someone will do something to amp it up, and make it worthwhile. Not so here. It was like digging in a dark cave. Atmosphere- A very interesting look. The hanging chains was reminiscent of a dungeon, which I actually like; I did keep walking into them though. We had a table in the back--a majority of which is decently lit. Yet, we were placed on a corner table away from all light, I could barely read my menu; at this point, I found out about the Flashlight App new phones have. The lack of lighting made it hard to order, eat, and enjoy the company of my friends. There needs to be some lighting compensation here--a lamp or chandelier or something! Also, they have large screen televisions, and music which is mostly trendy, top-40, and not played too loud. Service- Oh, the bad part. 15-minutes after being seated, the entire back of the restaurant is empty--so it is only our party alone. The waitress forgot to take the order from one person--we were celebrating for this person tonight, which only made being forgotten that much worse. One of us had to get the waitress to come back. I sat between a chef and a previous waitress, so discussions bounced almost into an argument about service from both perspectives. The chef got her drink late; everyone else had mixed drinks, and she only had a beer, which took several minutes longer to arrive. One in our party, rudely yes, stated, "There's our bread!," as it arrived after our meals were already on the table. Personally, I thought we ordered the bread with some other pupu; but I hear it generally comes before the meals. We were only visited about two times; after receiving bags for our food, the waitress didn't return for a long time, and we were going to send someone to find her for our receipt. Yet, she was nice, smiling, and very accommodating. Conclusion- I lost my appetite roughly ten-minutes after arriving. The darkness is insufferable--yes, other parts are dark, but my closest light source was track-lighting twenty-feet away. I actually wish I had my LED book light, because I would have used it. And honestly, I'm the one usually tsk-tsking people about being rude, but here, it didn't seem to matter. The food came rather quickly, but about half the meals received negative reactions. The whole confusion with our service was also disappointing. I had actually looked forward to eating here for months! I have yet to give one-star anywhere, but this is pretty close. If I could, I would give it 1 1/2 stars. 8.(
(2)Kenny F.
Walking the cross walk I scrutinize the sign for "Uncle Bo's"--not impressed so far. As I make my way towards the restaurant I notice the building seems pretty old and tarnished like my grandmothers Hawaiian home, but then...as you get close you start to see the light fixtures on the other side of the window--modern, unique--the dimly lit restaurant from the inside seems like a diamond in a rough. Once you walk into Uncle Bo's, music streams into your ears and you notice that every worry you thought of this place from the outside has completely vanished. One of my many biggest request is, if I go out to a nice dinner with close friends we need to eat in an ambient environment that makes me feel like I am in a new spectrum of life. Uncle Bo's pupu menu is by-far one of the BEST pupu menu's I've had here on the island. Their crab cakes are made from fresh crab (the best I've ever had), their oyster shooters are slurppy GOOD, and their calamari (Advice: Ask for the sauce on the side) is delicious. Their bartenders are amazing and the waiters can come up with drink suggestions on the spot. They even made a special request drink per me using basil--it was out of this world. The only complaint I have about Uncle Bo's is: DO NOT eat their escargot...it is nothing but a small piece of snail with 10 times the amount of cheese. Basically you're eating cheese. GREAT PLACE, BEAUTIFUL ENVIRONMENT & Well, if you like alcohol go to Uncle Bo's. When i got my bill 3/4 of it was liquor. :/
(4)Joe F.
Really like the food here, just the service I can't tolerate. Last 4 visits: 1 - After a nice meal and some good wine, my credit card was lost by the waitress, after she had ran it to pay the tab, and she was just sure that it was my fault. She later found it. 2 - Seated and then ignored for close to 20 minutes. No menu, no 'we'll be right with you', nothing. On a night the place was only 2/3 full. 3 - Seated, drinks, ordered 4 appetizers and a salad. After 2 app's we were presented with the check, and asked if 'we were sure' we didn't get the rest. 4 - Service was from a waitress clearly not happy we were there. Plates basically dropped on the table, drinks cleared before finished, not asked for refills, etc. Again, let me stress that I really do like the food here, nothing bad to say about that. I am in the industry, and have friends who work there. But I won't be going back.
(2)Menyian W.
This is my second time here. The first time was great. This time I have a party of approximately 15. We have been seated at the most ghetto uneven uncomfortable so called lounge area. We actually had a reservation. We've had to ask for everything from water to silverware. When we asked about it, no one seemed interested including Bo. Also, it was very obviously my friends bday. We had been there for hours against the wall when we see the staff and owner give a happy bday song and shot to some guy across the room. We had to request if that could be done since this was obviously a bday celebration that they weren't going to acknowledge. And by the way, the first time I went was very obviously my bday and no one did anything for me. I assumed they just didn't do that kind of thing there until I saw them this day do it for someone else. I'm so disappointed and will never return here...
(1)Chris E.
We recently had the great experience of attending Uncle Bo's. Get there early or make reservations cause it gets busy. The drink specials were very creative, using cucumber, mint, and Ginger for refreshing concoctions. Choose from several pupu's and you have a great experience with friends or a date. We got the seafood soup/stew/? and the flavor was to die for, all were flavorful & tasty. We went back later in the week and ordered the same meal. Casual yet sophisticated, highly recommended!
(5)Matthew L.
Almost like a jack of all trades, the master of none. This is a nice little hip place and good choice to bring people from the mainland. Too bad they dont have drink and pupu specials because the pupus are good (kalua pig nachos and dynamite shrimp and my favorites). They have alot things on the menu like pizza, steak, prime rib, fish, pasta, and curry (I joke around with friends telling them to order curry with fries). I tried to order butterfish and they didn't have it, and I ran into that problem before. My favorite is the fish, the Opah or Opakapaka.
(4)Doris D.
The most hype, the most let down. The food is so terrible I am embrassed to have spent money on this place. Had the calamari but was completely soaked in the sauce, killing the crisp. The fish was terrible, rice is awful. So disappointed with the atmosphere too, not warm, not inviting, just kind of empty and sad.
(1)Melanie G.
We drove by this place a few times before deciding to give it a try. it was a thursday i believe, and the wait was "more than" half an hour. we decided to make reservations for the following night instead. So the next night, our reservations were for 830 and it was crowded. the place is bigger than it looks, the building goes way back. The decor is hip and colorful, as well as the clientele. For a party of 4 we ordered 5 pupus to share, which were all delicious and well-proportioned. My favorites were the kalua pig fried rice and the dynamite shrimp. We also ordered a greek salad, chicken wings, and the tofu dip, which were all good too. We left absolutely stuffed and satisfied!
(4)Andrea H.
I have to start by saying WOW! My cousin suggested that we meet for dinner at Uncle Bo's. We called ahead and tried to make reservations, but they were booked that night and only seating walk-ins when tables became available. We decided to go anyways and wait. When we got there, the place was packed. We had a large party and I was starting to feel that waiting may not have been the best idea to choose this place. After only about 20 minutes the hostess was able to clear off and rearrange some tables to accommodate us. I cannot re-iterate how packed they were that night, so just being seated was really started the experience out right. When we were seated our server was prompt and got our drinks ordered and out to us quickly. We decided to order lots of pupus and eat family style. Everything we had was good, but my top three were: #1- the Seafood Trap. It is served in a dish shaped like a clam shell with french bread on the side. I really enjoyed dipping the bread into the broth, I really couldn't get enough. #2- Seafood dip- this was a warm creamy dip with large chunks of seafood (kinda comparable to artichoke dip, but way better). #3- Boca- Rota. If you like meat and cheese you'll love this. It is a cheesy, buttery, garlic-y bread topped with small chunks or tender prime rib. I was very pleased with the service, Bo himself came over to check on our party. Amazing food.
(5)A. M.
Friendly staff, good food, and a wide variety of locals to hang with. I had already eaten when we got here, which is really too bad. I ordered the fried ice cream, which was delicious. Alas, my eyes were too big for my stomach. Parking was a serious issue. We ended up making quite a hike to the car. If you vacation in Oahu, get off the beaten path and try this place!
(4)Cinsational C.
I really like this place! I like this place for several reasons. 1. Great customer service. -kind and friendly employees -complimentary birthday drink -food arrives quick 2. Fun & Clean atmosphere 3. GREAT FOOD! 4. Reasonable pricing on food and drinks! (downfall: i hate the parking situation! boo! )
(5)Brandi C.
All I can say about the food is YUMMY! We and I mean 8 hungry girls went to bask in the glory of: Dynamite Shrimp, Boca-Rota, Fish Tacos, Steamed Opakapaka, Pepperoni Pizza, Fried Rice, Sweet Potato Fries, Sesame Chicken Salad, and DRINKS. Okay, I'm very finicky when it comes to flavor & food. Uncle Bo's did not disappoint. It was oh so good. I kept asking my girlfriends "Is it me or is this food effing fabulous?" We all agreed that the food was beyond what we expected. Very tasty and reasonable prices. The atmosphere: Loud Bar Lounge in the front, and a more Quiet restaurant style in the back room. What I found funny was when I walked in I saw a kid who was maybe 4 or 5 years old who was dancing and laughing (this was about 930pm), I hope it was just because of the excellent fruit punch. It was a little odd to see a child in there, but I guess that's how they roll. All in all, I was impressed with the food. Our waitress was average and did her job. We all put in about $35.00 for the bill. Worth every penny to me...will definitely go there again.
(5)EV L.
So much as already been said about this venue so I'll just get down to the nitty gritty.. lol ENVIRONMENT: It looks like a hole-in-the-wall joint from the outside, but it's got a pretty nice indoors ambiance to it. The lounge/bar area has comfortable seating along with flat screen televisions. This place gets pretty packed by 7pm, so it's always good to go early or make reservations. I suggest going early (pau hana) because parking can be a pain -- street parking or paid parking across the street ($4-$5 evening rate). FOOD: My favorites are the Thai Style Steamed Clams (yummmy oustanding sauce!!!), the Dynamite Shrimp (it's 'ok'..reminds me of honey walnut shrimp), Calamari (it's typical, but it's tasty!!), and Spinach Artichoke Crab Dip with Won Ton Chips (I like how it's just served with Won Ton Chips other than regular nachos chips!). There are special drink specials for $5 to $7. So far, I haven't tasted one nasty drink yet except for the Mango Mojito, which did not have any taste what-so-ever. Martinis are always good. STAFF: I've never had any issues with the staff here. From hostesses, to servers, to waiters/waitresses, to bartenders... they've all been friendly and knowledgeable about their food and drinks. This place is a MUST-GO for little gatherings and pau hana! :)
(4)Kris O.
i heart Uncle Bo & Ho Suk, always try to accommodate me and my guests, even when it's crowded. Boca Rota is my favorite thing to eat there, and the dynamite shrimp is good too. thanks guys for always coming through!! i've never been disappointed yet.
(5)Jay M.
Our group barely waited for our seat- but they gave us free drinks and free appetizers to apologize anyway. They get 5 stars for the tasty food and wonderful service. Every dish I tasted was delicious, so it's tough to pic a favorite.
(5)Garrick F.
Okay, outside this spot looks like a craphole, but inside, wow, its kinda fancy pants lookin without the fancy pants attitude, I can dig it. So here's what we ordered: Clams: d-d-d-d-daaaymmnn. so good. if we had an extra straw at the table, I'm sure the juice from the clams would have been consumed that way, but alas, we didn't, so instead we took turns scooping up the juice with our spoons; not quite as efficient, but it was just as tasty. Calamari: this was pretty good too, but not d-d-d-d-dayayymm good as the clams Big Bo's Nacho's: I'm a big fan of all kinds of nachos, but this has got to be one of my favorites ever. Why have I never had kalua pig on nachos before? This was straight ingenious. It was like a Mexican was fighting a Hawaiian on my tongue. Baby back ribs: they was some tender, tender lovin' I think we might have had something else too, but my Hawaiian trip was so stuffed full of food that I'm having some trouble remembering now. But anyways, you can call me incestuous cuz I think I'm in love with Uncle Bo's!
(5)Kelly M.
I do love this place which is saying a lot considering my first experience there....please read on. I first went there with a HUGE group of friends. We arrived early, no issues with reservations. We were so excited to order the CHEFS SPECIAL !!! For a mere $25 per person, the chef would select pupu's and send them out til we say stop! HOLY CROW! AWESOME! Naturally we all about killed each other over the first two platters that were sent out but soon enough we were showered with delicious yummy-ness and all manner of pupu to sample. A foodie's dream fo sho'. So what went wrong? Our beautiful, yet deceiving, waitress...We all ordered the special except for one person who came late. When the check arrived, it was about $100 more than we expected. Since there was 20 of us we figured we miscalculated and those 4 of us remaining chipped in to cover the difference. The next day, my friend was still troubled over the issue and after talking about it, we realized that the waitress charged us $25 for ever person at the table even the one that came late with her 3 children including 1 INFANT. (yeah, she charged us for the infant who had a BOTTLE). So my friend called and talked to Bo personally and explained what happened. He Apologized and IMMEDIATELY sent her a gift certificate for $100. 3 of the 4 of us went back last night and had an amazing dinner! The food was fantastic again, I seriously love the cajun seared ahi, boca rota and opah mauna kea (spicy!). Sooo wonderful. 5 stars for food alone, but 10 stars for the wonderful owner.
(5)sky i.
Uncle Bo's menu is like a good CD, there were mostly hits but there were a couple of misses too. But one thing is certain, if you're looking to plan large parties of 10-30, Uncle Bo's is a wonderful alternative. One of the reasons, aside from the mostly delicious menu, is their ALL-YOU-CAN-EAT $25 appetizer special for groups of 10 or more. One can choose 8 different appetizers from their menu or go with 'chef's choice' and allow the cook to choose the dishes for you. For $10 more per person, you can add some entree selections along with dessert. However, it is generally recommended that you choose the 'chef's special' as they will only select their most popular dishes. The food that our party of 20 ate: Meat Lover's Pizza Crispy Pot Stickers Steamed Shrimp Shumai Spinach Artichoke Dip with Nachos Thai Style Steamer Clams Uncle Bo's Dynamite Shrimp (everyone's favorite) Clam Chowder (another popular dish among our party) Sweet Chili Calamari Sauteed Sea Scallop wrapped with Bacon Ahi Poke Escargot Sauteed Sea Scallops Baby Back Ribs (our least favorite dish) Warm Fudge Brownie w/ vanilla ice cream Also had as entrees: Shrimp Scampi Grilled Salmon Garlic Ribeye Steak Universally liked among our group: Clam chowder. Rich and creamy with generous chunks of clam. Uncle Bo's Dynamite Shrimp. Aptly named cuz it was DYNOMITE! Generally disliked by everyone: Baby Back Ribs. Way under seasoned and bland. Sauteed Sea Scallops was another unpopular choice as it had a weird, mushy texture. Pleasant atmosphere, attentive servers, mostly good food, and the all-you-can-eat specials make for a wonderful experience for large parties.
(4)Ramsey S.
Visited this place while on vacation to check out a local joint. The food is excellent, you can really get a variety of things and all were done well. The service is excellent. The atmosphere was positive. Will visit again!!!
(5)Nick Y.
I understand fusion, but Uncle Bo's is more like confusion. It's like The Jersey Shore meets Tokyo Drift. It's like Rufio from Hook and Shredder from TMNT started an interior design firm, and this was their very first account. It's like your divorced, Ed Hardy-wearing uncle's midlife crisis. I wish that the whole place were as avuncular as the name and the exterior suggest. I love few things more than a familial dive that serves surprisingly amazing, chef-y food. Uncle Bo, however, confuses me because, somehow, the huge menu isn't very diverse (how many parmesan/panko-crusted, or dynamite dishes do you need, really?), and not one part of the concept matches with the other. Uncle Bo's isn't terrible (at least what we ordered), it's just confusing. I guess even with a something-for-everyone type of menu, you can't please everyone.
(3)Jennifer A.
To be honest, I wasn't that impressed. The decor was nice as was the service. And it sure was crowded on a Friday night. We shared a few pupus, ribs with maui onion, clams with thai coconut sauce, chicken wings, fries... I also had a mango cocktail that did taste like a fresh mango. The ribs were okay, very soft and tender which I liked, but a little bit flat tasting to me. I liked the clams, they were sweet and they seem to be popular. I saw them featured in the magazine articles posted by the bathroom. I liked the grilled factor on the wings, but I wish they were grilled a bit more on the skin. Parking was terrible unless you want to pay across the street. I don't know if I would go back, it was ok.
(3)Trisha A.
It's been 6 months since I was at Uncle Bo's and I still have impure thoughts about Bo's Big Nachos! My husband and I came to just eat a sampling of various pupus and on the whole, the food was very yummy. Bo's Big Nachos: the kahlua pork was tender, delicious, and full of flavor. I would have had these daily. Baby Back Ribs: they were OK. They were tender, but nothing incredible. I probably would not get them again, although we did appreciate them at the time. My husband loved the various seafood dishes he got like the ahi poke. He was not a fan of the escargot because he felt there was too much cheese that overpowered the snails. I'd probably rate the food as a 4, but the attentive service and prompt food delivery surely is worth a bonus star!
(5)Dane G.
I'd give a five stars for the food. but a 2.5 for the furniture. The food was definitely good, had the chinese style opaka. drinks are also good. i was a little embarassed for them when they brought out a folding beige striped costco chair for one of my dinner mates. and the chairs are not that comfortable. parking wasn't too bad was a weeknight.
(4)Chris F.
Bomb food
(4)Jennifer D.
My classmate Ho Suk Lee always surprises and delights me with new off-the-menu creations. That being said, I can never get enough of the tried-and-true Hamachi and Spicy Tuna appetizers.
(4)George R.
Great place for dinner and or drinks. Very good food... Recommend seared cajun ahi filet mignon, dynomite shrimp! Good for a date or dinner and drinks with friends.
(4)Steve M.
Wow, this place was outstanding. We walked from downtown Waikiki that included a near death experience crossing the highway near the restaurant. My advice drive. The atmosphere was excellent for a small group of 4 to talk while enjoying dinner and drinks. Across the 4 of us we heavily sampled the menu and found nothing less than outstanding.
(5)Austin T.
FIVE star local Chef working hard. We hold back a star for the hard surface decor making the place very loud. If your on Waikiki and enjoy real food stop at Uncle Bo's
(4)johnny O.
Fun place, nice prime rib, great bar scene. Will be back for sure.
(4)Robbin N.
Was looking for something tasty and affordable so I checked yelp on my iphone and Uncle Bo's is what stood out. I must say from the outside the place looks nothing like the inside. At first I thought we were walking into a tiny little cheap diner but as soon as i walked in I was consumed with warm energy and great vibe and a hip bar with hot waitresses. This place is actually alive and kicking. Great food, fun people, friendly staff and beautiful waitresses. The food is excellent and would definetely recommend it. Me being out of town really wanted to try something Hawaiian. This place hits the spot and would come back for sure.
(5)Jessie H.
The clams! Oh man, the clams. SO. GOOD. get extra bread so you can dip it into the bowl to soak up all of the awesomeness. We followed other reviewers and ordered the dynamite shrimp as well. It was, ok? there was nothing wrong with it, but it wasn't that amazing. i ordered the opah (LOVE opah), but in my opinion, it was way too salty. Opah is amazing, especially when simply grilled. Uncle Bo's did a great job of cooking the fish, but it was unnecessarily smothered with cheese and other sauce that just overwhelmed the delicate flavor of the fish. And it was WAY too salty. I had to scrape off all the extra stuff just so I could actually finish my fish. Portions are generous. I had my leftovers for bfast AND lunch the next day. **note** parking is across the street in a lot. and it's NOT free. they
(4)Kaiulani K.
What can I say that hasn't already been said about Uncle Bo's? Good food, odd ambiance, and helpful/strange waitresses. I was skeptical at first, but was quickly made a believer! Although the sports bar & grill feel is more than a little awkward, the food (at least what we ordered) is fantastic. At first I was a little uncomfortable because the entire staff was watching us and giving us odd looks, so I actually intended to hate the place and write a scathing review about them. Couldn't happen. As soon as the first piece of fresh baked bread appeared, my mind began to change. They have the best house-baked bread I've had in a while. Despite the fact that it was smashed and it was one medium-sized roll versus an actual breadbasket, it was delicious. We ordered the ribs as an appetizer. If you're expecting bbq, don't. They weren't smokey, and I'm not sure how they were prepared, but they tasted more like spare rib soup meat than what you'd normally think of ribs. They were topped in a chopped garlic/onion/pepper concoction and it was delicious, incredibly tender (the bone broke with hardly any pressure), and different. I ordered the shellfish pasta: Scrumptious! packed with seafood. Clams, scallops, shrimp, fish in a slightly creamy tomato sauce. It was the best I've had. Better than my former favorite Auntie Pasto's. My mom got fish, I completely forget what type. Opah? Anyway, it was lightly crusted, incredibly flavorful, and came with delicious vegetables! I guess for that dish you could order whichever type of starch you like, so she got penne with a tomato sauce. A very different combo, but still very tasty. Her dish was light and yummy. And BIG! Both our servings were large. She finished hers, I took a little less than half of mine home. The waitress we had was very helpful, but the hostess kept looking at me. I don't know if I had a giant mustard stain on my face or if I'm secretly a celebrity, but the initial (and continuing) awkward stares from the hostess and waitresses didn't overshadow the amazing food. I'll be back again (SOON) and hopefully I don't attract so much attention this time.
(4)Danielle Y.
I have a serious love affair with the lemongrasstini. It is smooth and a little spicy and exceptionally yummy. I keep promising that I'll try another drink, but after 10 or so visits I haven't managed it yet. I really enjoy the atmosphere. To me it seems very "Upscale" Hawaii. It's a little casual, a little trendy, and the food has a lot of mayo on it! I've had mixed experiences with the food, but its never been egregious enough to keep me from returning. I've had generally good experiences with the dynamite shrimp (baked mayo! so strange! and yet so tasty!) and the spinach dip. The fish dishes are also quite tasty, but if you are a little wary of the mayo, be sure to ask if it comes on the fish (they'll make it without it!).
(4)Chris O.
Uncle Bo's is one of many restaurants on Kapahulu. Luckily, they are located directly across from a private parking lot ($5 all night) which is extremely convenient. From the outside and given it's name, you may assume it's a pretty mellow place with a basic interior. But as you walk in. you'll be welcomed with an modern upbeat look. Onto the menu, there were a lot to choose from and I opted for their Prime Rib, medium rare of course. For $22, the cut was generous and it came with a side of veggies and your choice of garlic mash, fries, etc. I am glad to say that they did NOT over cook it, it was a perfect medium rare. I'm happy that my party scheduled an early dinner on Friday night because once we left at around 9pm, Uncle Bo's was PACKED! Uncle Bo's is "A-OK" so far and hope to return to try more things.
(3)Kate J.
Love this place! It really is as good as it gets! The vibe inside is very cool. Great food, awesome atmosphere, and fun people. The pupus are delicious and come to your table quickly. My favorites are the Dynamite Shrimp and the Thai Steamer Clams. A reservation on the weekend is a must. But if you go early enough in the evening you may be lucky enough to snag a seat at the bar.
(5)Valerie N.
This place defines "don't judge a book by it's cover". We wouldn't have given this place a second look if not for the high recommendations from some locals. Our eyes are much bigger than our tummies bc we ordered like we've never eaten before. But when are we going to have a chance to come back to try the million of options on the menu? Dynamite shrimp: tempura shrimp with a spicy aoli. Good but not as bomb as everyone else made it sound. Crab cakes: 2 gigantic cakes made with real crab. Yummy! Boca-rata: sooo heffer status!! It's delish but how can you go wrong with prime rib, cheesy bread and more cheese? Thai style steamed clams: very good. Sauce is yummy dipped with bread. Waitress was your average friendly. Overall, not disappointed by all the hype but I'm not dying to rush back to stuff my face again either.
(3)Julia H.
LOVE their Clams! Its so tasty and juicy, I even ask for more bread to clean out the sauce (gross, i know!)
(5)Clam J.
super good food usually packed so you know its good!!!
(4)Maxine M.
Yum, yum, yum. This place has great decor and comfortable seating. Couldn't decide what to wear coming here. Depends on the time of day and company you come with I suppose. The food is always good and the staff is warm and inviting. Don't let the outside fool you, it looks like a whole in the wall kind of place from the outside. A whole other story on from the inside. I like the mood of the place minus the stuck up snooty people that usually come along with it. It's down to earth and very chill with a full bar and yummy food in decent portions for the money. Would suggest making reservations if you are coming with a group or on a Friday or Saturday night. Parking is not usually a problem, but the wait can be annoying otherwise.
(4)Joey H.
I ordered the Chicken Parmesan which looked mouth-watering and the type of dish that everyone wants to glance over and say "What's that!!!" After the temperature of the food went from fresh to room temp, it started to lose it's value. I didn't want to keep eating, so I just ate the rest of the chicken...and cheese, and tried to enjoy the meal. I put it in a box and gave it to my brother, who for some reason thought it was good. bleh. It's probably because he didn't eat it from the beginning. If I didn't like my food, why 3-stars? The Clams and sauce is AWESOME! You only receive maybe like 8 clams, but the sauce was drooly-goodness. OMG status. ughhh. I could taste it in my mouth right now! Btw, this dinner was on my birthday. July Fizzle!
(3)Dutchess K.
Uncle Bo's = Uncle No's. I was forewarned that the outside of the restaurant looked a little shady yada yada yada, we've all gotten the spiel. The outside doesn't look shady; it just looks like Moe's Southwest Grill. The interior is what you would get if a sports bar, a lo-fi gym and Marquee Night Club had a baby. There is a really spectacular Lisa Frank-esque wall mural of two fish right when you walk in that will love if you love Lisa Frank as much as I do. It was pretty crowded with mostly a younger demographic. While the menu is extensive and offers many a pupu, it is rife with grammatical and spelling errors such as "fetta" cheese. I wouldn't really care if the food was bangin' but.....notsomuch. Everything I ordered seemed to have an excess of some unidentifiable Bo's creamy mayonnaise sauce. The vegetable side seemed 2 reminiscent of frozen veggies 4 com4t. The one thing we ordered that was actually pretty good was the shrimp walnut lettuce wraps. I also will give props to the bar for making a smooth Lemon Grass Martini. In summation, if you are looking for a place for bar/finger foods/the Moe's Southwest Grill of Hawaii, you'll probably be very satisfied with Uncle B's. They have really nice servers and a chill vibe. I was disappointed because I had been misled by a review to believe that there was some sort of inventive culinary orgy going down in the kitchen there, and this just wasn't happening.
(3)Bobbie W.
I've been to this restaurant several times and with the exception of my first experience (when they first opened), had an exceptional dining experience. When we go, we like to stick to the pupu menu and eat family style. My fav items would have to be the hamachi carpaccio and clams! Fun environment to get together with friends and share a bottle or two of wine!
(4)Erin S.
First and only downfall: parking. There is basically none. Had to pay to park in the lot across the street. Now, once inside, we were attended to right away. I loved the ambiance and atmosphere of Uncle Bo's. We were seated in the back corridor and I appreciated the lovely paintings surrounding us. Too bad they were 5k to purchase. Our server helped us right away. She was very friendly and attentive. My husband ordered the Cajun Ahi appetizer and he loved it. I don't care for ahi, but the sauce on the side was amazing with my bread! We both ordered pasta and it was good. This was a good dining experience for both my husband and myself - we would go back again if we lived a little closer. On the way out, I again really appreciated the atmosphere - it is just exquisite.
(4)Maude L.
Didn't like the food at all. Got the dynamite shrimp, pork skewers and cajun ahi. Only the cajun ahi was okay. The dynamite shrimp was basically shrimp in seasoned mayo, the pork skewers were rather flavorless. I'm the type that always finishes food or takes it home, and I had no desire to do either with the shrimp or the pork. While the food gets only one star, the reasonably priced drinks and niceness of the place (decor and service) get a star. I'd say it's a 3-4 star bar, but a 1-2 star restaurant.
(2)Murray B.
After going different times with friends, here are some of my impressions -good pupus overall!; the ahi poke, the spicy tuna wraps and the cajun seared ahi with honey glaze were the favorites; the ribs were just OK -interior has a modern feel to it but still seems inviting -extensive wine list with 50+ (nope, that's not a typo) selections spanning the globe; if bubbles are your thing, champagnes are available -while valet parking is an option, finding parking nearby wasn't a problem I like the versatility of the place, the cool atmosphere and the service was attentive. Good place to share pupus, have cocktails or just drop by and relax with a beer while watching hoops or whatever is on the flatscreen tvs behind the bar.
(4)Debi S.
This restaurant is wonderful!! My associate and his wife took me there after work one night. The food was fabulous, the cocktails great and the service was first rate! For appetizers we had clams and the pork nachos. For dinner I had the fish tacos - so wonderful! Their desserts are to die for. Bottom line...GO THERE!!!
(5)Matt V.
very tasty food all around. We had a BUNCH of pupus...most notable were the dynamite shrimp, although I was expecting lightly fried with a tangy sause...they were fried, covered in mayo and spicy sauce. That being said they rocked, I just couldn't eat too many of them because they were very rich. Spinach salad was nom nom too Spaghetti with seafood very tasty Service was friendly and attentive
(5)G. K.
Uncle Bo's was delicious! Great place to go with friends or ohanas. My favorite pupus were the Spicy Tuna Wrap with Korean nori, the Seafood Ceviche and the Thai-style steamer clams. Also, UNCLE BO'S SEAFOOD CATCH was an incredible pasta dish! Mahalo!
(5)Trey D.
Great pupus, great atmosphere, great drinks. Just watch out for the crowds, the place is usually quite busy on weekends, and they do not take reservations, so get there early! Shrimp dynamite a must.
(5)Christopher K.
Great hang out for dinner. Energetic atmosphere and great service. We started with a lemongrass martini and beer. Stella on draught hit the spot after surfing. The Thai style steamers came next. There is oystervsauceand something sweet in the broth...maybe honey. It worked well with the slight heat. Also tried the ahi poke and kaluha pig fried rice. Both are delicious. The smoke of the pig is perfect and the ahi sauce has that Polynesian twist. $16 cab ride there and back from Waikiki Beach was well worth it for the local flavor. Plan a casual dinner there any night....you won't be disappointed.
(4)Betty P.
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOH, yummy in my tummy! I love Uncle Bo's pupu Bar and Grill!!! Even if its an hour wait! Came to Hawaii and this place is a must VISIT! The last time I was here - 3 years ago with my cousin. The food was de-li-ci-ious!!!!! We order like 5 items on their menu! I'm not very fond of their dynamite shrimp but everyone else I had was pretty darn good! Btw, DO NOT, I REPEAT, DO NOT order the JJ Bakeries Dessert! That thing is horrible. We actually went to the Bakery itself and boy was I disappointed! So instead, my friends and I got the brownie ala mode! It was a nice way to top off my meal!
(4)Jerome L.
As noted in a previous review, I had visited Uncle Bo's on my last visit (a year ago) and the place was fantastic, with great service, very good food and extremely large portions. Well, I went back this year, not once but twice while in Honolulu during the month of July. Wouldn't you know it, Uncle Bo's was even better than before. We had a waitress named Jacqueline who really made us feel special with her outstanding service. She really knew the menu and pointed out things that she felt would fit our taste. The first time we went, I had Uncle Bo's ribs and the Thai chicken wings with a side salad that was huge. My wife had a new item called "Boca Rota" which she really enjoyed. Now get this, these were "pupus" and with the shared salad we could not finish it. On the second visit, I had the "Dynamite Shrimp" and my wife had the" Uncle Bo's Nachos." And again, the food was out of this world. Unfortunately, on our second visit Jacqueline was not on duty, but the service was still great. If you are in Honolulu, do yourself a favor, put a visit to Uncle Bo's on your bucket list, it's a must! P.S. If possible get Jacqueline as your server, she is simply great!
(5)Jirarat S.
If I had written this review about 2 years ago, after the first 2 times I went, I would have given them 2 or 3 stars. I just ate here again last Saturday and I actually enjoyed it. From the other times I came here, I was under the impression that they served small portions for the price and that everything was covered in mayo. I guess it was just what we ordered, which was mostly from the recommendation of my brother. I have since learned not to trust my brother with his food and restaurant picks. So Saturday night I went here with my date around 7:30 and thought we would have to wait for 30-40 minutes. We only ended up waiting for 10 minutes. I let my date pick what we would order since he clearly really wanted to. So we had ahi sashimi, ahi poke (I even questioned his choices of 2 ahi dishes), the opah mauna kea and the filet mignon. The filet was surprisingly good for an entree that was $19. I don't know where else you could get a 7-8 oz filet with sides for less than $35. The opah had this creamy crab crust which I think was mayo based so that made it a little heavier and less appetizing in my opinion. My other complaint is that they put too much onions in the ahi poke. That's just a waste for them since we both didn't eat the onions. I didn't have any drinks or dessert, but maybe next time. As for the general atmosphere and set up, I thought that our table was too close to our neighboring tables. I felt like I had to watch what I was saying 'cause I didn't want others to hear. I also felt like everyone there was dressed to go clubbing or something. Maybe they were, but to me, that place isn't really worth the effort to get all dolled up.
(4)Lynda N.
This spot definitely had a locals vibe. It's a bit off of the touristy stretch and there were three birthday celebrations while we were there. Yes, THREE! I could see why this would be a popular spot to celebrate a birthday. It has a nice sized bar, lounges towards the front, bar seating for dinner, and more tables in the back area as well as the front. I had the baked opah mauna kea with garlic chili aioli, garlic shrimp, and mashed potatoes. It was delicious! I enjoyed every bite from fish to shrimp. I would definitely order this again, but will ask for the aioli on the side to control how much mayo is slathered on my perfectly healthy piece of baked fish.
(4)Slade N.
Loved the Spicy Tofu. Great flavor.
(4)Tanner E.
Awesome food!! The Kalua Pork nachos are the best! I just all around love this place! You really can't go wrong no matter what you order.
(4)Shannon L.
Thai style steamed clams!!!!! They are so huge, tender, tasty, and the sauce is great to dip the bread into. Everything else was a little overpriced and they also go heavy on the garlic aoili which wipes out the taste of everything else. If you don't mind the walk, park 2 blocks up the street at the Safeway shopping center and then on the way back to the car, stop off at Leonard's malasadas for a great dessert.
(4)Braden K.
small kine upscale from the town scene. came with family for a little classier grinds, family style, tapas wannabe kine. don't judge this book by its cover. from the outside, you'd believe me if i told you uncle bo sold adult toys. once you get in, everyones dressed properly and the atmosphere is solid. food is good, prices are right, diggin the atmosphere. we ready! try it out, you won't be disappointed. i eat too much and too often, so naturally the portions never filled me up, but when do they ever?
(4)Michael W.
My family is in Hawaii on vacation and happened upon Uncle Bo's and were very glad we did. It's a bit off the beaten path and doesn't look like much from the outside. However the interior is very nice and the service and the food were outstanding. Our only problem was that we ordered too much. Prices were very reasonable for the quality of the experience. I would highly recommend this restaurant if you're in Honolulu.
(5)Katrina F.
Wow, someone finally figured it out hah? This location has changed owners so many times! But Uncle Bos has been here for a while and I definitely know why! My boyfriend and I come here about once every two weeks, usually for drinks and pupus. Their dirty martinis are excellent, dynamite shrimp and clams are a must have, and the employees are all super nice, especially the bartenders. I see a lot of the same employees, which means not a lot of turnover, which means a properly run business!! I have ordered off of the dinner menu, but I have actually been pretty disappointed :( Just skip the entrees and get a bunch of apps! Dont forget the dessert...chocolate cake is amazing too! We keep coming back here and I can see why it is so successful. Great service, tasty and not-too-expensive food, and yummy drinks! Great Friday night at Uncle Bos!
(5)Lilie N.
Oyster shooters! Four for $7! Who beats that??! Clams are delicious... the service is quick, n the scene is a party. It does look like a hole in the wall place fromt he outside, but shocking once you go inside because it's very modern and nice. Love this place! It's just right outside of Waikiki where all the good eats are.
(5)Jon L.
I finally made it to Uncle Bo's. And I was pretty happy about it. It was a Saturday night, and the crowd was moderate. We did have a friend grab us a table, and the rest of us showed up a half hour fashionably late, so thereby skipping any wait he may have had. Sure he had to endure the awkwardness of sitting at a table for 6 by himself but I heard that strengthens your immune system. Now for srsly, what we ordered: Pizza Ahi salad Dynamite shrimp Some garlic cheese bread with meat cubes..? Pasta Lots of beer All delicious. The food was 3.75/5 - I've seen the same plates elsewhere and the stuff was delicious in a generic way. Service: 4/5 - no complaints Price: 4/5 - on the pricier range of a pupu's bar, on the same token it's comparable to side street inn, which I would consider Uncle Bo's analog. Presentation/ambience: 4/5 - dope. It's a cleaner, 'nicer' side street inn. I'm rounding up on the score, and will definitely suffer through a little more town traffic to get to Uncle Bo's rather than side street inn. update: went back two weeks later for another good experience, so kudos for consistency.
(4)Dani P.
This is my go to dinner/drinks/girls nite out place!!! Not to mention I cn walk to it :) Parking is kindof hit or miss, (parking lot across the street for $ or metor street parking on kapahulu. Whenever I want a fun dinner date or drinks with girlfriends I always end up going to Uncle Bos! I can never think of another place better to go. Its also a perfect place to 'pre-game' Food is soooooo good too, the opah is bomb. Love it!
(5)Michael T.
Uncle Bo's has perfected the formula for restaurants/bars. I give it five stars for food, beverage, ambiance, and service. Among the local eat-and-drink places, Uncle Bo's is at the head of the class in all categories. Food: The appetizers are creative (way beyond standard and greasy bar fare), delicious, and reasonably priced, given quantity and quality. Among my favorite appetizers are the Thai-style steamer clams (the chili and garlic sauce is unbelievable), the Cajun seared ahi (the drizzled glaze gives it an extra boost), the boca rota (prime rib, mushrooms and cheese on toast, and oh so decadent), and the shrimp dynamite (the panko "crust" is amazing). No matter how delicious everything is, my absolute favorite so far is the seafood trap, a medley of seafood cooked just right and bathed in a soupy sauce that is laced with garlic and a form of chili (both mild so as not to overpower the seafood). That sauce is so good that my friend G. drinks it like a soup! The only mediocre appetizer I've tasted so far is the tiger-pork kabob -- lean, hence dry; good, but not worth repeating. The salads are sizable and fresh. In particular, I love the warm spinach salad. The prime rib, as an entree, is lean and cooked expertly. The mud pie is a great way to end your meal. Beverages: Boddington pale ale from England! For my taste, the best beer, and they have it! They also have a larger wine selection than expected. Ambiance: Chic decor; colorful and neatly arrayed bottles behind the bar; a nifty room divider that looks like ball bearing strands hanging from the ceiling; and black and white photo posters in the bathroom (male side anyway). Service: This is where Uncle Bo's really separates itself from the pack. The hostesses are cordial, cheerful and creative. The one bartender with whom I interacted (when the creative hostess put my friend G. and me at the bar during a particularly busy night) was straight-up, even honestly informing us that we had ordered one too many appetizers, and he was right. We were stuffed even with our reduced order. The servers are attentive, able to engage in intelligent conversation, and knowledgeable about the food and drinks available on the menu (one server even "researched" the significance of the plastic thing in the Boddington beer can for me!). I've been to too many restaurants and bars where the servers stand around, annoyingly checking their smart phones, while customers desperately try to flag them down even for a simple water refill. Happily, such slothful behavior does not occur at Uncle Bo's! Even the parking situation -- at first, a mild inconvenience -- is no longer a problem or impediment for me. I park in the $4 lot across Kapahulu Avenue, cross at the intersection, and walk a few yards to Uncle Bo's. . . averaging once a week I'd say.
(5)Lea G.
Always like to try a local joint when I am in a new area and after hearing some friends recommendations, we decided to try out Uncle Bo's for dinner. There was a nice selection of pupus (appetizers). My sis and I were not too hungry so we dined on the pupus: the ahi poke, Thai clams and walnut shrimp wraps. All quite yummy. The guys had entrees: the ribeye steak and crab stuffed lobster. While the lobster was on the small side it was quite flavorful but the real star was the steak. The staff was accommodating. We made reservations at 8:30 and were seated promptly. We would recommend and return.
(4)Beverly P.
This place was so deceiving! From the outside it looks like a dirty hole-in-the-wall type of restaurant, but it was actually a pretty trendy place! The pupus are AMAZING! We had 2 of the clam bowls and practically all the pupus, which were pretty diverse. We were too full to venture into the actual dinner menu but we're definitely going here again. Also, their drink selection is extensive and their cocktails are creative. Service was excellent and ambiance was soothing.
(5)Alan C.
This place seemed super popular from the amount of people i saw waiting outside. once in, you must get the THAI STYLE CLAMS! amazing sauce, ive never had anything like it, i couldnt even describe it. I also had the dynamite shrimp which was ok their cocktails were decent. try it out. it seemed like a hip hangout spot.
(3)George P.
When you need to take out your girlfriend/wife or boyfriend/husband or extended family or have a friend visiting Hawaii, take them here! I have nothing but great things to say about their food, their service, and the overall experience. Yeah, parking is paid across the street, but let me tell you that it's worth it! As far as the food goes, I have two words SEAFOOD TRAP. Sooooo good I could eat it as an entree! Husband had the steamed opakapaka, best opakapaka I've ever had! Run, don't walk to Uncle Bo's!
(5)Kevin A.
Awesome place for pupus and drinks. If you like to order a variety of pupus for dinner, this is the place. It's right next to Irifune in a cool, modern setting. Dynamite Shrimp was dynamite and the Boca Rota was generous and very good. The Hamachi Sashimi was disappointing, though, and it dragged my rating down to 4 stars.
(4)Anna K.
I'm a PROUD TOWNIE and an even PROUDER KAPAHULU RESIDENT. Look at all the eateries we have in our area. It's mind blowing how great Kapahulu is.. just saying. Anyways Uncle Bo's is one of the great places in the area. Kapahulu is old and if you were to look at Uncle Bo's, you might not think anything of it. Good food? Cute place? Save your raised eyebrow for something else because the decor is trendy, like the bars in downtown and the food is fantastic, such as the dynamite shrimp, kalua pig nachos, spinach crab dip, escargot, etc. The list of great dishes goes on and on. The alcohol selection is great too, which I am basing on the available beers they have on hand. Uncle Bo's is a cute place to eat if you're on a date with a guy or with your girlfriends. However, there are several downfalls to this place. Since the place is small, the tables situated in the middle of the restaurant are close to each other. The one time I was placed there, my friends Jason and David happened to have dinner there too so we were lucky to have a familiar face sitting that close to us. The parking situation is a little tricky. There are meter stalls around the restaurant and valet parking at the school located next door. There is also a parking lot across the street and spots around the neighborhood so don't fret too much. In addition, sometimes the music gets turned up later in the night so you'll feel like you're in a club and thus, can make it difficult to talk to another person if you're on a date. Thus, go early to find good parking and enjoy a fantastic meal without straining your ear to hear your date.
(4)Rita D.
Food is great. We went there with another couple. We waited for a while but the food is worthy. We only got the appetizers -- my husband had a seafood one and I had a thailand claims. Both of them are good. We ate them with the bread. They are good for a meal. Love it. The service is great. The waitress is very cute there.
(5)Kimo S.
My review is based off a recent visit on a Friday night on the food & drinks we had. First off, don't let the outside appearance turn you off... it is much more trendy inside. The main dining/lounge area fills up quickly but the room in the back (where we sat) has more space but is also a little more 'plain' in style. The servers were quick, attentive and knowledgeable about the food & drinks. Big plus. My fiance ordered the Lychee Martini and said it was amazing. There are very few places that make a good Lychee Martini (besides Ryan's) and this is one to try. We ordered: 1. Calamari - amazing, tender pieces (no tendril pieces), great flavoring without having to dunk them in a sauce. The tomatoes helped to balance the flavors out. 2. Crab Cakes - not canned crab, the real deal. You can taste and see the crab meat, it's really a great dish. The sauce is fantastic too, a light sauce with a hint of spice. 3. Bo Nacho's w/ Kalua Pig - Great take on nachos with the won ton chips, not an excessive amount of cheese but just enough with the right amount of Kalua Pig. I actually liked the 'chips' that were on the bottom because they soaked up the sauce. Just a note, the pupu portions are actually really large. We ordered those three dishes with plans to order more except we were stuffed and didn't finish everything. Considering that these dishes cost between $8 - $14 (nachos) it was a steal for the quality and size.
(5)Jilly H.
I ate the shrimp pizza and it was a little oily I'm assuming because of the delish cheese on there..but the oven baked bread was awesome and I still ate it all. The garlic chesse bread was also delish. My daughter had the Thai Manila clams and requested not to have the Thai spicy sauce in it...it still had alot of flavor without that. We had the hamachi sahimi which was okay. The presentation was cute with the nori sheets on the skewer.
(3)Lam N.
Food was barely ok... Ambiance was nice... Service was offensive... We ordered 4 appetizers to start...appetizers were served...5 minutes later, waitress asks: are you ready to order a 5th appetizer? Really? Don't you have eyes? We just started on the appetizer... Not even 2 minutes later, waitress asks: would you like another drink? I mean seriously, take a look at the martinis, we haven't had a chance to finish, because you are rushing us on the appetizers... We were so irritated, should have went accross the street to the "side door" To make a long story short, I would skip this place. Nothing special about it. Save yourself some grief, go accross the street. Somehow this place has grown an attitiude among its staff. The food does not merit this attitude. To the mgmt of Uncle Bo's : keep your staff in check. you ruined 1 of my only 5 nights in honolulu. you should be ashamed. --------------------------------------------------Â--------------------------------------------------Â----------- My opinion has not changed since writing this review. However, I would like to share that since this review, an obvious fan of this place has been stalking my other reviews and making lewd comments. It doesn't bother me too much, but I wanted to share.
(1)Lori M.
Thai mussels are the best!! Great place, very nice. the name is misleading, I think.
(5)Gspot H.
great soups and hip atmosphere.
(4)Michelle O.
Took the LA girls here when they came for a visit. Loved the swanky decor w/o the uptight attitude. We were able to get a table w/o reservations on a pretty crowded Thurs PM. Our drinks came quickly and soon after our rib appetizers. In fact, we actually had an additional waiter check in on us btwn delivery of our drinks/appetizer and our meal. I had the chicken piccata which was EXCELLENT! The sauce was perfectly seasoned, the chicken was prepared perfectly and reheating the left overs the next day was just as tasty. Definitely recommend checkin this place out if you've never been. I certainly intend on returning.
(4)Vera S.
Food is awesome. Get the Boca Rota, Hamachi Sashimi, Dynamite Shrimp. This place won't disappoint.
(5)Tiffany B.
on a work trip and networking after-all the locals who worked in town just HAD to take us to this place.parking across the street in a dirt lot,I was like "um where are we?!" as we walked in-packed-young hip and vibrant!even the bathrooms are crazy cool where they slammed pictures all over the walls. Sat at the bar but there are private rooms where you can host dinner parties and a lot of room for casual pupus,drinks, and a good time. Service was very personal-even ha the chance to be introduced to the hard working owner himself. Martinis I always enjoy but one thing that popped out is their spicy shrimp! Yummmy!
(5)Jeraldine O.
Awesome food with excellent customer service Shrimp Dynamite
(5)Joe S.
Very nice food and Bevvies, the service is great too. I went there the other night and my daughter who is on a special diet came. Uncle Bo made somethiing that wasn't on the menu to keep our Keiki happy. Highly reccomended!
(5)Chris B.
Best place for eat and drink all nite
(5)Peggy C.
After reading all the rave reviews, my bf and I decided to come here. The reviews and website made it sound like a trendy place, but really, the exterior and much of the interior was pretty divey. It was crowded, so we ate at the bar. We had a bread basket, which was warm, but seemed like it had been reheated. The portions were huge, but the food was just ok. The butterfish was grilled, I think, and the first half was moist and juicy, but the second half was strangely dry and hard (very strange). The accompanying veggies were standard Western bistro fare--zucchini sliced at an angle.
(2)Amanda P.
DON'T make the mistake of walking by this gem. Food is great. Local eatery was packed on a Tuesday and rightfully so. Reasonably priced for Hawaii. Dynamite shrimp and any of the Opah dishes are wonderful!
(4)Tessa t.
yelp 365 challenge #70/365 had to give the another star.... i have been here twice since my last review... sooo f@#$@# good!! prime rib and mashed potatoes! LOVE IT! last night i came here with a few of the girls... they ordered...and ordered everything right! clams...why have i never ordered this? amaZing. boca rota...the best. the meat was so tender and the bread so cheesy! warm spinach salad, holy moly! walnuts and strawberries...my mouth is craving more! dynamite shrimp, couldn't stop eating it! i love this place! i will be here again... rack of lamb is the next on my list to try from here... thank you uncle bo. you make my tummy smile :) service as always is on point. p.s. thank you girls! without you, my mouth wouldn't have experienced such wonderful flavors :D
(4)Katherine S.
We arrived very late in the evening after a long flight. This place is noisy. As soon as we finished our food and drink I was ready to get the heck out. But, to be fair, it was late at night, I was tired, and the TV's in the restaurant were showing infomercials. I really loved the crab artichoke dip and would love to eat that again.
(3)Nicole M.
4 Stas for the following reasons: 1. Food is good, had a couple off times where the same dish isn't as good as I remember the last one being, but still tasty. 2. Staff is always nice and honest, if they are behind, they tell you, if the food is back logged they let you know. I like that. 3. They are open late. I ate once at 10 p.m. and had a great meal, well served and made. 4. Atmosphere is distinct and well done. No uncomfy chairs or bech seats, all very nice. 5. Price is great for the food. You figure that the price must cover a mutiptude of expenses and that being said, the price is totally on point. I don't feel like I'm paying too much. 6. FRIED ICE CREAM!
(4)Tyler D.
What is the hype on this place? I don't get it...I have yet to have anything good there. It isn't terrible, but I just haven't seen one dish that impressed me at all. Okay...I see cute girls there sometimes...I guess that keeps me coming back for drinks on occasion. Everyone tells me this is a great place to bring a date, but I don't see why...like bringing sand to the beach
(2)Jacob B.
Pretty good. The food was very good, service was just okay. Could improve on refilling drinks, more prompt attention. The quality of the food very much outweighed the service.
(4)Amanda L.
I've been here before and loved it, but when this tiny place is crowded you can't hear anything! We were sat at a table in the middle so the people standing keep putting their asses near our faces AND their famous dynamite shrimp tastes like macaroni and cheese!!! We're outta here!
(2)Estella H.
This is a long delayed review from a trip to Hawaii way long ago. This is a long delayed review from a trip to Hawaii way long ago. Felt a little uncertain of this place when I walked in because it it screamed "bar atmosphere" more than yummy pupus, but the food was so good. Thai-style Steamer Clams - really fresh delicious clams. The sauce was so good, although by the end it started feeling kind of too sweet. Dynamite Shrimp - a unique dish and pretty tasty Sea Bass - Broiled w/ garlic citrus-butter, topped w/ lobster dill sauce - yummy sauce and the fish was cooked perfectly...I hate overcooked fish. This seemed like a place that the regulars frequent and I think I saw the owner floating around and checking in on people too.
(4)Tim V.
This is the best in Hawaii. I had the nachos, boca rota pizza, pork belly and the SOS. Wow this place was awesome. Must try. I'm from Montana, I found on yelp. Was perfect for my birthday.
(5)Jamie D.
Started with the drinks...all super delicious! Then ahi poke also really good. The steak was cooked perfectly (medium rare). Service was very quick and friendly for how busy it was. The Hobo's for desert were my favorite part.
(5)Jamieee D.
After reading the reviews I was really excited to go here but I guess I set my expectations too high. Food wasn't all that great as what I had imagined. We chose whatever was said to be the popular items on the menu. It was also recommended to me by a friend to try their seafood dish (see pictures) and it tasted ok. Their Kalua pork fried rice was lacking in taste and it tasted a bit dry. We also had what looked like fried shrimp dynamite but i didn't enjoy the Panko crust they used. It tastes a bit of a mixture of whole wheat bread and Parmesan. You might just wanna try it though. I want to give this place another try and see if there is something else better on the menu that what she had chosen.
(2)Alex W.
Restaurant was not too busy when we got there around 8 so that was nice considering the hidden gem we found on yelp. We got the garlic shrimp starter. It was amazing and what the restaurant is known for. If you like shrimp def should get it. They are the small shrimps. I got the chicken pesto and the wife got the fish tacos as our main meals. We both really liked our meals.
(5)Nicole M.
Super cute atmosphere, nice and cozy. Service was great! People were polite. Food was amazing, I got a seafood dish and it was melt in your mouth tender. Food is so tasty!
(5)Denell G.
The food is amazing here!!! My husband and I shared a pizza and it was more than enough. The service was also good and our food came quickly. I give it 4 stars in that the place was loud to begin with, and I didn't like that the music got louder later in the evening.
(4)Sheila A.
My boyfriend and I decided to try this place after having this place recommended several times and looking at countless pictures of boca rota on yelp. The setting here is very lounge like and looks like it gets packed pretty fast. So I advise booking in advance or ordering take out which is what we did. Due to the fact everyone raved over the boca rota we decided to get two orders of it. It was delicious to say the least but it has a bit of a spicy kick to it. Certainly understand all the hype over it now
(5)Amber T.
Uncle Bo's was the place we held our group Christmas party at because of their awesome buffet deal. If you get more then ten people to come, you can have your choice of ten appetizers buffet style! Yummie. So we got this deal and it is quite worth. Basically we just made a ton of orders for the clams lol! But all the appetizers are good. Service was pretty good, along with the nice ambiance inside. Very good place to have a party with a group of people!
(5)Jeff B.
great atmosphere and great appetizers. Fine selection of spirits as well. Service was fast and friendly. Definitely recommend.
(4)Kristy N.
We had Yelped restaurants before we came to Hawaii and were so looking forward to trying this place. What a let down! We ate here this evening and are surprised at all the wonderful reviews. The "spicy" dynamite shrimp not only was it not spicy, it really had no flavor. It said it was wok fried so we thought the shrimp would be crispy and it was gooey. We also tried the Boca Rota and the meat was tender but lacked any seasoning. The bread it came with was good and cheesy. The spinach and artichoke dip was just okay. When I inquired about the fish used in the fish tacos, the waitress said "mostly opako" which I thought was unusual. The fish tacos came and the fish was in very small pieces of fish like what you get in fish sticks. Very strange to not get whole pieces of fish. We would not come back to this restaurant.
(2)Dan F.
I'm sorry but I can't agree with 3 of my yelp friends who reviewed this place and gave them high remarks. The pupu buffet does seemed like a good deal but that's only if you can stomach cheese, cream, cheese & cream, cream & cheese. You also need a party of 10 people willing to go through the journey of extreme richness. About 1/3 of the pupu menu is not included in the buffet such as most of the seafood offerings. What I liked of the meal was the Kalua Pig Fried Rice, Thai-Steamer Clams, Dynamite Shrimp, Calamari, and Garlic Cheesy Bread. What I didn't like was the Wonton Chips with Salty Hummus Dip, the Bo's Big Soggy Nachos, the Unappetizing Shaken Beef, the Deep Fried Potstickers, the Very Creamy Spinach Artichoke Dip, and finally the Appetite Killer Kalua Pork Quesadilla. Our first round of food was enjoyable at first. Everything was good tasting and amazing. My biggest mistake was eating the Kalua Pork Quesadilla. It was just so damn rich and dense with cheese cream that anything I ate tasted like cream cheese. Even the Thai Clams began to taste creamy. I just couldn't eat anything else after that. I wasn't full but I couldn't eat anymore. I tried eating a lemon to cleanse my palate but it didn't work. I couldn't even look at the food and I had to play solitaire on my cellphone to keep myself from puking. I probably would've been disgusted if I played Fruit Ninja or Candy Crush Saga. If your lactose intolerant like me, I suggest you get yourself some lactase pills before doing the pupu buffet.
(3)Michele F.
Fun unique place with great food and ambiance. Had the boca rotto. Delicious. Great drink menu.
(4)Corinne O.
This place was just the right place to start off our Hawaiian adventure! My initial thought of seeing this places was it was just a hole in the wall, but when you walk in, you will think differently! It was decorated pink to my liking and very modern. I felt kinda like i was in Vegas. LOL. My local cousin made reservations and he has a Hawaiian name and me and my bf are dark (can pass as locals) so i think we were treated extra good. haha.... even one of the waitress asked us if we were locals at the end of our meal, which is kinda funny. The menu was amazing! We ordered 10 pupus-- aka appetizers and shared them family style. We also did that with our main courses. We had some Kahlua pork sliders with a taro bun, which was my favorite and I think stood out the most. We also got to try Opah, which is like a expensive rare fish. I also had a couple mojitos to top it off. I think they have a seasonal menu and whatever is in season is what they offer. The servers were also very nice and accommodating especially since we kept ordering things here and there and kept a menu in hand. Food also came out really fast! Great place to check out if in Honolulu!
(5)Kristina M.
Ordered Boca Rota and Calamari. Boca rota was good, definitely enough to share. Calamari was slightly over cooked. Arrived around 730 and sat right away, by 8pm there was a wait. Overall, we enjoyed it.
(4)Nic J.
This place was an easy 5 star restaurant and probably the best meal I had on the island. I wasn't too happy about the 45 minute wait but Im never too happy when I have to wait for anything. While waiting my party got some drinks at the bar, kind of expensive, $40 for two IPA's and two mules. We finally sat down and just started ordering apps. Went with the Thai steamed clams, which were awesome. The complimentary bread soaks up the clam broth nicely. Ordered beef tongue skewers, Boca Rota, oyster shooters, and pork belly app. Everything tasted great. The boca rota was awesome, not sure WTF a boca rota is, but order it, you won't regret it. For dessert we had the hobo taro beignets and the mud pie. The beignets come with some kind of sauce(not too sweet) and they might have been one of the best things I've ever eaten, dessert wise. Wasn't extremely impressed with the mud pie, was expecting more of a hula pie I guess. Either way the food was awesome as was the service and our party left very impressed. This place is a must when in Waikiki.
(5)Christine Y.
The food was awesome! Rich and tasty, especially enjoyed the boca rota. We were so full on the pupus we didn't get to try their desserts. They had a really upbeat atmosphere. The only downsides was the one-stall bathroom for each men and women and street parking/paid parking lot. It was a little difficult to spot the location due to all the road construction blocking off the front of the restaurant.
(3)Anthony H.
Uncle Bo's is a spot I have visited every time I've been to Honolulu (3 times). The atmosphere is casual with a wide range of maturity levels. The menu is rather broad. Plenty of selections to choose from. The staff is easy on the eyes too. (That's a +) It gets pretty busy so be prepared to wait, depending on the time you visit. I would've added photos of my food, but I was starving and went right in. :-) Just go and check it out for yourself.
(4)Carmen M.
The food here is amazing! The service, the price, the flavors...all on point! For those of you who want to go but failed to make a reservation, you can avoid a long wait if you eat a light snack and make it a late dinner. If you do end up waiting long, it's worth it!
(5)Andre P.
One word...Amazing. We couldn't get past the Pupu menu. The Dynamite Shrimp and Seafood trap are out of this world. Not one bad item on the menu. We came on the advice of a local bartender, and ending up eating here every night of the remainder of our vacation. Prices are reasonable, but I can't emphasize the fantastic flavors of every dish. From the outside you would never guess the diamond mine inside. Highly recommended to everyone who comes to Honolulu.
(5)Christopher C.
Great atmosphere and great service! My wife and I went last night for date night. We had the sashimi, tai Manila clams, lobster bisque and opah pasta. So Ono. As a newbie to uncle Bo's the owners Bo and Ho suk came out to introduce themselves and greet us. That's getting to know your customers! All about great food, great service and the relationship.
(5)Lisa G.
Uncle Bo's is a great place to go with friends when you want a cool atmosphere, good pupus, and good drinks. Keep in mind that you have to find parking, which might take some time, and then walk there. What we ate: Spinach artichoke crab dip with fresh won ton chips, thai style clams, shrimp. The food is really good, tasty, and comes in good portions. Order a bunch of pupus and share with your friends. Get the clams, the sauce is delicious! We had a slight problem when a waitress spilled ketchup on one of our friend's shirts and said "oh did I get you" and never apologized. But the manager came and made it up by giving us a round of dessert shots.
(4)Mike T.
What's cool about this place is they have cheap drinks and they pour pretty well. I had a crown rocks & my gf had a Mai Tai and both were about $6 each. Décor is also nice, similar to an upscale lounge. I think the food is average here. I tried all the fusion "locals favorites" and I was disappointed w/ most of them. I think if I sticked to something less fusiony stuff I would've liked it more. Dynamite Shrimp $12 -Eh.... First thing I noticed was the shrimp wasn't deveined (which means all the poo from the shrimp is left inside). My gf was picking out the veins from the shrimp before eat it. That's not right.., Thai Style Clams $12 - average - The sauce is way to sweet. I would've preferred they stick to more Thai style and put more lemon grass & basil in it. Ask for extra lemons and it'll help neutralize some of the sweetness. Boca Rota $16 - average - I didn't remember anything special about this dish. Cheesy bread w/ prime rib & mushrooms. I will say it's big enough for 2 people to share. Ahi Sashimi $12 - below average - First off I was amazed w/ the presentation of this dish. it's beautiful. Presentation is easily 5/5. The ahi looks like it was seared to perfection. But why, why, why, are you covering the ahi w/ such a sweet sauce? It completely masks the taste of the ahi! You might as well have taken a frozen fillet and covered it w/ the same sauce - the result would've tasted the same.
(3)Kevin T.
We were told to come here for dinner by a local friend. We got there right at 5PM and were seated immediately. We had Kalua Pig fried rice, Sashimi, Clams, crispy pork, oysters, and calamari. All were excellent. Will definitely be back whenever we're in HNL.
(5)Jason T.
OMFG food coma heaven! If you ever get the chance to come here with a group of ten or more people, MAKE SURE YOU GET THE ALL YOU CAN EAT PUPU SPECIAL. For just $28 a person you get to eat everything they have on there pupu menu and they don't play around. From the moment you tell the server you are doing the all you can eat pupu, the food just starts coming immediately. This isn't some all you can eat places where they bring you one dish and make you wait 30 minutes so that you are already full by the time it comes out. No no no, its not like that at all. The onslaught of food fills the whole table so that you find yourself struggling to find a space for the next plate. It's a race of how fast we can finish a dish so that we can find space on the table for the server to leave the plates so that she can walk back to the kitchen to bring back whatever the next dish that is ready. You don't even need to decide what you want to try because you WILL try EVERYTHING and they bring you two full orders of each pupu entree so both sides of the table gets their own. One pupu on the regular menu averages $10 which is totally worth the price on their own but you only pay $28 to overindulge on every last one of their awesome dishes. No need to fight over the last piece of clam because you can also request your favorite dishes after the endless rounds of the blitzkrieg of wonderful appetizers. Coming here was truly the best Christmas idea we made this year. I've never left a place feeling so happy and satisfied. No need to pick either quality or quantity. At Uncle Bos you get the best of both worlds.
(5)O D.
Definitely a locals spot since it's off the main strip in Waikiki. But definitely worth the trip. An electic menu, young & hip environment, good service, great owner. Highly recommend it. Clams and seafood ceviche were good
(5)Jodi M.
Our surfing instructor recommended this restaurant & I have to say, it's the BEST meal we've had in Waikiki! The food is amazing & servers are very nice. We plan to go again before we leave.
(5)Andrea P.
What can be said about this place! The food is excellent and the service is equally stellar. We have been going to this restaurant for a couple years now and have never been let down. You may have to wait for a table; it is a smaller place...but why not eat at the bar!? That's what we started doing and we usually get seated right away. Even better, we get to know the staff when we sit at the bar. They are awesome! Ho Suk is one of the owners and he is great to chat with. Bo is great as well. They always take great care of us. Must try the clams and the lobster dynamite..to die for!! They also have a great selection of cocktails. Enjoy!
(5)Nichola T.
We have Celebrated two birthday there recently. I love their food and their great drinks. The fried rice is amazing so are the clams. The servers are friendly and helpful.The ambience is nice. Can't wait to go back again and again.
(5)Kelsi J.
AMAZING!!! Must try. Don't skip the Boca Rota!!
(5)Paul M.
My wife and I were told about this place on our 2nd day. We waited until day 6 to go, what a mistake! This is the best place we have been to this week. The service, ambiance and food are incredible. Our bartender John is all about hospitality. This place is awesome!
(5)Monica R.
Went here on vacation after being recommended this restaurant from many locals in Waikiki. By far one of the best meals we had when we were there. The best was the spicy dynamite shrimp; it's a must have when you dine at uncle bo's. If your not a lounge type make sure you ask to have a seat in the dinning tables. Happy dining
(5)Jimmy J.
My friend made reservations for us on a weeknight and the place was packed. They squeezed us in at a table against the front door dividing wall. Other tables were opening up in the middle with more room but we didn't bitch to get one. We are big dudes, so we had to skootch the table a few off the wall to be able to bend our elbows to eat - there was plenty of room to the other side to allow people to pass. When the waitress came, she tried to push the table back against the wall and we stopped her. All I had to do was pull my elbow down to my side and it almost punched a hole in the divider. She understood the message and said OK, let's leave the table where it is. All the waitresses were smoking hot which was a plus. $6 for Longboards and Stella on tap. My $10 crabcakes and $13 Cajun ahi were tasty. My bud said his $24 paka was not fresh, overcooked and spiced up to mask it's lack of freshness. He didn't rave about the sides either. I get it, the place is trendy so everyone wants to go there. However, considering these price points and the cramped loud atmosphere here's a suggestion - go to Sidestreet. Cheaper beer, cheaper and larger portions, larger tables - you bring the hottie and the party with you.
(2)Amanda T.
I would give this place 5 stars but... They took a few of my favorite items off of the menu, why??! I've had to order other entres now that I wasn't blown away by, like the spiny lobster dinner was not that great, but I still love this place and almost everything on the menu.
(4)David J.
I'm gonna have to go with the 5 Star rating, even though it's not on the beach and maybe not as aloha as Dukes, but all the guys on layover were just about giddy over the food selection and may I say the girls serving are extremely cute, and I can say the boca rota was special, so it was a 5 star experience and it sure was hopping on a Saturday night packed with locals and that's really all you need to know anyway, right?
(5)Marty L.
This is the place to eat in Waikiki. Excellent dishes, great service and friendly atmosphere. Had the chefs choice for our party of 10. Everyone was satisfied and enjoyed it all. The prime rib was so tender you could cut it with a fork. Mashed potatoes were awesome, shrimp appetizer was off the chain. Go.
(5)tiffany t.
Thai clams and 6 little piggies. Finally something that's not covered in mayo or cream sauce !
(4)Max G.
Cool place. Very noisy so not the best sometimes. I really like some of their pupus, others are just average. I will go back again for sure. But it is not my favorite place on Kapahulu.
(3)Marie D.
This is a cute place, pretty far off the beaten path of Waikiki. They were super busy when we got there, so we had a drink at the bar. I asked the bartender to pick for me and I got a delicious pear drink, definitely try it. We had the shrimp lettuce wraps for appetizers and I got a fish I can't remember (that was a 2-3 rating) and my wife got a steak which she loved. My entree was disappointing, but my wife loved her steak so much, and the appetizer and drinks were so good I decided to go with a four. Steer clear of white fish and you'll enjoy yourself.
(4)Florence S.
If you are from out of town, this is definitely a place to go. Great place, food is yummy, and drinks are good. Ciroc Peach Lemonade good but sweet for those who don't like drinks too sweet. You have to get the nachos, they are bomb!
(4)Kelly M.
Everything was good. Nothing was great. Love to graze on lots of different dishes for dinner. Had all the things we were suppose to have boca rotta (cheesy break, steaks and mushrooms), dynamite shrimp (shrimp were just a touch mushy from being frozen), etc. Fun place, but we felt rushed even though no one was waiting for a table. Parking can be very tough.
(3)Tracy B.
I always hear about this place but I've only now tried it. The name and the sign is totally misleading. When we walked it, it was a total modern chic lounge type of feel. From the name, I thought it was just a regular chill eatery. The bar area is really nice and modern. I wasn't able to see the back room but my friend told me there's more seating and it's more of a dinner style room versus sitting in the room with the bar which gives more of a lounge feeling. Love the light up menus! Took me by surprise! We ordered the calamari and boca-rota (I think that's what it's called. Calamari comes with an interest soup type of dip. The calamari had a really nice crunch to it and the dipping soup/sauce added a nice flavor! The garlic bread, Mozzarella cheese, mushroom fusion thing was good too! The dip is really creamy! We only ordered those two appetizers and the portions were so big that we couldn't finish them at all! I gave this place 4 stars only because the parking situation kinda sucks. there is a paid parking lot next and across the restaurant and of course street parking, but I'm a convenience girl, so I docked one star for that. Overall I really enjoyed my experience. Hope to try other dishes and drinks next time!
(4)Kate M.
Went here with my boyfriend for his birthday for the first time and absolutely loved it! We live right near it and always pass it because it doesn't look very nice from the outside, however the atmosphere is awesome! Very modern, clean, and really cool! The food was awesome and so were our martinis. we'll be back for our next special occasion for sure!
(5)Shawna L.
I was expecting a sports bar but when you go inside there's a restaurant area, bar area, & small lounge. it was crowded when I went so we sat in the lounge w/ 2 couches & a table in the middle which was fine. found this on yelp & was rated good so decided to finally try it. we started off w/ the crab cakes & dynamite shrimp for pupus & those were already filling us up, & we were pretty hungry. the crab cakes were perfect & a pretty big size w/ the amt of crab they give in the cakes. & then the dynamite shrimp they give is also a good amt & the flavor was so good. then I got the misoyaki sea bass w/ garlic mashed potatoes. I don't usually like garlic but it was so subtle I loved it. there was kinda to much bak choi but the sea bass was so good & have like 4-5 big pieces I def had leftovers. the workers were really friendly & got our food really fast! they have a small parking lot on the side for $5. I def wanna go back to try more foods & even try their drinks.
(5)Josie S.
The SOS seafood bisque was hands down one of the best meals ever!!! Great place! Will highly recommended it to anyone!
(5)Ken C.
Great food and price. It is great dinner either for whole family, friends or just two of you. We are very pleased with the quality of food and great service.
(4)Rachel Z.
Sea medley (Thai seafood curry) is too sweet. Oyster Rockefeller is good. The nut wrap was a little too simple.
(3)Cynthia W.
A must! Boca Raton was just like the prior reviews. We tried the garlic ribeye and Sea Bass. They were fresh and delicious!!
(5)Nicole S.
YummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmÂmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmÂmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmÂmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm! Walnut Shrimp Lettuce Wraps. Dynamite Shrimp. Avocado Shrimp salad. I obviously like shrimp. But it has to be done right. Uncle Bo's makes shrimp dishes into a veritable MOUTH GASM. They are constantly adding new items and changing their menu which I adore. They keep things fresh and interesting. Always busy, always loud, always fun, always friendly and delicious. Highly recommend you take all of your out-of-town guests here and skip the Waikiki circus and the typical Honolulu staples that everyone and their mother's have already heard of and been to.
(5)Emi H.
I've had an up and down relationship with Uncle Bo's over the years. Looking back, I often wonder, was it because I didn't know what to order? Or was it an off night? Because after my latest visit, I am sold! We decided to have pupus and drinks before the Jason Mraz concert at the Waikiki Shell and were seated right at 5 pm when they opened. My brother ordered what can only be described as a giant slab of beef (Fred Flinstone style, in that it was so big your car could tip over). My BF & I decided to share the thai manila clams, crab cakes and the hamachi carpaccio. My brother's girlfriend ordered the thai manila clams for herself and declared that she didn't want to share her clams with anyone. And I will tell you seafood fans, you should order your own portion and NOT SHARE as well! Those clams were so delicious and the sauce, ooooooh LORD the sauce! I kept dipping my bread into the thai sauce and praised the man who made it while I munched away. Hamachi carpaccio = yelp.com/biz_photos/sv5X… Glorious clams!!! = yelp.com/biz_photos/sv5X… Crab cakes = yelp.com/biz_photos/sv5X… Happy birthday brownies w/ ice cream & hot fudge (Caution, this photo will make your ass fatter) = yelp.com/biz_photos/sv5X… We had another set of friends come a little later and they grabbed seats at the bar which was located right behind us. We hopped from table to bar and sipped on cocktails and beers until it was time to walk to the concert. A short 5-7 minute walk to the Waikiki Shell and I'm so happy we ate at Uncle Bo's because it was certainly tastier than concession fare. If you're going to any concert in the area (Waikiki Shell, Honolulu Zoo, Diamond Head Theater), I HIGHLY recommend hitting up Uncle Bo's for your pre-game! I'm reserving my 5th star for my next visit in hopes that I'll be blown away once again! Yelp 365 Challenge: 289/365 (The OMFG Clams)
(4)Hui P.
Real good pupus. Last time was here had the sea food trap, which was good, and also the braised beef cheeks entree, also great. Don't order a salad though. Got the beat salad and was boring compared to all the other things I've tried things on the menu over the years. I'm guessing chef Bo eats no salad so he gives it no love. Also they have a good beers bottle selection if you don't mind spending $8 for a bottle.
(5)Sarah W.
Awesome food. We decided to try Uncle Bo's after being recommended to it by friends and family, so happy we listened. The food was amazing and you can't beat just ordering PuPu's, perfect way to eat. We will definitely go back again when we have the chance.
(5)Ryan P.
PARKING. If you do park across the street in the lot, remember to pay the machine(it takes coins) and to leave your receipt on the dashboard. And if you own a slammed car like I do, be careful on the driveway into the lot, it's steeper than you think. I liked this place, the food was good, and the staff was nice as well. We had the dynamite shrimp, the calamari, and the clams, which were all amazing. Even the bread was fantastic haha. As others have the said, it doesn't look like much from outside, but it still has a nice atmosphere inside. Will come back again.
(4)James N.
Uncle Bo's Bar & Grill is a great place to have dinner with friends and family and an even better place to take a significant other on a date. Some of my favorite items on the menu are the (steamed) Pot Stickers, Thai Clams, and Boca Rota. The staff at Uncle Bo's is very friendly from the beautiful hostesses that will great you with a smile when you first walk in, to the cooks in the back who are responsible with providing such wonderful food. But what make's Uncle Bo's different from most bars is the friendly owners who are easy to talk to and know the importance of providing great customer service. FYI, be sure to make reservations ahead of time especially on weekends this place tends to get crowded.
(5)Monica C.
Although Uncle Bo's looks a bit like a run-down shack from the outside, once you go in, you'll actually find a nice restaurant with a full bar! The four of us decided to order a few items to share family style so we can try a little bit of everything. We ordered: Oyster shooters, Dynamite shrimp, Thai style clams, Blue Crab and avocado salad, and Peppered Chicken pasta. Everything was really good, but my favorite was definitely the Thai style clams! Service was great and it's about a mile or two outside of Waikiki so parking wasn't difficult to find either. I highly recommend coming here for dinner!
(4)Michael R.
The restaurant itself is cool and trendy, and they have a rock wall of white wine that made me want to climb it. However, make sure that your bottle comes from somewhere else as the warmth and light probably make those bottles go bad pretty quick. I am basing this review on the dynamite shrimp appetizer and the sea bass entree. The appetizer was really good, and definitely not LO-CAL. The fish itself was amazing and the the dish looked nice, but some garlic and ginger might have helped to break up the monotony of the bok choy greens a bit. They were good, but got to be a bit much by the end. The others in my party liked their food too, and would probably agree with this rating.
(4)Jeffrey N.
Boca loca....loca rota....boca roca....whatever the hell it is, it's freaking amazing and I can't help but order it for myself everytime I come here. I gotta remember to try the kalua pork nachos next time, cause a table next to us had them once and it looked awesome. Been here quite a few times, it's always busy but the wait is never unbearable and the food comes out fast. Service is friendly and attentive. Also tried the seared ahi, thai clams, crab cakes, calamari, and pork belly something. All pretty good. Oh, forgot, another standout....the hummus is completely amazing and the pita chips that comes with it are always hot and super fresh. Killer dip for sharing! I always need to order extra pita chips because it's the best part. The girls I were with one time had some kind of pear/peach cocktails that I admit were tasty, I've never taken a good look at their cocktails because they have pretty good beers, but I'm interested to try. Also need to try dessert but we always order too much food! Did I mention they have light up menus now?? Awesome and entertaining....this concept of this place is very well executed. Good for dates or just some apps and drinks with friends. Love it.
(5)Kiawe T.
Went here again last night. Had the Oyster Shooters! Two thumbs up on those. Also had the half shrimp and half tofu lettuce wraps. Super delicious. For some reason I paired that with glass of IF YOU SEE KAY which is a lovely and smooth red blend. I was accompanied by the most gorgeous young lady and had a wonderful time! Great place to cap off a Saturday evening in Waikiki. Best part was that it wasn't too loud that I couldn't have a good conversation with my date :)
(5)Blanco T.
I've eaten at Uncle Bo's on several occasions and every time I've been pleased with great food. The quality of the food is excellent with comparable prices. My server on 28JUL2014 was really fun and attentive to my table's needs. She keep the black & tan drinks coming.
(4)Alex T.
I loved this place! The food was really good. It was tough to only pick a few things off the menu and not go overboard. The place has a full bar and the food is really good! The kalua pork pork fried rice is to die for and the sos is awesome. Be ready for the amount of butter in the sos though. Add a little rice and you're in food heaven. So many more things i wanted but couldn't fit in a sitting.
(5)Kimo K.
Went to Honolulu with my GF last week and went to dinner here with her, my son, and my granddaughter. I give them 3 stars rather generously --- maybe only 2 stars would be more appropriate. I chose this place due to some good reviews and their pricing being more reasonable than other Waikiki establishments. And also, as they advertise, they include veggies and starch with their entrees. But although the entrees are nicely sized and not too small, I thought the taste was mediocre at best. We had four different entrees and shared. Seafood chioppino like dish, seafood pasta dish, sauteed opah, and chicken fettuccine. The best dish was the opah, with the other three dishes being mediocre at best in taste. And although they did provided steamed veggies, they were poorly cut and presented on the plate. And we made 6 pm reservations and we were told that we had to be out of there by 7 pm or they wouldn't seat us --- WTF?? Although I guess to be honest, it was not a terrible experience or dinner, I don't think I will be back here again.
(3)Fred W.
A local favorite for sure. My fav dishes include the Thai clams, escargots, and the Boca Raton. They also have a large selection of drinks, good looking and friendly service.
(5)David C.
As soon as we landed in Oahu, people were raving about Uncle Bo's. When the locals tell you it's their regular spot then it's a must hit! The atmosphere could use a tune up as it looks like some blind fashion designer with split personality decorated the joint. But that's ok since it is a bar AND grill which also happens to serve fusion cuisine. The staff were quite good looking with a get up similar to a hooters uniform which was just fine w me. We tried the delicious (ono!) Boca Rota which did not disappoint! The sliders were quite tasty too. My wife was happy with her order of the hamachi appetizer which like all their dishes had generous portions. Those were the hits. The misses were: Katsu Ahi (weak flavor), fish tacos (over breaded). I also had the very girly cucumber cocktail since I order whatever I like regardless of how much it makes me look like a wuss; and was pleasantly surprised. All in all, it's a fun joint. Regarding the food, there were some really bright spots and some duds but add the eye candy waitress outfits and its a decent way to spend the night.
(3)Melina P.
My first time ever here & I wasn't very impressed. I made reservations for my friends & I about a week in advance & the first thing they asked me when I checked in is was "we have another large reservation coming in later...can you be out of here by 8:00?" I figured it was fine since we were planning to catch a movie after dinner anyway but WOW. What a turn off! I've NEVER been to a restaurant that asked something like that right off the bat. We barely had time to order a second round of drinks! & certainly no time to order real food or dessert. I do not plan to return here any time soon. I highly recommend the boca-rota & the kalua pig fried rice. My friend also really liked the oyster shooters & our waitress brought us a wonton chip with some kind of chopped-veggie-looking-salsa thing on the house. The wonton chips were delish (I'm a picky eater & didn't try the salsa). I also expected alot more of our drinks considering the full bar. We each ordered a different martini which were all nicely flavored & tangy but they are prissy-girly drinks & we should've just drank juice for all the good it did. I was really looking forward to the deep fried ice cream but didn't have enough time to order it. 2 stars for the chef & our nice waitress.
(2)Colette W.
I absolutely love this place. The dynamite shrimp is too die for! The boca rota isn't too shabby here. Perfect spot for a small dinner party or a casual date with your babe. Only cons: parking... And sometimes it can be quite loud in there. The music is pretty loud. However, quick and friendly service.
(4)Ronnie R.
Spotted this place while going up and down Waikiki and told my wife we had to eat here. We stopped by the night before we fly back home. It was reservation type, but the bar is open to first come first serve. We sat down right before the crowd showed up. We both ordered the S.O.S. seafood plate with a side of rice. We found it to be very delicious. If we come back to Waikiki we will definitely come back. The ceviche we had as an appetizer was tasty also.
(5)Janda D.
I enjoy coming here. The only thing I would like to have is the option to split the check when dining with others. They will not provide this no matter what your reason is. Other than that, I love the boca rota and steamed opah.
(4)Jim G.
First I want to say that the food was absolutely delicious. We had the dynamite shrimp, the fish tacos and the opah picante. I would give five stars except for the timing/service. It took way too long for our drinks to arrive, which would not have been bad in itself, but the pupu arrived before we could enjoy our drinks. Then the entrees arrived before we were half finished with the pupu. We felt very rushed, especially since we were expecting to enjoy a leisurely dinner out. I would go back, but I would make clear my expectations for the timing of my meal.
(3)Christopher W.
This place was one of our favorite stops on the trip. Just out of the tourist trap, Uncle Bo's was an unassuming little hide away place. We saw good reviews and thought we should try it. The indies was clean and well decorated... Felt like a hip spot. Drink list was great and the prices were fair considering the ingredients. We sat at the bar, and our server was busy! She was hustling all night, and was very pleasant and attentive. Once we cracked the menu, she gave us a verbal tour if the local favs plus her top choices and we attacked the list. Like shrimp? There's an app for that. Love the ahi tuna? There's an app for that. The food we ordered was stellar, and the food prices were great! Note: even though it's a pupu bar, they had a great looking full menu. If you are in town, I strongly suggest you hit this place up for some broke da mouf grinds brah!
(4)Ashley T.
Came here for Valentines day and this was a great place to have a chill yet romantic dinner. I visited this place years ago but not any time recently. So I was surprised at some of the menu changes. They had a set special menu for Valentines day but we decided to order what we wanted to eat. First of all, we did not make a reservation and to my surprise we seated immediately with maybe a 5 minute wait. Not too bad I say for a busy night. That was already a plus for me. Our server was great at recommending a wine according to what I looking to get in a wine (don't remember the name of the wine, but it was a red Chardonnay). Our service overall went smoothly and our server checked in on us from time to time (but not overly annoying type of way). We started with a few pupus - Calamari ( yelp.com/user_local_phot… ) and Seared Ahi ( yelp.com/user_local_phot… ). The Calarami surprised my taste buds with the saucy soup dipping sauce, it had a sweet taste to it. The Calarami also were in big chunks and oh so yummy. I can't say the same for the ahi, I have to say it wasn't my favorite and I've had better. Now moving onto to entrees I ordered the Braised Beef ( yelp.com/user_local_phot… ). Mmmmmmmmmmm oh lord how yummy that sucker was. Thinking of it makes my mouth water of the soft tender beef that was braised for who knows how long with a tomato beef sauce. I got it with rice and veggies and that just tied this dish all together. The large portions were too much (which is a good thing, as I can enjoy it another night ^_^). Parking is another thing I should let you know. Before they had valet parking but now you would have to self-park and pay. They have available parking across the street of Uncle Bos and next door to Uncle Bo's also has parking which is closer but not as safe (in my opinion).
(4)Tanya C.
Wow what a treat! We had dinner at Dukes and the bartender suggested Uncle Bo's. I was really glad he did. Started with the boca rota.. okay simply amazing and a must. Prime rib with mushrooms and garlic bread with mozzarella cheese. Every mouthful was pure happiness. Dinner I had the sos another must try! The ambience was modern, service was amazing! So glad we found this place. Now my favorite new place to eat!
(5)Aleena Anne O.
Uncle Bo's is within walking distance from my place so I have been eating there a lot lately and I can honestly say that I haven't had a bad meal yet! It's a really great place for dinner and drinks with friends or a nice romantic date. Food: My favorite items on the menu are the Ribeye, Boca Rota, Dynamite Shrimp, and the potstickers. I rarely order off the actual dinner menu and just go with a few pupu's options as I like variety and Bo's just has so many options I just can't choose only one. Service: I have read some of the reviews on here that complain about feeling rushed, but I have never experienced that. I often hang out with friends having a drinks after dinner without feeling like we should move along. The only real downside about Bo's is that the wait can be pretty long, especially if you head over on a Friday or Saturday night. My advice is to either arrive around 6:30 or around 8:30 to avoid the lengthy dinner rush.
(4)Resi K.
We tried this restaurant a couple weeks ago as a family of 6. The wait time wasn't too bad-30 minutes. They offered us to be seated on a coffee table style dining table but we wanted a regular table. It was super busy and we didn't have reservations. Parking was across the street in the pay parking. Our food was very good. The cheesy bread with prime rib topping was excellent. Our dinner was good, my husband and son didn't think the steak was all that good for what we paid. Of course, it's not a steakhouse. Service was very good until the end when we wanted take out containers and to pay our bill; the waitress got busy and left us with our dessert menu (which we were too full for) for a long time and we had to flag another waitress to let her know that we were ready to leave now. Otherwise, I'd go back again.
(4)Michelle T.
Let me start off my review with a few tips: Tip #1: MAKE RESERVATIONS! This place is super packed even on a weekday night so make sure you make reservations. Our party of 5 had to wait around 30-45 minutes for a table when we arrived at around 6:30pm Tip #2: Get Boca-Rota because it is one of the best things I ate on the island during my entire vacation Tip #3: Skip the Pork Belly Pupu. It was super dry and did not have the fattiness of pork belly at all. Tip #4: Don't listen to the waitress when she suggests dish amounts for the table - go with however much you feel is right because we ended up over-ordering
(4)Jordana F.
We had a party of 16 and were waiting for a bit but the chef and waitresses brought out plates of calamari on the house. That was really nice! However, the wait for everything else was loooong. Even getting water was difficult at one point. I ordered a Bloody Mary and it came out 15 minutes later, and wasn't worth the wait. We ended up getting the "buffet appetizer" deal (27 bucks per person for 9 unlimited appetizers). The only downside is the chef and waitress pick the 9 appetizers but everything that came out was delicious. The nachos were great, potstickers, artichoke crab dip, hummus, clams, dynamite shrimp, crab cakes and a couple more were all very tasty. I definitely recommend eating at uncle Bo's but it might be best to go in a small group or sit at the bar.
(3)Bill R.
Starting with ahi poke. Very fresh, very big, very good. Lemongrass martini. Good cocktail smooth but could benefit from some lemongrass extract. They use lemongrass tea which lacks some intensity of flavor. Still very good. Black sesame scallops. Perfectly seared with caramelized color coated with black sesame seeds nestled in mushroom cream sauce. The scallops were good sized and perfectly cooked. The pupu menu is where it's at here! Grey goose pear, peach lemonade, cucumbers. Lemon. Sweetener? Holy crap that's good stuff. This is a great place just far enough away that you can walk and get away from some of the garbage that lines the beachfront area.
(4)Nick H.
Cool vibe, great food, awesome service. Thai clams and oyster shots - both good options to get going. The Boca-Rota is on everyone's review, and it's good, but really heavy and there are a ton of other things that look great. We'll have to be back to check out the rest of the menu.
(4)E E.
Solid four-star restaurant. Food was very good service was good. Fish was amazing, don't think it could go wrong with any fish order. Others at the table had the tacos which were really good and the SOS which was very good and the salmon.Had two appetizers hummus and calamari. Don't just your money on the calamari it wasn't very good the hummus was delicious.
(4)Tracy B.
Amazing! One of my favorites in Waikiki! Busy and small location so make reservations or get there early. SOS is excellent. Most flavorful and tender filet. No salt and pepper on the table for a reason. Must try!
(5)Noriko K.
Reasonable price for great food. One of my top 5 places I take visitors from out of Hawaii. This is the place to go especially for seafood lovers. My favorite entree is "Baked Opah Mauna Kea". Opah is so tender and the sauce is awesome. It says spicy, but it's not that bad. The new entree from seafood calls 'S.O.S' is great as well. It's spicy, so if cannot handle the spicy food, you shouldn't order this. For spicy food lover, this is one of the "must try" entree.
(4)John L.
I can only give one star for this place for only one reason, honestly the food we ordered was good greasy noodles very tasty, clams so so, oyster shooters very good, dynamite shrimp YUCKY it was swimming in a mayo sauce that was disgusting. The server Kathryn was fantastic attentive fast and pleasant. The reason for the one star in after dining before desert I had to go wash my hands as I approached the men's room a employee came from the kitchen went into rest room just ahead of me and urinated and left? What's wrong with that? HE DID NOT WASH HIS HANDS GROSS so we paid and left I noticed the pass plaque on the door I bet the health dept doesn't know about the Hygene practices of some of the employees or at least the one. I for one will never set foot back in that place again.
(1)Kpon Y.
I really wanted to like this place because others have said it was good. Wait time for 2 people was 30 min and there was an area of the restaurant that was open and under utilized. Waitress was friendly but had way too many tables and service was slow. Food was mediocre to poor. Clams we not rinsed before preparing and I was biting on tiny shell fragments from the first bite. Clams were not good quality (small and dark mussels). The clam soup base was good though. Ribeye steak was ordered medium well but came out bloody rare/raw. Sent it back and it came back rare on outer and still raw in inner. Could not chew through it. Plus, I've had over a hundred rib eyes in the past and this was NOT a ribeye... More like a less expensive cut of meat. Very chewy and difficult to cut in half. Had the spicy shrimp and it was tiny pieces of shrimp covered in cold mayonnaise type sauce. The panko crust did not adhere to the shrimp and it detached and fell on the plate before you could pick it up. Not good. It was a Friday night and they were busy. Atmosphere nice, but food was substandard and not enjoyable.
(2)Drew K.
Can't go wrong with anything you order at Uncle Bo's a must stop when in Honolulu!
(5)Mark D.
This restaurant was an excellent find! By far the best meal in Waikiki. Great variety of dishes including amazing fresh fish and the best steak on Oahu. Packed every night with mostly locals, the ambiance is upbeat and the staff is super friendly. The chefs know what their doing and extremely reasonably priced for what is served. I'd give it a bonus star if that was an option!
(5)Erik P.
If you're looking for a local food experience, go here for truly authentic Hawaiian. The bar has everything and then some. I actually met Bo and said how much we were enjoying his food. Very friendly locals there too! Talked to a few friendlies at the bar while we are several pupus. May I recommend the cheesy bread with the beef/mushroom pupu, so amazing.
(5)James J.
Great appetizers... Dynamite shrimp is fantastic... ..ordered two mule martinis, unbelievably strong and you just might have trouble remembering your name! ... A must order... Ordered meat pizza, good but not great... Saw many locals eating appetizers here... You have to try this place, but there is not much room inside, so be sure to make reservations... Could be the best food and drinks in all Waikiki!
(5)Tracey A.
How to have a great time at Uncle Bo's: 1. Order an assortment of pupu flavors balanced between fatty and rich (Dynamite Shrimp $9.95; Ahi Katsu $14.95), protein heavy (Hamachi Carpaccio $14.99; Thai-Style sweet Steamer Clams $14.95), and lighter veggie-focused fare. This selection resulted in nothing but happiness. 2. Sit in the front room, where you pick up a great energy from the buzz of a full house. Sit along the far wall if you like a birds-eye view and the possibility of meeting those dining beside you. They might give you some further tips on what to order, as my Bay Area (shout out!) neighbors did. 3. You might want to secure some reservations. Moments after being seated in the front room as a walk-in, the place filled up and didn't empty the entire time I was there. 4. Order some booze. A couple of draft Stellas ($5 each) and a glass of cabernet ($6) were good accompaniments but you might prefer something stronger. There's a full bar in one quadrant of the main dining room, separated by ceiling-hung chains. It's a cool, sparkly effect. 5. Unfortunately for Uncle Bo, the rich and varied pupus mean that you might be too full to sample entrees or dessert. That's what happened to me, with no regrets. It'd be great to come back with a larger party to be able to sample more fare. I don't know that I'd ever get around to the entrees and that doesn't even bother me. That's how much I liked that large, varied menu. 6. Enjoy the eye candy. Whoever hires here has an eye for the ladies. The servers were beautiful (and enthusiastic and proficient). 7. If you're staying right in Waikiki, Bo's is a nice destination to walk to. It's probably too far if you're not into walking but if you are, have at it. If you over-order (likely) you'll appreciate the walk back and it'll give you time to think over what a great, fun meal you just sampled. The food isn't highly sophisticated but it's a unique twist on island fare. I liked Uncle Bo's a whole lot.
(5)Bobby A.
Cool, trendy ambience. Food was on point, had the nachos and fried pork belly. Any place that can make specialty cuts of meat, I will try. Definitely worth buying again, try the pork belly. Place stays busy and the larger back dining room threw me off, can't see it until you go to the restroom from the front...awesome space. Only bad point. ..parking. good luck, lol. Service was good and food was good. Mahalo uncle bo's
(4)Brent K.
OMG !!!! You got to try the seafood stew . They call it the SOS. It is amazing ! You got to have the Kailua fry rice! So Ono !
(5)Tiffany T.
Try the Boca Rota!!! This place is a must when visiting Oahu! It's small so be sure to make reservations or you'll have to wait for a table!
(5)Mark I.
We went with a party of 6 thinking we could order a whole lot of stuff but we only managed pupu's and beers and we were stuffed, lol. Ordered the steamed clams, nachos, crabcakes, steak, pot stickers, and 3 types of salads and we were done. The portions are big so I think we need to bring more people next time so maybe we can order dinner, haha.
(4)Natalie P.
This is one of my favorite restaurants. Every time I come here I can always count on two dishes that will never fail me... and this place is right in my hood so it's simply convenient! CUSTOMER SERVICE: Is not the best here. I've only came across one or two helpful waitresses but other than that the rest seemed to be very absent-minded. When ordering from the bar the bartenders have just been ok. MY FAVORITE DISHES: *BOCA ROTA is a must, it translates into tore/broken mouth in Spanish. The dish consists of cheese breadsticks covered with rib bits and a special creamy sauce that makes the dish oh so irresistible. *KALUA PIG FRIED RICE has a combination of multiple meats and tastes delicious. (These two dishes are both in the pupus section and are just enough for my gf and I to be full. Great reasonably priced dishes = Happy Meal) OTHER DISHES I'VE TRIED: *Escargot: cooked snails...my friend ordered this so I got to try it...I know it sounds gross but it's actually pretty good. It's definitely appetizer status for sure though and by that I mean it's not very filling. *Rib-Eye Steak and Mashed Potatoes - A little more pricey, it wasn't great it was just good, but I wouldn't order it again. This place is always pretty packed so if you want to get good seats and fast dinner service I would recommend coming a little early. Everyone should try this place at least once...or at least try the "BOCA ROTA"!
(4)Naomi H.
I heart Uncle Bo's. Upon much hype and pushing from my friends to check this place out, I made Uncle Bo's my first meal on my trip to Oahu. The place was mellow, Tuesday night around 6. Lots of large/Birthday-types and many tables for two. My partner in food-related crime took a seat and feasted our eyes on the menu. We had to ask our server what was popular, what we HAD to try since we weren't locals. Upon her recommendations, we ordered the: Cajun Seared Ahi = 4 Stars, $12.95. Good enuf to split with someone worthy. I 'm an Ahi fan so i will always be down to try a Cajun-spiced version. And it was Delectable! Boca Rotta= 4 Stars, $14.95. My friend's dinner selection. She LOVED it! I had a moment to have a quick sample and it was perf! She had it with a glass of Chardonnay and was good for the rest of the night. Walnut Shrimp Wrap= 3.5 Stars, $8.95. Still quite good, but the shrimp was on the mucho salty side. Ugh. I wasn't quite stuffed so I glanced at the Desert menu to see if there was anything I would fancy. I took one look at the Hobo's and ordered it ASAP. Hobos= 5 Stars, $6.95. AMAZ-ANG. Taro filled Beignets with a side of vanilla ice cream and some type of cream. I ate ALL of it. My friend missed out on this one, YOU SNOOZE, YOU LOSE! : p One thing that tripped me out was that when our server delivered the Ahi Tuna pupu, she had one hand holding the meal, and the other holding two chopsticks. She held them out in a way that we each grasped ours out of the paper holder. It was classy, and I thought that was a nice touch. Service all around was 5 Stars. Super friendly servers, very accommodating, totally had the Aloha Spirit! And this place served their food QUICK. Like, within minutes! I loved it! *****
(4)Daniel L.
Ever play Tetris? Ever gone up to level 29?!?! Last night we had a Christmas party with a bunch of friends at Uncle Bo's. We got the Chef's Special, all you can eat light pupus for $27.50 per person, minimum 10 people. Within 5 minutes of placing the order, the game began! Food from all corner started to rain in like Tetris. The food in ROUND 1 came faster then we could handle. This was probably the best buffet I have been to in a while. Our table was completely filled with all the wonderful offering from the Chef. Best deal ever. I like to spend time with friends, but I rather have food while we talk and drink. It much more pleasant to have food immediately rather then sit and wait like some other restaurant I recently visited.
(5)Justin S.
Nice ambience, service is good, food is very good, the martini's are made very well. Very relaxing and it's just a good place to hangout with your friends.
(5)Kanoe I.
Celebrated a friend's birthday at this popular Kapahulu eatery recently. I'm not a frequent patron here, but I thoroughly enjoyed it! My Faves: Warm Spinach Salad, Dynamite Shrimp, & the Seafood Trap. I will go back just to eat the Warm Spinach Salad...Simply Divine! The combination of spinach, onions, bacon, walnuts, feta cheese & strawberries made it a perfect spinach salad. The portion is generous, so we all shared it. Definitely a thumbs up dish! I also loved the Seafood Trap, a "medley of fish, calamari, clams, shrimp, and fish simmered in a mild chili, garlic ouster sauce." It reminded me of bouillabaisse but better. And the sauce was the best part! We went through several loaves of bread because we were dipping it in this sauce. The dynamite shrimp was good as well. We just ordered it because it was recommended. I liked that the staff was eager to recommend dishes. Drinks were good.....I just had my usual red wine. My friends enjoyed various mixed drinks they offered. Prices overall for food and drinks were reasonable. Most dishes ran between $10-$15. A full menu, with prices, can be found on their website. One downfall...Parking. Not the most convenient. Either across the street in a lot adjacent to Side Street Inn or roadside along Kapahulu. I parked in the pay-the-box parking lot next door. I inquired with the hostess if it was ok to park there, she didn't know. Paid $5, parked there, and had a parking ticket on my car when I left. A little annoying. Dislike when parking is stressful...thus the four star rating. I vaguely remember valet parking awhile back but I'm not sure if it's still available. Maybe I'll catch the cab next time.....But I will be back for sure!
(4)Emily L.
The manager gave us free appetizers that were ready when we sat down. I appreciated that they recognized the problem, apologized and took care of our hunger. They also had good drinks there
(4)Sean G.
Love their pupus and drinks. Sometimes it's a little hard to get in cos that place is always busy. But everything I've tried so far tasted very good and filling. Definitely will be returning here!
(5)Danny I.
First-one star off for parking. There are two pay lots nearby, then metered parking-good luck! There are warning signs about the pay-lot operators being quick on the trigger for towing. Second-bring a large group (at least 10) and cash (no splitting checks here), then ask for the Chef's Special. Then hold on, because your party will be barraged with full plates of items from the pupu menu at the chef's choice. No 'mostly white space" tapas here, these pupu platters are STACKED! Ours included the boca rota, the crab cakes, the potstickers, the spinach dip, the nachos, the shaken beef, and the clams (but not any of the ahi or the escargot, which one of our group was sore about), resulting in a table stacked with family-style eats.
(4)Rocky M.
Um, really? This place is UH-MAY-ZING. Super hot waitresses, 5-star food and they made my Cosmopolitan just as I asked (light on the cranberry juice). What more can you ask for? Our hotel concierge recommended this great, local place to us. Fantastic!! I had Uncle Bo's warm spinach salad and the hubs had the chicken piccata. Both were the best that we've had on our 12-day trip to Hawaii!
(5)Tiffany K.
There is paid parking across the street, but very limited. The inside is very nice compared to the outside. The food is really good, but a little on the pricey side. I went with a big group, so our bill was really high and we split the check. It was pricey, but the food was awesome.
(5)Rissa M.
Dang Uncle....... what you be puttin' in the Thai-Style Steamed Clam sauce!?!! Tell me what it is because this morning I woke up craving that sweet, salty, and perfectly concocted sauce that is prepared with the steamed clams. No lie-- that very same night I had a dream that I was sipping the sauce with a spoon, only to wake up CRAVING it all over again. Don't judge me. Please. Between the two of us, we shared the Thai Style Steamed Clams and the Boca-Rota which is a cheesy garlic bread paired with amazing mushroom/prime-rib/mozzarella dipping sauce. We smashed it. Crushed it. Inhaled it. POUNDED IT. Do not underestimate the appetite of two skinny girls! We cleaned the two generously served appetizer dishes down to the plate-- because they were two dishes that were worthy of guilt-free gluttony. After the Lychee Martini, I was in complete bliss (and partial food coma). SIDE NOTES: 1) I do not suggest skipping your work-out on the day you decide to eat at Uncle Bo's because it's going to be the ULTIMATE cheat day. 2) Paid parking across the street. $2 for two hours. I suggest bringing exact change/cash because that machine is always jacked up and will over-charge your credit card sometimes! Warning! 3) Street Parking too if you're lucky 4) Make reservations ahead of time because this place is quite popular and the lines will form! 5) Full Bar! 6) Better to order family style with the appetizers--- i've tried the entree's and they aren't anything to be excited about (or dreaming about). THE END!
(5)Faye M.
Can you believe I've only eaten here just recently?! I've been wanting to try this place out for the longest time, but invites were few and far in between or the Scheduling Gods were not working in my favor. Woe is me, right! Anyway, we came here for my friend's birthday and all she could talk about was the Boca-rota! So that's what we ordered. Along with the Dynamite Shrimp, Walnut Shrimp Wrap, Warm Spinach Salad, Vegetarian Quesadilla, and some other dishes I can't recall. Don't worry - there were 6 of us, so it wasn't like she and I were pigging out! Service was friendly, but if we wanted more drinks and or anything else - we had to wave down our waitress or any waitress that happened to walk by. The food came out pretty fast and everything was very tasty. Yes, especially the Boca-rota! OMG you know it's bad for your figure when it's a rich creamy sauce - but it's worth it!! The restaurant is nice, it's definitely bigger than it looks from the outside. One thing you gotta watch out for is the slippery floor. Walking through the restaurant, I almost slipped - it wasn't obvious or anything...but it could've been!! One good thing about coming for your birthday...FREE SHOTS for the table and dessert to share!! Guess where we're going for my birthday!! Haha...maybe.
(5)Kaliko P.
I am one of the "late bloomers" to Pupu Bar/Grill on Oahu due to the fact that I have a social life that's as exciting as slime mold. I was thrilled that I was finally able to check out Uncle Bo's as all my friends (who have social lives) were raving about Bo's great pupus (appetizers, for our mainland friends). First of all, PARKING = street, then walk. Then - AMBIANCE = nothing fancy. VERY LOUD music, like dance-floor-decibel, sans dance floor (Saturday night). Mixed group of folks, younger/older...mostly younger, I am guessing, due to the fact that you wouldn't want your hearing aid to feedback constantly. Casual dress. SERVICE = very good! Our waitress was attentive and friendly and came by frequently. FOOD = Calamari ($9) was excellent although I had a hard time getting used to the strange soupy sweet sauce on the side. I am a die hard marinara fan. Dessert was excellently presented....I forgot what my friend ordered but I had a bite and it was good ($6). DRINKS = Lychee Martini ($7) was good. Melon Martini ($7) was odd-tasting (too much lime). RETURN FACTOR = yes, will return. Can't wait to try out more pupus...but first, must learn sign language.
(4)Regina T.
I have heard about Uncle Bo's our first time here.. From a few friends told me about this place and it is awesome. Great price and ONO food. I couldn't even eat it all neither could wifee. We will mostly definitely be back. To try out some more of the different items on the menu. Our new restaurant on the Island. Sure going to pass the word. Awesome customers service. Didn't have to wait but about 20. Min without an reservation. But the best thing is we got to meet two very nice couples from Canada and Australia sitting next to us. Plus they got cool menus that light like a I pad. . See yall soon again Thanks for the great service. ..... REG& Brig
(5)Dawn L.
Shame on me. I should have updated this sooner. After my less than stellar experience noted below, I'm pretty sure I wouldn't have opted back to Uncle Bo's on my own. But a work holiday party had me back there for $25 all-you-can-eat heavy pupus. On that night, our servers were attentive and courteous, and the food was STELLAR. My heart was open to Uncle Bo's again. We had been back a couple times for drinks and pupus with friends and always had a good time. So when planning the biggest day of our adult lives, we decided that Uncle Bo's fit our budget and our personalities for our rehearsal dinner. I worked over email with them to plan everything--which really wasn't much. They made everything easy peasy. On the night of our rehearsal dinner, we showed up and they served. They were attentive and the food was wonderful. Our party of about 20 family and friends loved the food and the staff was attentive to drinks and anything else that we needed. I actually can't wait to have another party to throw--I already have Uncle Bo's in mind for my husband's yakudoshi next year. Since my original review of Bo's, I've been back several times...had lots of laughs, yummy food, good drinks, made some really fond memories and erased one bad one. They have more than redeemed themselves in my eyes.
(5)Nicole A.
Not a fan. Came here because of the reviews and the beautiful picture of the Boca Rota, which I ordered. Didn't like the flavor. The prime rib and mushrooms were delicious, but the sauce ruined it for me. Way too rich. Just order a side of cheesy bread and you will get the same effect. Prices are expensive for what you get too. I wanted to order their ice tea with pineapple juice and that failed too. No pineapple juice today. Should have ate elsewhere.
(1)Hoi Y.
Was just recently on vacation to Waikiki with a bunch of friends and meet friends of friends who actually live on Oahu and recommended this place. What an awesome place! Was totally expecting a diner/family style restaurant and it looked that way as we're walking up to the front door. But, what a surprised! Great vibe inside! Very trendy with what appears to be a lot of locals. It was Friday night around 8pm and the place was pretty packed and we were party of five. However, the girls up front were great in accommodating us, two tables were leaving so they push them together and set us up! Once seated, we had the best waitress, Akima or Akema (sorry!). So, this is Uncle Bo's Pupu bar and grill, right? So we ordered a bottle of Stags and a bunch of pupus; Scallops, kalua pork fried rice, poke, escargot and carb cakes - all great! and much larger portions that expected + 2 baskets of bread to soak up the mushroom sauce from the scallops! We weren't stuff but just right! So good! Definitely recommend this place and will be back next time on Oahu!
(4)Tiare Y.
Went for the first time last night. We tried to get a reservation, but couldn't because they were already too full to take reservations. Now I can see why!! The good was absolutely amazing. I had the Baked Opah Mauna Kea. Oh my goodness it was amazing. The menu disclaims that the dish is spicy, but it wasn't really at all, just a little smokey flavored. Loved it! The dishes that my friend, Aunty and Uncle order were super good as well, food portions are huge! We also tried the boca rota and Thai clams for pupus, I totally recommend ordering these. Our waitress Ella was so friendly and very helpful. Definitely coming back again, this time we'll try making reservations in advance.
(5)Bryan T.
FRICKEN NOMS! It's really hard for me to go here and not choke down 8-12 oyster shooters. They are amazing. Food is great, i've not been disappointed in any of the dishes. I've only been here about four times but each time i've ordered far too much but enjoyed every bit of it. Each time I've gone was with just one other person, we'd be seated in the front area in pretty tight quarters - forcing us to be social with our seated neighbors. Thankfully it's always been great people, but if the seating arrangements were a bit bigger I would go five stars easy
(4)Ariana M.
Been here once, maybe like a year ago but I honestly don't remember much of that visit. So decided to check this place out again and boy was it great! Love the inside! Great place to go for pupus and drinks! Service was good as well. Everything we ordered for the night came out great! The Grub: Escargot - [ BOMB! ] I recently fell in love with eating escargot! First time I ever ate it was only this year! So we had to order some! This escargot comes with 6 pieces and is broiled with garlic butter and melted mozzarella Ahi Poke - [ Meh.] Being local, ordering Poke always seems like a must have! This poke dish also comes with onions, cucumbers and cabbage Seafood Trap - [ IN LOVE ] The sauce this dish was in was AMAZING! Loved dipping the bread inside! This is a medley of fish, calamari, clams, shrimp, and fish simmered in famous mild chili and garlic oyster sauce Calamari - [ WOW! ] I have to admit, this is probably some of the best calamari I have ever eaten. Honestly I'm not a big fan of calamari but I am definitely a fan of this one! Wok-fried with choy-sum and fresh tomatoes in sweet chili sauce Fish Tacos - [ OISHI! ] Three tacos filled with creamy dill sauce Ahi Tornado Roll - [ MUST ORDER ] Probably my second favorite item we ordered! The 6 pieces of Maguro sashimi rolled is rolled with maui onion, capers, and house sauce Hamachi Sashimi - [ Not ordering it again ] I honestly did not care for this dish at all. The Hamachi was so tiny and the taste was average, this dish was nothing special to me. I also don't like jalapenos so that was a nono, but everyone else on my table enjoyed it. Comes with sliced jalapeno, rice and Koran nori umbrella. Drizzled in a lime ponzu sauce Thai Clams - [Alright] 1lb of MANILA CLAMS! OMG MUST HAVE! This dish was definitely a good choice Pumpkin Crunch Pie - [ YUM ] MUST HAVE! LOVE LOVE LOVE IT!
(5)Sarah L.
Who is this Bo and why isn't he MY uncle? I came here with 2 other friends and we split a couple pupus. Spicy tofu dip: could be spicier, but definitely had a lot going on in that dip. A few more crostinis served with it would've been great too Boca-rota: can't really go wrong with 2 of my favorite things, cheese and garlic. Don't expect to go kissing anyone afterwards though ;) Hamachi sashimi: A#$%FIG@%HD?!?!?!?! I would die for this. Small portion but extremely tasty and spicy! Definitely my favorite of all the pupus we ordered Calamari: I'm not a big fan of squid so I can't really comment, but my friends enjoyed it. This one is DEFINITELY made for sharing as the portion is really big. Oreo haupia mud pie: sweetness to finish off the meal, need I say more? The bill for the food and 2 drinks came out to a little under $70. It's not bad seeing as we still had leftovers to take home, but definitely not someplace we can come too often.
(4)Randoll C.
After feasting with my cousins across the street at Side Street Inn, we decided to drop in at Uncle Bo's for some drinks. Beer selection, lacking once again. But the rest of the adult beverage list surely wasn't. Neither was the food. We eventually decided to grab some Cerviche and an order of Thai Style Steamer Clams. Both were excellent. We devoured the dishes like we hadn't just stuffed ourselves across the street. It was a lively crowd, and atmosphere. Service was pretty good and people were having a great time all around. We surely did. It's a fun place to hang out. Will have to drop in again to check out their other dishes.
(4)Tiff Y.
Where do I begin? The outside is not pretty at all but when you walk in its great! A group of 12 people and we did the appetizer special where the chef just sends out things from the menu. We loved loved loved the clams, the dynamic shrimp (I don't remember the name) the fried rice was to die for, the crab cakes were good too but I wish they had extra sauce on the side. Everything was good except the steak appetizer. Our waitress Tiffany was extremely pleasant. We were all completely satisfied!
(5).Alan Y.
Came with a group of 20+ the day after a wedding and had the "Chef's Choice" under duress. Gotta say, it was pretty wack. Everything was fried to the max and doused with some sort of fat or cheese. I had a few clams, and they tasted like bleach. My lady doesn't eat red meat, so she could only have the spinach and artichoke dip. Stayed for a half hour or so, and paid for two heads, though between us, we ate less than a plate of food. They didn't even have the courtesy to serve up the required side of Lipitor and Prevacid that you'll surely need after eating here. Sorry, Uncle Bo, your food is junk.
(2)Lizzy C.
So glad we tried this place. A lot more locals than tourists which is nice. We were a party of 8 so we ordered a lot of the dishes to share family style and we totally over ordered! The portions are big. My least favorite dish was the nachos...weird combination for me. Loved the potstickers, dynamite shrimp, and the boca rota was a pleasant surprise. We sat in the back and yes it's loud but we didn't mind it. Service was good, drinks even better and we all enjoyed ourselves. It was a great meal to end our trip and glad we tried it!!
(4)Twinkle S.
Pros: good food Cons: parking sucks Tables are really close to each other We had the boca rota which was really yummy, the nachos with Kalua pork - also delicious, and ahi katsu - pretty good.
(4)Leighton P.
It was exactly 1 week ago that me and a bunch of my classmates and friends went here to celebrate some of our birthdays. It was probably one of the best places I've been to.. I was glad that we decided to go here cause the food was awesome! As we say down, one of my friends asked, "So where's the food?" Seconds after he said that, the food came by the skips! The waiters I sweated overheard that comment and made us pay for it! The food was Excellent!! We had a party of 12 or so and had to options to chose from. Heavy pupus or full dinner.. The difference in the 2 was about $7 or so... So we went all out for the dinner.. By the way, both courses was like a sit down buffet where the food would just keep on coming until you cried uncle! To be honest, the pupus would've been good enough.. There was sooo much food! In the end, I decided that the sautéed shrimp and the clams were head and shoulders above the rest and that was just the pupus. When dinner came, my friends were already strategizing to avoid the pasta cause they were getting full in which we all decided to do the same.. We all waited for the garlic steak to come out in order to make our money! That wasn't the last of the food cause there was dessert to look forward to.. Fried ice cream!! Winners!! In all, I would definitely recommend this place to celebrate with a bunch of friends! Great food and great times with awesome friends!
(5)Jane N.
Although I've frequented the Kapahulu area, I never stepped into the mustard yellow restaurant, Uncle Bo's until yesterday. We ordered the "All you can eat" Special. The food was excellent. We had the artichoke dip, nachos, calamari, warm spinach salad, cobb salad, crab cakes. The artichoke dip The calamari was perfectly cooked to a golden brown. For the main entree we had the dynamite shrimp and pene, beef & tomato, chicken and pene, and Opakapaka with mashed potatoes. I didn't try the chicken but the shrimp, beef & tomatoes and Opakapaka was delicious! For dessert we had some deep fried ice cream, brownie ala mode, and mocha pie. The deep fried ice cream had a strange breading around it that tasted like sweet bread. It was okay. The mocha pie was like "WOW!" coffee to da max! The brownie was the winner hands down! I would have given Uncle Bo's a 5 star but since we weren't given serving spoons for any of the dishes, people were using the utensils they stuck in their mouths. Needless to say, I caught a cold from someone. I didn't think that serving spoons were something that someone needs to ask for.
(4)Chad Y.
Uncle Bo's is definitely a great find to take a group of friends and enjoy each others company while having some awesome pupu's and well made drinks. It also features a trendy feel and great service, what's not to like with all of that? Ok, let's get some of the bad out of the way. It is located on Kapahulu which means they don't have easy parking. There is a public pay lot across the street, however if the inner pake is coming out, then be prepared for a drive around the block a couple of times in the vain attempt to find free parking. Do yourself a favor, pay for parking and get on in. Uncle Bo's also tends to fill up, so call ahead and make a reservation or be prepared for a bit of a wait. The drinks are well made and while they don't feature a mind blowing selection of beers on tap, what they do have is nothing to sneer at and it definitely doesn't disappoint. The bartenders know how to pour one mean drink too if the mood strikes you. The food is good and I have to say that a visit to Uncle Bo's wouldn't be complete without eating their Boca-Roca, The Thai Steamer Clams, and the Dynamite Shrimp. Granted the other menu items are good too, these three are hands down my favorites that make me go Whoa... The Boca Roca is Mozzarella topped garlic bread with cubed prime rib topping that has just the right amount of heat to tingle the palate and keep you eating more. The Clams are fantastic and be sure to get some bread to sop up the amazing juice that has just the right amount of heat and asian flavors to keep the taste buds working! The dynamite shrimp is fantastic with their tempura style batter tossed with a garlic chili sauce that makes me salivate as I think of it. The service is great with the wait staff being very attentive and the host staff very accommodating. No seriously, I don't care what any other people might say, but I've been here on several occasions with different hosts and they have always done their best to be fair and accommodating. The ambiance is definitely trendy and modern with perfectly alligned mood lighting and these fantastic metal chain curtains that I am definitely trying to find a place to put in my own home. The seats are comfortable and the seating is arranged in a careful way so that you aren't overhearing the conversation on the next table with ease. Definitely a great place for groups or just a small gathering. Uncle Bo's provides the good food and drinks. You provide the good company!
(4)Nathan L.
When we got to Hawaii our local friends told us about this place. The place def. does not reflect on it's name so please don't judge this book by it's cover. The food here is phenomenal. We ordered two appetizers from this place and one entree. (Dynamite Shrimp, Uncle Bo's Nachos, and Hawaiian style pizza) Uncloe Bo's Nacho's is to die for. It' so unique and different from the typical nacho that you just need to try it. Warning though! It's a lot of food. The Dynamite shrimp kind of reminds me of honey walnut shrimp from a Chinese restaurant. It's very delicious, but different as well. The least favorite dish would be the entree. We got this because it sounded different from the typical Hawaiian pizza. It had Kahlua pig in it! Turns out the pizza wasn't what we expected, but overall we had a great meal.
(4)Lauren S.
I'm so glad I listened to all you wonderful Yelpers, because Uncle Bo's is an amazing spot for dinner and drinks! We would always drive past this place, but never considered stopping to glance at the menu...until I saw all the mouthwatering pictures of their pupus. Favorite Drink: I think it was called, Sunday After Brunch (combining two of my loves: chocolate and coffee, this martini definitely hits the spot after a rough week). MUST HAVES: *Boca-Rota...the garlic buttery cheesy awesomeness paired with mushroom and prime rib....perfect combination. I'll take two please. (this even tastes great the next day, so don't be afraid to grab one to-go for tomorrows breakfast) *Bo's Big Nachos...also incredibly wonderful and a huge portion! (because it's on fried won ton chips...this does not hold up well for next-day reheat...so eat as much as you can there). *Uncle Bo's Kalua Pig Fried Rice with Spinach *Spicy Tuna Wraps *Hamachi Sashimi *Rack of Lamb (large portion and the sauce in this dish is amazing...very flavorful and worth every penny) The ambiance of this place is definitely electric...The lights are dim and the music can get quite loud in the main dining area (I must sound like an old person, but I usually ask the hostesses if we can get a small table towards the back, so it's a little quieter). The bathroom here is a pretty big room! I alway forget there's only one toilet in there (there were a few times when I was standing in line, that I saw girls opting to go into the men's room instead because it was taking too long). Definitely make reservations (there's a lot of big parties that come in, so walk-in waiting periods are about an hour or so).
(4)George T.
The calamari was epic. The dipping sauce could have been an entre unto itself with tomatoes and chili and some Hawaiian green that all came together very nicely. Fresh calamari with crunchy breading ( panko with coconut is my guess). The sliders were amazing also. They were prime rib sandwiches as mini French dip. No need to over order, an appetizer and sharing a meal for a couple is plenty. Price was good. I did notice parking was tight and tow truck warnings posted everywhere. It was a standout meal from our vacation. It's local and funky.
(5)Darren N.
Getting there: No parking but easy to find on Kapahulu Ave. Nearby street parking can be found but definitely carpool. Ambiance: Feels like an upscale Chinatown bar with black and white decor and high ceilings. Modern pop music keeps the place fresh. Wall mounted TV provide sports entertainment. Fairly large bar seating area as well. The night we went there were a lot of people and the boisterous atmosphere was great but you'll have to yell to have a conversation. Service: Prompt service! Food: Wasn't too hungry so we ordered only two items, the hamachi with white rice and korean nori and the dynamite shrimp everyone on yelp keeps raving about. The hamachi was lightly seared and soft enough to be a great cut to sear. The nori was a bit small to hold the rice and fish but did not present a problem. As for the shrimp, it is quite a hefty dish as a generous portion of shrimp and fried cheese is on the plate. Despite it's name, it is very mild so for those who do not like spicy food do not fear in ordering this dish. Who to bring: Lots of table and lounge seating to accommodate large parties. How much to bring: This place has lounge prices and the food isn't cheap. Look to spend a lot of cash. For these two pupu dishes and two drinks, we spent enough to buy a dinner for two at a normal restaurant. To be fair, the pupus are not small at all. Verdict: Come here after you get your paycheck and you'll be alright. Anyone know if there is a happy hour at this place? Final notes: I recommend both dishes but they have a ton of options for both pupus and dinner dishes like steak. They also have a website so google that as well and don't be fooled by the website's title of Untitled Document.
(3)Brandi K.
Sorry I really wanted to like it here since I heard such good things but unfortunately they do not get my vote. It seems to be a popular spot so wait is pretty long. Escargot was horrible, way too much cheese and not seasoned enough. My filet mignon was the toughest filet I've ever had. My boyfriend liked his fish dish and the cheese bread with steak & mushrooms appetizer but he said he wouldn't go out of his way to come back, neither would I. The service was good though and the hostess' were nice. Prices are good and portions are big.
(2)Peter O.
Spotted this place while walking up Kapahulu to the Safeway from Waikiki. Then a local recommended it. Can't say enough good things about uncle Bo's. Food was fusion style and really good. The atmosphere was electric - so fun to get off the Waikiki strip - a 10 min walk or $5 cab. We ended up getting bought a round of drinks by a table of locals who thanked us for making room for them by moving over a table. Super friendly and fun vibe.
(4)Drew F.
this place is pretty snazzy. food was good, service was good, comfort-ability was good. our whole group enjoyed themselves a lot. Although this place isn't as expensive as BLT Steak, I'd rather pay BLT Steak prices here than BLT Steak.
(4)Yuen R.
Good Food, Good Price, Fast Service. Back room need a Face Lift badly. Watch out the Automatic Tip charge when you have a party of 6 or more. Which I am fine about it and when I have one too may to drink, I forget it and the wait staff did not remind you the Automatic Tip/Service Charge. You can end up with 35 to 40% tips by double tipping
(4)Jade M.
What a little gem!!!!!!! Doesn't look like much from the outside but once you get in the vibe is out-of-this-island. Very trendy and hip. Great place to have a reunion with the gals and enjoy a drink and awesome pupus!
(4)Kristin W.
Been here a couple times. The pupus are good. I usually got the manila clams. Sooooo good. I love the ambiance and the look of Uncle Bo's. From the outside doesn't look like anything special, but inside it's modern and pretty. Haha. Drinks are also good.
(4)Abigail B.
Best food I've had in Honolulu! My personal favorite was the spinach crab dip. I also got the seafood trap which was my second favorite. The dynamite shrimp was my third favorite and although it was really good, the other entrees just blew me away. The dynamite shrimp was kind of similar to walnut shrimp which I had in the past. The spinach crab dip with wonton chips was sooo good! The lemon you squeeze on top of the dip gives it a great tangy flavor. Make sure you get here early because even at 6pm (1 hour after it opens) on a Sunday night, this place was already packed with people. Overall, I think everything on the menu is good and the prices are very reasonable. This is my new favorite place to eat near Waikiki!
(5)Raych D.
I can write review after review on this place for all the countless times I've been here but this particular review is from a friends birthday party about a month ago. We had a party of 10 people seated in the "private room" in the back of the restaurants which is good because it's away from all the noise but also kinda bad because we got forgotten about. Our waiter at first was super nice and friendly but throughout the night he kept forgetting some of our drinks, and mixed up our dinner orders. And at the end of the night he was so confused on our bill and was going back and forth to fix the tab, I guess because it was our fault we had such a big party that we split the tab into 4 times (we are a group who doesn't carry cash). As soon as we where done paying we all where outside taking pictures and was about to cross the street our waiter chased us and was like "oh someone didn't pay their bill" with so much mixed up we finally got it resolved outside! I just thought ht should have been more prepared and handled everything inside while we where still sitting. And to top it off the parking meter where you pay wasn't accepting cards or cash so we where fighting with the machine 15min before going into the restaurant! The boyfriend's had to leave in the middle of dinner to pay the machine because that's when it eventually worked. All other occasions before this incident, the waiters where really on point. The only thing about this place is the parking can be difficult when looking for street parking if you don't want to pay the couple dollars to park in their lot. And be advised DO NOT park at Zippy's because those workers will call the tow truck on you...I've seen it happen twice to two of my friends! The wait can be long, especially on the weekends and there peak hours 8-10pm. Regardless of reservations, you still have to wait! The only thing that makes it worth the wait and parking is there food! First off, the bread they serve is always crunchy in the outside and warm and soft in the inside, with the butter melting on top of it makes it extra yummy! They also have a fab bar that looks amazing with the pink accent. Even the bathroom is dope! And they have almost every drink, wine and alcohol you can think of! And the drapers throughout the dinning room is very hip. Some of my favorites are: Appetizers- 1.) Thai-style steamed clams 2.) Spicy tuna wraps with seaweed 3.) Oyster shooters 4.) Cheesy bread with prime rib pieces 5.) New England clam chowder Dinner- 1.) Prime rib (medium rare) 2.) New york steak 3.) Garlic rib-eye steak with mashed potato 4.) Thai seafood curry 5.) Shrimp scampi with mushrooms 6.) Opah I have never tried the desserts, always due to the fact that I can't stuff anything else down my throat. If you love good food, with good vibe, good drinks and good music then get it there!! Do not over think by the way the outside looks because the inside is a whole different story!
(5)Jason D.
So you're going on a date and need a place to go to. Or you're going out with friends and need a place to pre-party. Or you're going out with coworkers. Ah heck, you just need a place to eat. Then check this place out! Uncle Bo's without question is one of my favorite restaurants to go to. They have a variety of items and a full bar. You can have pupus and share, or have an entire entree (and still share, I guess). My faves are the boca rota, which is garlic cheesy bread topped with bits or prime rib, and the clams, which are served in the best broth ever! Lots of choices here. Go and go there again and again!
(5)Radiant C.
It's my favorite restaurant since high school, and Uncle Bo's never fails to deliver great food. I never ever have to wait to be seated with my friends, and this restaurant is the ultimate "go-to" venue for a birthday dinner with friends. My suggestion for every person is to go so often that you try every item on the menu. Absolutely wonderful dishes. My favorite is the escargot, but, I literally enjoy every single thing off that menu. I guess it helps that I go to Uncle Bo's too often, eh? ;)
(5)Leah G.
Very small and you sit closs to other people but the ambeuance was very nice!! I love the look of the place and the food was good. I had a moon fish called Ahi I think crusted with crab. I didn't taste the crab and it wasn't very flavorable but it was good!! I would go again!!
(4)Steph J.
Uncle Bo's is a great place to go when you have people that like a great selection of delicious food items. They have everything from poke to oysters to steak and fresh fish. The best part is, although they have a dessert menu of their own, they also have a special dessert tray, where they have a selections of desserts from JJ's French Pastry in Kaimuki. Now THAT is service! Speaking of service, that's the reason why I knocked off one star. They're very intermittent with their service. They pay attention when they remember to and then they forget about you. The servers also aren't too knowledgeable about bar drinks. I asked for a sweet wine and the gal suggested a pinot. Jigga-what? I was hoping for a Moscato or Riesling but when she didn't suggest either, I just asked if they had a Moscato and then she replied, "I don't think that's sweet." No honey, I'm not asking this time...I'm telling you that's what I'm ordering if you have it. Of course I didn't say that out loud but that's what I was thinking. If the service were stepped up and they had just a little more training in bar beverages, it'd definitely be a 5-star joint. With that said, the food is definitely delicious and I haven't been disappointed with anything I've tried there so this place is a definite must try if you've never been. Parking is $5 across the street in the flat lot or try to find street parking. If you're going to park in the lot, you have to remember to get your stall number, pay the machine, then walk back to your car to stick the ticket on your dash. If I see a line by the machine, I ask someone if they're interested in buying my ticket for $3 and if I get any takers, I let them know what stall number I'm in and wait for them to take my spot. I then give them my ticket, get some moolah and now my parking only cost me $2. Don't call me a cheapskate, call me ingenious. ^_^
(4)Lyn C.
Driving past Uncle Bo's one night, there were tons of people and the line was out the door! Uncle Bo's was definitely poppin, so naturally we had to see what the hype was about. Out of all the places we ate at, this was one of the longer waits. Also, the hostess was quite busy seating people so I had to wait a bit before being able to put our name down. I get quite picky about service, especially at such a contemporary looking place...so the least she could have done was recognize I was waiting and tell me she'd be right with me. But whatever, negative star for that. Got our pager and waited to be called. After doing some quick yelp homework, we knew what to order. Dynamite shrimp- good, but did not have the *BANG* I expected with the name 'dynamite' in it. Tad bit spicy with mayo covering the shrimp. Thai style clams- OMG the sauce was AH-mazing!!! This was a definite winner in my book! The waitress added that the bread was good with the sauce and she was absolutely right! It tasted so butterly good, I knew it couldn't be healthy...but who cares? I'm on vacation!!
(3)Chris W.
Bar area is definitely alive but for a younger crowd. The back room offers a great place for family away for the loud current music and yelling partiers. The place is more known for the Pupus but all of them are good and can feed a feast. Will definitely come back.
(4)Ben T.
Pupu's are excellent. Thai clams are probably my favorite item. Nacho's are also good. Service usually decent. Can be busy and parking is a little difficult. But the food is great.
(5)Michael C.
Uncle Bo's is a really cool pupu bar type of enviornment to chill and hangout with some of your friends after a long day of hardwork and wanna get away from all the chaos outside work. lol Uncle Bo's isnt that big until i found out that there was an extension going to the back of the bar. i entered through the front door, i was like "thats it?! so small" until the server or waitress escorted me through the back where theres many chairs and tables for groups, which was cool. of course coming to a pupu bar youre gonna have to order pupus with your beer right? we got the dynamite shrimp, and was completely in love with it. great taste and a big portion for a group at least 6ish people? i still have to try their fried ice cream, so ill be getting that next time i head there. excellent customer service! servers and waitress are constant checking up to get another round of beer or pupus. and oders get to you real quick! parking on the other hand was a problem for me, you park across the street and pay for the diamond services or find street parking right on the side (good luck) but for me, i parked across the street at zippys and walk through the restaurant to make like im ordering something then walk through the other entrance and head straight to Uncle Bo's. haha i know, lame right?
(5)Joe K.
This place was real treat. This was our first time here. We ordered their most popular apps. Pretty descent wine menu. Finished the night with the beignet dessert. This place was the bomb. Great food and good service. The only small issue was the seating, you are really close to other diners. Our neighbors on the right and left of us were pretty cool. But the very loud and drunk peeps 2 tables down, well not so great. We will definitely return.
(4)Annie W.
We initially stepped in and surprise, it's more modernly decorated than what the name insinuates. Opposite to our expectations, we were pleasantly surprised by the L.A. inspired, metal, curtain chains separating the tables from the bar area. The restaurants extends even further and allows a more private setting for larger groups or private functions. Anna D. invited my hubby and I to celebrate her fantabulous birthday. Lots of friends showed up and we pretty much occupied the entire lounge area and hovering over the bar. The food here is dynamite, hands down. The clams soaked in Laotian inspired spices along with big pieces of diced tomatoes and my favorite 2-3 inches cut vegetable marinated in the broth. The clams were so fresh and juicy, it was definitely worth the slurps. Watch out, because it does have a nice kick to it. The pizzas were a decent size, great amount of marina sauce, no skimping on the cheese and it was okay in my books. The crust wasn't too thin nor thick and the amount of meat was decent. The chicken penne was amazing too! The flavors were rich, the cheese was evenly mixed within the pasta and it was nothing typical about this white sauce. The birthday girl nearly ordered the whole left menu and everybody was able to try a little bit of everything. So after this entire review, I've been raving about their food and you're wondering why the 4 stars then? Well my friend, one stall restroom was the deal breaker. The line stretched all the way out to the next room. Once it was your turn, a blast of hot air just oozed out from the room. There were no air ventilation and I couldn't wash my hands fast enough to run out and gasp for air. This place is popping and alive with loud music. You're pretty much screaming over each other with such a large crowd. It is such a beautiful place, with perfect service, great food and NOT enough restrooms to accommodate the massive crowd it draws.
(4)Jessie O.
I love everything about Uncle Bo's! They have local flavor and great customer service. When visitors come to town, this is our go-to-place!
(5)Erwin R.
The family atmosphere, the pupus, the drinks, the service, the ahi poke, calamari, ...need I say more! Everything was sooooo good! Arrive early as they will fill up quickly! Enjoy!
(5)Juliet M.
5-STARS just AIN'T ENOUGH! WOWZAS...so my intense familia and me headed to the great Uncle Bo's after my graduation from UH this past Saturday. DO not get me started about the service. It was out of this world. I am not going to lie, my family is high maintenance, but they were kind and delivered. My family RAVED about the food, the quality of the food, the flavor of the food, the effectiveness of the servers, the yummy drinks, and of course Bo's kindness. We were a party of 8. All of our food was served hot and at the same time. We could not believe it. The appetizers came right out, and were to die for. My mom regretted not ordering the clams for her dinner, she proclaimed "those were the best clams I have had in my life, and I have eaten clams in coastal towns all other the country and world" All and all the legitest of experiences. I frequent this place quite a bit, and am pleased that they were able to enjoy my favorite place to sit down, have a drink, and some out of this world food. Thank you for everything Bo and fantastic staff. Ya'll keep it up and keep the food porn a coming!
(5)Lynne B.
Great place to celebrate a special occasion. Ive celebrated my anniversary, birthday & bachelorette party here. Their staff is great (reason why we come back). The food is okay. Nothing special. Their appetizers are better than their entrees.
(3)Tim S.
Great food, nice place. Best ahi poke I've ever had!
(4)Shirlene T.
Through general consensus we (7 of us), came upon this place after our fist choice was maxed out with so much people, we couldn't get in without a reservation. So we opted to come here and check it out. Parking was a challenge, as there was little to none, in the parking lot right next door. One of the utensils and dish had someone's dinner left on it from the night before. The martini wasn't consistent throughout the night, as was first served in the beginning. The hostess was very accommodating, as she got us a table for seven, even though we didn't have a reservation. Our waitress gave us good service and was always there when we needed her. Now on to the food: We ordered a bunch of pupus starting with he dynamite shrimp, crab and artichoke dip with won ton chips, the Thai steamed clams, nachos, hamachi with jalapenos, calamari, and a couple more. One of the ladies in our party never ate steamed clams before and thoroughly enjoyed them, especially the broth. We ordered more bread too, so that we could sop up the broth with it. All of the pupus were delightful and tasteful. Skip the calamari though, as it was just ordinary. The Boca rota, which was cheese bread strips with prime rib pieces and mushroom in the middle to spread on the bread, was really tasty and blew us away. If you're looking for a place to just kick back, talk story, enjoy drinks and delicious pupus, this is definitely one of the places to go to. We will definitely return soon!
(4)Jack S.
Uncle Bo's is a delicious find, and while just a stone's throw away from Waikiki, it's light years away in flavor, value, and ambience! We had a big late lunch on the day we went to Uncle Bo's and only had pupus, so I can't comment on the entrees, but the dishes we got were both excellent. My wife and I had the cajun seared ahi ($12) and Bo's big nachos ($14). The ahi was delicious, a perfect crust that was flavorful, the inside was perfect, red, and slightly cool still, and the dipping sauce was delicious with a soy base, slightly sweet, with chopped garlic. The Bo's nachos were the highlight of the evening. The start with perfectly fried and crispy won ton chips and add succulent kalua pork, big meaty chunks of smoked ham, and top is with big chunks of roma tomato, grilled onions, and mozarella cheese. The plate was huge, and every bite was great! This would have to be my top nachos to date! We were going to order 2 pupus and then order a couple more, but after the first two, we were stuffed, the portions were nice and large. Another plus was the Stella Artois on tap, and all of their drinks were reasonably priced. The restaurant was full when we arrived, but we only waited about 15 minutes for a table, and the service was also fast and attentive. It was nice to get away from the bland tourist food on the Waikiki strip, and find a place that had great atmosphere, great value, and delicious food! I didn't go to Waikiki to overpay for a bland meal cranked out of a hotel kitchen designed to satisfy the least common palate, I wanted to enjoy new tastes, and see exciting food, and Uncle Bo's delivered. I can't say enough good things about Uncle Bo's.
(5)Cathy W.
Had dinner here based on recommendation of the concierge in our hotel. When we walked in I was concerned, but the food was out of this world. By far the best meal I have had since I arrived. The SOS is to die for.
(5)Levy O.
Dear uncle Bo: I didn't mean to say bad things about you, but you have truly changed. Your low key, friendly and good food establishment has now turned into a tourist trap spot staffed with snooty inexperience waitresses dressed in tight red tank tops and shorts accessorized with bad attitude. And I understand that your place is more popular than ever but there's no excuse for putting extra Costco folded chairs in the back dining room when you charge your customers $10 for a cocktail and $17 plates. I'm not quite sure if a future visit will be worth the chance, especially when Side Street on Da Strip is across the street and they have great fried pork chop and nice chairs. Please Uncle Bo.. I think you can do better than this.
(2)Tze M.
Located on Kapahulu. Parking is either on the street or the lot across the street for a flat fee of $5. The name "Uncle Bo's" fooled me, I thought it was a moke kind of dive. When I went there for the first time, I was surprised. The place was modern and trendy. The patrons are of a mixed crowd. The staff is friendly and helpful. The menu has a good variety to choose from. If your first time, I recommend sticking to the ones with special asterisk next to it. I've mostly order pupu's rather than entrees. My favorites are THAI-Style Steamer Clams (ask for break for the soup), BOCA-ROTA, and Dynamite shirmp. I've been there a few times, and I've always had a good time there! Great for casual dates to large group gathering. I look forward to going there again.
(5)Ro C.
Off the Waikiki strip but worth the walk. Seafood fresh and creatively prepared. Wait staff very good. Came with no reservation so there was a wait but worth it. 4, not 5 star because of noise level but all else good.
(4)Natalie N.
Been to a whole bunch of restaurants in Kapahulu, but WHY have I not bothered to try Uncle Bo's until now?! Been depriving my taste buds of good food for too long. Knowing that most places usually pick up around 6 or so, my friend and I decided to come here around 5:15ish or so. There were maybe like one or two parties in the restaurant when we got there. We ordered the boca-rota and the thai style steamer clams for starters. Our waiter put in our order, and I was wondering why he didn't take our orders for appetizers. Our orders came out and DAMN! That's why he didn't take our orders... we didn't need to order more food! The clams (which were very good) we had no problem finishing, but the boca-rota is like this ginormous piece of garlic cheese bread with pieces of prime rib and mushroom...probably a good appetizer for like 4 people or so. We didn't need more food....but I ordered more food. I felt like both appetizers were pretty rich, so I wanted to order a simple pasta to kinda balance it out. I told the waiter I wanted the pasta marinara, but I received the pasta primavera instead. I wasn't upset because I realized I was pretty congested, so I couldn't enunciate my words well enough. Besides, since I was getting over a cold&a 2 week long streak of eating unhealthy on vacation, pasta&veggies was probably a MUCH better idea than getting just marinara. Everything happens for a reason, right? Never judge a book by its cover! I would've never guessed that this restaurant was sooooo good, just from looking at it outside from kapahulu ave. I'd definitely bring a bunch of friends with me to Uncle Bo's the next time I decide to go out for good food&drinks(:
(4)Justin U.
Living in Hawaii for a little over 3 years, Uncle Bo's is one of my favorite places to take friends to that are visiting from out of state. The atmosphere is trendy, the staff is super friendly and responsive, and the food is top notch. Although their entree menu is really good, the pupu menu is where it's at. My top three items to order is their sweet chili calamari, thai style steamer clams w/bread to dip into the sauce, and spinach artichoke crab dip w/wonton chips. Maddddd good! Once 930pm hits, the lights dim, the music gets turned up and the atmosphere changes on you all over again. I love. it.
(5)Mark M.
Me and my friend decided to have some dinner to Uncle Bo's because i've read the reviews about "good place" to hag out blah, blah, blah. We walked in and got a table right away. First of the bat, i noticed that tables were set "pretty close to each other." So, I can totally join in to the next table in their conversation and or listen (take not; NOT EAVESDROP) to the people next to me's personal life or love life. Or in my case, i cannot fit between THESE TABLES, damn it! Our server was pretty nice and friendly, but a little slow. Nonetheless, still nice. We ordered the clams, filet mignon, and fettuccine alfredo. CLAMS WERE DELICIOUS! it was great! I love it because once the Clams are gone, I dipped my bread in the sauce and it was heaven! It was good :] Filet Mignon and the pasta were, aahhhh, BORING and UNDERSEASONED! The filet mignon was tough! My friend ordered it thinking it would tender and juicy but she got dry, tough, and bland. Our server didn't even offer us the steak sauce and our salt/pepper. Pasta. Wait, what pasta?! yeah yeah.. it was forgettable, Bland. Buttery, Underseasoned. Underwhelming. Again, no offer of cheese nor pepper. I ate not even half and brought home the leftover. We had the Brownie A la Mode with 2 mini scoops of ice cream. It was good for the price of 6 bucks. The thing is, i could make a better a brownies at home. not that i'm bragging. If you come here expecting such great food, tasty treats, and overwhelming things, you're in for a big surprise. With the amount that we paid, we could have gone to some places and pain half of what we did. If ever you come here, just order the pupus!
(3)Sheila Marie C.
I came here for one reason only...and that was the Dynamite Shrimp. Everyone on Yelp keeps on mentioning it and I've seen several pictures of it already...so I decided to go for it! The Dynamite Shrimp was actually really yummy! I loved how cheesy, crunchy, and spicy it was! I would definitely come back for it! Now Uncle Bo's itself is alright. It was super packed the night I went (Friday night). I actually kind of didn't like it because of how crowded it was. If I was in a super "party mode," and wanted to get fucked up....then I would come here most definitely. But I did not come here to get wasted...I came here to eat those damn shrimps...and I wanted to eat it in peace. Ugh...maybe I should have paid more close attention to the comments to see what type of place this was...and gotten the shrimp to go. Lol. Anyway, this place gets a 4 because of the shrimp...and I only minus one star for being overly crowded.
(4)Kat K.
Came here for dinner with friends on a Sunday evening. Loved the ambiance as it made me feel like I was back home in the Bay Area. Ordered the clams and have to say, it was GREAT!!! Garlic Rib eye...eh..I've had better. The opakapaka my husband had said it was too "ocean-y" for him..to me, that's gross!! Other than that..yes, it's definitely a place you want to go to at least once.
(3)Imran G.
It was nice and I had an appetizer that was made out of every sea creature I could think of! Whoever Uncle Bo is, this man MASSACRES the sea. Seating is limited but the atmosphere is cool! Uncle Bo is not a dive bar! The wait can be long depending on when you come but it's a nice place. Sidenote: The waitresses are cute. Don't bring your girlfriend. Or bring your girlfriend! Or just post on Craigslist in the Casual Encounters section. Just saying.
(4)Alyssa M.
I've been to Uncle Bo's twice before. My 1st experience was a little awkward. My cousin & I were sitting at the bar having a few drinks & eating. Some guy down the bar kept buying us drinks & even though we didn't drink it...they were still coming our way. We asked the barista to tell him to stop, or at least to STOP MAKING THE DRINKS...but no...they were still being made & still being sent to us. never have a drink from a random. So we left earlier then wanted because we were just feeling uncomfortable. My 2nd experience was more laid back. I went with my sister & we just sat down & it took about 15minutes in order for us to even place an order for DRINKS. so, we just ordered our drinks & food at the same time because we didn't know when she was coming back. By the time we got our food, it was somewhat still warm...then thought, ah screw it, take it to go already. So we left. *******THIS IS THE LAST EXPERIENCE******* Last night i went with my aunty who was visiting from LA. She's never been to Uncle Bo's so i thought it would be a good small place for her to try. As we were eating our dinner, she was looking at the ground & noticed something moving. I looked down by her feet & there was a COCKROACH!!! Not small either. A party that was sitting in back of us saw the same thing & we all kind of just looked at each other. One of the waitresses that walked by noticed what we were all looking at & all she said was "OMG, Im so sorry. Let me try get it" well...her efforts weren't good enough because she didn't catch it, nor did she return to attempt to get it, nor did ANYONE ELSE in that restaurant try & get it. The whole time we were there we were trying to kill it ourselves, & just watching it crawl all over the place. I've already finished eating, but my aunty was hesitant to eat her food. gross. just plain gross.
(1)Michelle L.
The food was delicious but our final tab scared the crap outta me. I was hoping for a $40-50 for two night but it ended up being that times two including tip. I blame Boy for ordering the $12 Oriental Chicken Salad as one could get it anywhere and for much cheaper. As recommended by Yelp, the Thai steamer clams were awesome! The broth was very tasty and be sure to ask for more bread for dunking. Yum. The Oriental chicken salad was good and I liked that they used a spring mix of greens instead of cabbage. For the main dish, we shared the garlic ribeye. The steak was huge and very tender. Enough said. I was pretty excited for the fried ice cream but I was kinda let down. It's very doughy since it's practically an andagi with rock hard ice cream in the middle. I like it crispy which this one lacked. We ate at the bar and the bartender was pretty cool. Sole bartender was whipping up drinks for the entire restaurant all night. Come 9:30 pm it is like club night. Low lights and loud music. Meh. I would definitely want to come back here again for probably just pupus and drinks :)
(4)Pari S.
Awesome food, but its a SUPER busy place... I would NOT recommend coming here as a large group. Came with a here with a group of about 15 people and we all ordered appetizers to share. Large portions, great options, good food. Drinks are decent; I had some type of fruit-cocktail spritzer drink that was good, but not strong at all. My favorite was the pork wonton-nachos, but they do get soggy fast, so eat quick! My only disappointment was that waitress serving us; even though several of us ASKED HER SPECIFICALLY to split the check between each couple beforehand, she failed to do so. I'll try and refrain from calling people names and just say that I hate having to split up checks and try and make it fair for everyone; I wasn't a math major, geesh. Just my honest opinion. Otherwise, great food and great ambiance. 4 stars for food and decor; but 2 stars for service= 3 stars total.
(3)Guy N.
We tried to get dinner before the dinner crowd during this trip because truthfully, around Waikiki, you do not want to deal with the tourist crowds on a weekend night. We went to Uncle Bo's at 5pm and it was pretty mild inside: quiet, well lit, not too crowded. Well, that all changed come dinner time when the lights dimmed, the music blasted, and the crowd noise was immense. What a transformation. It turned into a lounge before our very eyes and ears. Haha. Luckily, we were done with our food already. Ribs - This is why I love and hate Hawaii. The ribs were a very generous serving of mouth watering tender goodness. I love that they give hefty portions of good food (quality for money) but hate that they give hefty portions of good food (bad for figure). The love outweighs the hate hence, more to love for my wife. :) The rib meat doesn't fall of the bone but are super soft, which is perfect for me. Fork only ribs are tasty but I like to eat off the bone and it still has a lot of bite. Clams - Again, true Hawaiian style. Not those little pebble sized ones but these were healthy sized clams with plenty of meat in them. The Thai style seasoning was perfect and steamed well with the main protein. Definitely a keeper. Nachos - Bar food at it's finest. Kalua pork is the main star as its juice flow over a pile of wonton style chips. All the other sides just complemented each other well instead of turning it into a sloppy dish as is the norm with nachos. Very good. The service was good. Not outstanding. For as crowded as it wasn't, I would expect a little more attention. No big deal. They were all getting ready for the real dinner crowd I guess. With all the restaurants in the area and with limited time, I will probably have to try other places that I haven't been to yet before venturing back here unless someone else picks this place. It's pretty good but just not for the family scene as I need to think about nowadays.
(4)malia w.
SOS and clams were great. Also tried the baked spicy opah, delicious. The chicken pesto pasta was good, fish tacos were okay. Taro beignets were sooo good! Parking is not great. Staff were friendly. Make sure to make reservations.
(5)Steve P.
Love the Shrimp Dynamite and the atmosphere! Great places to meet for drinks and pupus!
(5)Jennifer A.
Wait time for two poeple was 30 minutes on a Wednesday night. Food was not bad but if you are a tourist like me, you are better off going to places that serve traditional hawain dishes, like i said food was just not bad, not great.
(3)Joel S.
Good drinks, meh food, good service. Honestly, I don't see what the hype is all about. Went with a group of friends. There were five of us. The waitress brought us to a table for 4 (with 4 chairs) and walked away, leaving one of us chair-less! Luckily a nice guy at the next table pushed over a chair. Drinks were quite good, and other than the chair incident the service was fine. I had the fish tacos and they were about the worst I've ever had: some kind of creamy sauce that was both totally unexpected and totally unappetizing. Honolulu is FULL of better options than this.
(2)Victoria V.
Love this place. Really unassuming from the outside, but pretty nice on the inside and way bigger than it looks. Every time I go I like ordering from the pupu menu so we can all share. The Dynamite Shrimp, Thai Style Clams, and Hamachi Sushi are a must. They can accommodate a big parties which they sit in the back... and it gets loud in there. The acoustics are not helpful. It's so loud and you end up yelling over people. The front room by the bar is definitely quieter which is funny. The service is quick and attentive. The food comes out pretty fast too. Perfect because I'm always starving when I go.
(4)Wanda T.
OMG! How could I have been to Hawaii so many times and not eaten here before? That's the question I keep asking myself and the reason is - there was no YELP!!! Thank you to all who have gone here before me and left such amazing reviews. My mouth was watering long before I arrived for my 6:00 PM reservation. We were seated immediately at a great table across from the bar. The waitress was really friendly and helpful. We followed the advice of many others and ordered appetizers and cocktails. We flat-out loved the Dynamite Shrimp and the Boca-Rota. Those were both wonderful. Pineapple spare ribs were OK and the pork nachos were also pretty good. When we go back, I plan to try the steak entree - it looked delicious! BE WARNED: Parking is a problem. No lot, no valet. Street parking or illegal parking at Zippy's. It also gets very crowded so go early or be prepared to wait for a table. Call ahead for reservations!
(5)Aline B.
I just got back from eating here. This is my fourth time. We normally only eat their pupus, except this time we ordered main entrees. Our waitress was sweet although less attentive than I prefer. I do keep in mind that they were very busy. She did gave us a free warm brownie for my fiance's birthday. We originally requested for a 6pm seating. A few hours before, we had to change it to 7pm and they easily moved the reservation for us. There was 8 of us, which usually takes up a big table. They did not seem to mind the change. I gave it one more star than the food deserves, because of how they nicely handled our reservation. They even sat us at the front part of the restaurant, which is nicer than the gloomy back part. Here is what we ordered: Thai style steamer clams- disappointing. It usually is great except it tasted too buttery and greasy. Hamachi shashimi with sliced jalapeno and rice- did they mentioned RICE? when the dish came out, all we saw was a pile of rice. I would rather pay $7 and get the best hamachi at Nobu with no rice. Boca-Rota garlic cheesy bread with sliced prime-rib- WOW! this was truly disappointing. We ordered this dish a year ago. It came with actual slice of prime rib. This time we actually had to call the waitress and ask if they forgot the meat because all we saw was mushrooms. The waitress came back and said that it was done correctly. We dug through the thick layer of cream and mushrooms and counted about 5 tiny squares of what might have been meat. The bread was good and crunchy. Fired seared prime rib with garlic-herb and a side of king crab legs- the prime rib was their best dish tonight. If you love garlic, then you will gobble this prime rib. I am a true medium rare eater and it came out medium. I was still turned off by the Boca-Rota that I didn't want to question my prime rib. Crab legs- dry and and tasteless. I was expecting them to be succulent and sweet. I rather eat Costco's cold crab legs. Rack of lamb- again the cook does not know the temperature of meat. It was suppose to be medium rare. It came out uncooked! The outside was somewhat cooked and the inside was raw. My brother in-law only ate the outside. Sea bass with garlic citrus butter- ok, they forgot to mention CREAM. Luckily my sister told them to put the sauce on the side because she cannot handle heavy cream. It looked like the fish was floating on a pile of thick yellow whip cream. I am sad to say "no more Uncle Bo's". I love supporting local talent. That is why I wanted to try the entrees and let my sister who was visiting with her family, enjoy a meal from a local popular restaurant. After spending that kind of money and enjoying just one dish, we rather call it quits.
(3)Candace W.
Extensive menu is a plus. Great variety and good follow through with entrees living up to the menu descriptions. My husband ordered the prime rib, med rare, and loved it. I've been twice and felt that service was never as good as it could have been, and seating for two was a little uncomfortable. Overall I'd definitely give it a try - a cool bar atmosphere probably best for when you're just in the mood for pupu's and drinks at the bar.
(3)Liz T.
I've never been impressed with the pupus, so a few nights ago I went strictly for drinks. I ordered a couple of cocktails and a shooter for myself. Despite being $8 each (i.e., expensive for Hawaii), they had little or no alcohol in them. The lychee cocktail tasted like pure lychee juice, which is delicious but ridiculous. The pear cocktail was equally sweet, virgin, and unwanted. After throwing away money on these two, I asked for a raspberry kamikaze expecting a shot of alcohol and getting what tasted like cranberry and lime juice. The bartender must've thought my guy friend SI was sleazy (his theory, not mine) because the bartender wasn't going to give me anything that would even kill one brain cell. It was Monday night, and he must have wanted me to be sober as Lindsay Lohan's judge. Ughhh.
(2)Wendy H.
Nachos great. Calamari tough but the sauce they come with was fantastic. Pretty noisy but it was Saturday nite with a birthday party Pretty tight for tables love thy neighbour. Worth a try
(3)Erin T.
We were in LOVE with Uncle Bo's when we were in Honolulu twice about a year ago, so naturally we were excited to eat there again this go around. But we were disappointed. It seems that there's a new chef and that much of the menu has changed. Our favorite dishes- the carpaccio, the calamari, etc.- aren't offered, at least not in the same way they were before. Unfortunately, the recipe changes aren't for the better. The calamari tasted like it was out of a frozen bag, then it was WAY overcooked. The carpaccio has been renamed and now comes with thick slices of meat. The nachos were OK, but only had toppings on the very top, leaving a whole pile of naked chips underneath. The dynamite shrimp were good, as were the beef garlic breads. All in all, we'd say that they're focussing more on being a BAR rather than a restaurant. They've added flat screen TVs to play various sporting events and have increased the prices of their alcohol. So...if you're looking for a bar, we'd still recommend Bo's (it was packed full of people and very loud, just as you'd expect for a bar), but if you're looking to just relax with friends over pupus and GOOD food, I'd head elsewhere. It's a shame, really, because the old Bo's was SO good on both fronts. :(
(2)Lili H.
This is a great place for groups. Reservations are definitely recommended though, as they are always packed. I was here with a group on a Monday night and the place was really busy. The staff are extremely friendly and the menu is extensive. It could even be overwhelming since they have so many dishes to choose from. My favorite was the Boca Rota. Everything my group ordered turned out very delicious. The presentation, the portion size and taste was great. I will definitely be going back to try more dishes.
(5)Brian B.
Excellent food and good atmosphere. I would recommend this place to everyone. I went with a group of people so I got to sample a variety of things and nothing was short of great. I would highly recommend the Boca Rota and the Dynamite Shrimp Pizza!
(5)Jhoren C.
-Perfect spot to meet up with friends for some drinks and pupus. -fri/sat are the busiest nights -pricey drinks but they make em strong and thirst quenching! -only 2 bathrooms for each gender -street parking or valet
(4)Paula C.
Mmmmmmm Deeeeelicious!!! Excellent fusion cuisine with a friendly, casual & funky vibe. We loved our dynamite shrimp, steamer clams (best sauce EVER), garlic rib eye and SOS spicy seafood concoction. We'll be back for sure!
(5)James V.
I really enjoyed this place. Quaint. Food was awesome. Had some homemade hummus and some prime rib...ALL of it was excellent. I felt like licking the plate.
(5)Jenn W.
I've been wanting to eat at Uncle Bo's for a long time now. Well I finally made it there when I was on the island for my cousin's wedding. Great menu selection all around. Lots of appetizers and entrees to choose from. We had oyster, the cheesy bread with meat (sounds odd) but tastes great. All delicious. Loved the ambiance, local crowd and friendly servers. Definitely one of our favorite places to eat in Oahu.
(4)Ikki V.
Wait staff is always awesome! for Birthdays, they offer a complimentary "BIRTHDAY SHOT" or a "birthday dessert." And they make big noise and sing to you! Nice to know this place has it's priorities set straight! LOL
(5)Joy N.
I have been here a few times and have never been disappointed by anything. The service is wonderful, the food is delectable, and the portions are quite generous. The best part of this place is that I can get tasty escargot after ten!!!! MMMmmm!!!! If you are going for dinner, I would recommend reservations, this place can get quite crowded. The last time my friends and I went there it was for a snack and drinks after ten pm. We had the kalua pig nachos, escargot (of course), the hamachi sashimi, and the meat pizza. Everything was so tasty and even sharing with everyone we left feeling full. The wine selection is pretty good, my friends found a bottle or two that they liked. The alcohol selection is pretty extensive and we did not have to worry that they would not have something that we wanted to drink. Our server was pretty good. She was polite and knowledgeable of the menu. I would ask that you try this place out if you have the chance.
(4)Tina C.
Great atmosphere! Great Service! AMAZING Food! Parking can be tricky on the weekends, but the food is worth it! Order the Boca Rota!
(5)Mr P.
Sorry, I don't get it. Three stars for the clams, ceviche and oysters. Pizza, pot stickers, dynamite shrimp one star. Service? 5 star for the bus boy, 2 for our waitress. Did that add up to my 2 stars?
(2)Amie F.
I am a bartender at a very busy bar/restaurant in Waikiki. When my customers ask (and they ask all the time!) where they can go for a great dinner that's outside of Waikiki, I always send them to Uncle Bo's. Without fail, and I mean every single time, they come back positively raving about the food and the service! Thanks Uncle Bo's for making my job a little easier, and for making so many people's vacations just that much better!
(5)Sara T.
Uncle Bo's was not what I expected at all! Came here with a girlfriend last night (we walked 10 mins from her house) and I thought it would be a dive bar kind of place, but it's actually pretty nice inside. It's definitely a see and be seen kind of place, which is kind of weird considering it's in the middle of Kapahulu. We had lychee martinis for $8. They were tasty, but pretty weak for the money. Most domestic beers are $4 and imports (and Kona Longboard) are $5. The bartenders were not bad, but the waitress who greeted us at the door was not very welcoming. She kind of looked us up and down and it seemed like she didn't want to seat us. I can see how this place would be a fun hangout. We didn't have any food but I heard it's tasty. The parking could be a big problem if you don't live within walking distance. I'll be back, and hopefully I'll be able to bump it up a star!
(3)Kale P.
I really digged this place, I went here with my wife to meet up with some friends. It was slightly busy but we were able to get seats right away. The ambiance was really calming and comforting. The waitress was really nice and kept checking on us to see if we were doing good. The food is what brings in the Five Star rating. The escargot, the kalua nachos, and the sushi was awesome. Never had escargot prepared so perfect with the garlic, butter and cheese concoction! The Kalua pig nachos was probably my favorite dish because the chips were different than other chips on nachos and the sweet sauce and other toppings put it all together. I would definitely check this place out again.
(5)Kevin F.
Off the beaten path and don't let the store front fool you! Fantastic pizza and seafood pasta. Slightly pricey, but its Hawaii, right?!
(4)Vivian A.
Met a local friend here to catch up. I had heard nothing about Uncle Bo's so I was coming in as a newbie. The place is nicely decorated and feels upscale-ish but we walked in after a quick outdoor wash-off shower from the being at the beach all day (still in our bathing suits and cover-ups) and the place is not pretentious at all. There were three of us and we shared the pupus. To drink, I had a melona martini and it was not too sweet, just perfect. For the pupus, we had: 1) Dynamite shrimp. I don't know what was in it but it was AWESOME. A mound of orangey-looking shrimp stuff comes out and it's very tasty with good sized shrimp in it. 2) Ahi Poke. This was awesome. I love poke and this was pretty good. The marinade was not too overpowering and the fish was fresh. 3) Island-Style Fried Noodle. Looking at the dish it seemed very simple but for some reason, we all kept eating it and going in for seconds. It was very tasty and probably came in a close second next to the Dynamite Shrimp. 4) Shaken Beef. This dish was good although something seemed to lack in flavor. Not sure what but.... was hoping for something more being the other dishes were so tasty. Four dishes plus 2 cocktails came out to about $55, not including tip. You can try to find street parking but there is a lot across the street for night parking for $4.
(4)Anna D.
Oh, me so hungry... Me love you long time! Only thing I can think of here that I didn't like was the dynamite shrimp.... However, everything else is really good. I don't care if I don't know you, I'll join you if you're eating here! If you get to meet the owners Bo and Ho Suk, you'll be surprised with how awesome and nice they are. I love them!
(5)Jack M.
One of the best meals I've had while living in Hawaii. Definitely go if you're a fan of freshly made food.
(4)Nathan K.
Located next to irefune and zippys. ~$40/person (pasta ~$15, steaks ~$25, pupus ~$8, drinks $~8). $5 parking, they share the same lot across the street as side street inn. Nice trendy atmosphere, so dress nice. If your looking to just enjoy the food, come early to avoid the young social crowd and line. Decent service, but I think if you look like you're there to party, drink, and tip the service would be very good. Had a nice refreshing drink called Sweet P. Tried the fire herb prime rib. It was good, but seemed like they didn't season it much, some sea salt and a little bit of crust would make this much better.
(4)Deanna C.
This is probably one of my most favorite restaurants on the island. Service can be a little slow sometimes, at yeah it is a bit pricey....but the food and drinks are just so delicious, we always come back for more! Definitely need to try the Boca-Rota appetizer, so yummy....and the dynamite shrimp pizza is a must have too!
(5)Joshua T.
Loved the restaurant. service was great, and the food was delicious. My favorite were the clams. We had 18 people in our party and the server recommended a fixed menu for $27 per person. Worth every penny, and i would have paid more. The art in the restaurant was modern and lively...really added to the enjoyment of the meal. I will go here again the next time I am back here.
(4)Larry L.
From the calamari and the ahi appetizers to the Shrimp Pasta and the fried Ice cream for dessert it was phenonimal. Great service as well would recommend to anyone
(5)Keola S.
Ive been here 3 times, and Uncle Bos never disappoints. Great service even when they're busy! My favorites are the boca rota and kalua pig nachos. One of my friends got a pizza, the other got a pasta dish. Everyone was happy. Portions are generous. Save room for dessert because the fried ice cream is super ono! The outside looks not so great, but its good inside. Perfect for date night or meeting up with friends.friends
(5)Eugenia W.
Looks like a tiny hole in the wall, but much larger inside. A hidden Oahu gem. Had large group for a birthday party so we had the chefs special, which turned out to be an all you can eat pupu's for $28 per person. Everything was delicious!!! Lots of seafood. Added on tip of 19% seemed very high and a fee of $2 per person to let us bring our own cake that they didn't tell us about beforehand was a bit of a shock. Definitely will be going back. Also, reservations are a must but be warned....there is a time limit. You can't just hang out. Our group was given a window of 7-9:15 but because they didn't split the check for us it took us longer to get out of there. And they kept bugging us to hurry.
(3)Mary B.
Everything I've tried has been worth the calories. The dynamite shrimp, meat lovers pizza, Boca Rota, Kalua Pig Fried Rice with Spinach, Nachos, and more ... I was impressed by the Kalua Pig Fried Rice with Spinach. It is my favorite dish! The service at Uncle Bo's is excellent. They are really nice! It can be very crowded at night, so it's not the best place to go if you want a quiet dinner. You may also have to pay for parking. Uncle Bo's is a fun place to hang out with friends and enjoy good food. There's a lot of good energy there. Don't be fooled by the outside either ... It's quite spacious inside.
(5)Ed K.
What looks kind of like a grungy family diner with the unassuming name on the outside, is actually a fairly trendy looking restaurant/lounge/bar on the inside, reminiscent of anything found on LA's west side. A group of us visiting town were looking for a place to dine and were recommended Uncle Bo's by a local friend. Service is friendly enough and the menu consists of a variety of hawaiian style asian & american fusion dishes. We made a pretty good sampling of the menu starting with the Thai style steamer clams which were well seasonsed and lacked any real fishy flavour and some of the island style fried noodle, which felt more like instant cup ramen noodles mixed with cabbage and spam. The steam chinese-style opakapaka fish was good, but wasn't quite what I expected, thinking it would be more like your traditional steamed fish with soy sauce, ginger and scallions, but came off more like grilled fish instead. Dinner was rounded off with some garlic herb chicken pasta which was also alright but nothing to get excited about. In general, portions were very generous and service was fast n friendly with a clean, classy decor, not to mention prices came out quite cheap once we split up the bill. I haven't had a chance to try the drinks here but that maybe next on my list if I return.
(3)Michael W.
What a difference a year makes, Last time I was here had the best meal and pupu's this time not so much.... The dynamite shrimp where good the boca not so much the bread was super pale and the dish was luke warm. My crab legs I has where HUGE but the meat inside was over cooked overall the meal sucked... Service was great so that why I gave two stars.
(2)Hanna N.
You must order the clams!!!!!!!
(4)Samson E.
Awesome place to have cocktails and pupus! Great place for Pau Hana. Ample parking for $4.00 across the street. The exterior of the building does not do justice for what is inside. The decor was nicely arranged. The bar area was comfortable wit a couple couches next to the one sided bar. We sat at the bar and were immediately greeted by the bartender. It was not too busy yet as it was only 4:30 in the afternoon but I guess that they get busy as the host was asking the guests that walked through the door if they had resrvations. The dining room extended through the back just after the bar. Good times for Pau Hana!
(4)Kacee K.
Dynamite shrimp is amazing and the cucumber cocktail is good too. This place sounds like a hole in the wall but its actually very trendy and reasonably priced. Great atmosphere for a hot date or a night out with the girls or just casual. Great service and all in all great experience and is a most before you leave island.
(5)Rob B.
Only open for dinner FYI. Nice spot and and seems to be drafting the Hawaiian version of the tapas craze that has been going on the mainland. Lots of "small" dishes with lots of local flavor. We tried the favorites, Thai clams, firecracker shrimp and the nachos. None was bad, none was great. Clams were the best. Really a little less in each dish would have made any of them better. A big handed chef, left us with huge, out of balanced plates that could have been great. Some times less is more.
(3)Isaac N.
Tried Uncle Bo's last night and the food was not bad though some dishes were definitely better than others. There were 6 of us and we decided to just order a bunch of different appetizers in order to try a variety of things. We ordered Spinach Artichoke Crab Dip, Uncle Bo's Dynamite Shrimp, Baby-Back Ribs, Thai-Style Steamer Clams, Uncle Bo's Big Nachos, and the Ahi Sashimi. There was only one dish that stood out, and that I really liked. The Uncle Bo's Dynamite Shrimp. Definitely had the crunch and spice that appealed to my taste. The Nachos and Clams were decent. Both of these dishes were pretty generous in size. The nachos could have probably used more a little more kalua. The clams were large in size though the sauce it was prepared in was overly sweet and did not complement the flavor of the clams in my opinion. As for the Spinach Artichoke Crab Dip and Baby-back ribs. I would not at all recommend ordering any of these two dishes. Both dishes really lacked flavor. I can't in fact even remember tasting any crab and barely any artichoke in the dip. The Baby-back ribs tasted as if it were boiled then thrown on the grill with no seasoning then topped with a bunch of chopped onion. I did like the ambiance and the service was good. I also thought that their lemongrass martini was good and refreshing. Though overall this is not somewhere I would feel the need to go back to.
(2)Dan G.
Another bright spot to visit when in Honolulu. The pupu's are delicious but I really go there for my meat craving. The Garlic Rib-Eye steak is my favorite, with mashed potatoes. They have a full service bar and the locals who frequent Uncle Bo's are extremely friendly. During one of my visits, one couple sitting at the bar bought me a shot of Patron. I bought them one and we all had a very nice evening talking and drinking. Again, highly recommended for visitors to Honolulu. I don't live here, however when I return (every 3 months), I will eat at Uncle Bo's for dinner at least once during my visit. Reservations are highly recommended.
(5)Derek n.
I went here the other evening with friends for pupus and drinks in the evening and had a great time. The food was great and the service was also very good. I like that it is open late and the kitchen stays open. It is a bit on the pricy side for small dishes and i would not call the drinks a bargain unless you are there for happy hour, but it has a great atmosphere to hang out with a moderate size group of friends.
(4)Megan M.
The food here is AMAZING!! We got several pupus for the table & all of them were great....especially the Boca which is a MUST try! Prices are reasonable. I took off 1 star because the service here is terrible. We were a larger party & our waitress only checked on us twice, when she did she was very short & seemed to care less we were even there, she obviously couldn't even process simple math as we divided up the check & labeled the cards & she still couldn't handle it correctly. A couple of my friends had been there before & even in a smaller party they said the service was horrible.
(4)Joe B.
I've been to this restaurant multiple times now. I can say I've had about 75 percent of the appetizers menu.there are some dishes that will blow your mind. And the ones that don't are still excellent excellent excellent. The service is always quick the staff is always pleasant and the atmosphere is nice. The prices are fair and the restaurant in general all the clean appearance. If you're looking for an excellent meal or great place to take a date then you definitely have to try this place.
(5)Maria S.
I love small plates (pupu's) and this place definitely serves good quality of dishes with generous amounts. Price is reasonable and not too heavy on the pocket. I love the ambiance, even though outside it didn't look to inviting. we ordered: Dynamite shrimp (excellent) Bo's big nachos (excellent) Thai-style steamer clams (very good) Crispy crab cakes (very good) I will definitely recommend this place to my friends here in SF, if they happen to visit Hawaii ;)...and will for sure come back!
(4)Roland K.
When non-locals ask me for a must-try restaurant during their visit, Uncle Bo's is always on the top of my list! I would describe the restaurant as a hybrid of a 5-star classy restaurant and unclassy dive bar. Some of the deco is super nice, but really, you are sitting on plastic chairs. For people like me, it is fun and just the right mix of casual and fancy. But, really the star of Uncle Bo's is its pupus! I have done some of their seafood main courses, the steak, salad, and the pizzas...all good. But, now I just go for the same few things: Thai Clams, Seafood Trap, and Asian Nachos. All three dishes have this chile/garlic/oyster sauce that I wish they sold in bottles because I would buy it in bulk and give it out for Christmas. I have tried to make it, but it still does not taste the same :/ But, really, my friends and I just keep begging for more bread and dip it in the sauce because its so good. And the Asian Nachos are a trip because it tastes unreal: Special Sauce, Wonton Chips, Ham, Kalua Pig, Cheese, Salsa, Sour Cream...everything I love in one dish. Definitely a place to come with a group of friends (make a reservation!) and just catch up while grinding on pupus for the night. The drinks aren't anything special...or cheap...but I am usually too busy eating to even drink :)
(5)Rkb B.
4.5 stars Went here for dinner tonight with my dad and was very impressed with the food and service. Came in at just after 6pm with no reservations on a Tuesday nite as we figured it wouldn't be crowded. By the time we left, every single table was full, and a small line formed outside, so go early! The service was very good: waitress came almost right away, intro'ed herself and got our drink orders and came back with them relatively quickly (okay, maybe a beat or two too long, but it wasn't too bad). We each ordered our meals (dad had the prime rib, I had the garlic steak) and split an order of the calamari. At first, I was taken aback by the prices as I was expecting smaller portions, but man was I wrong. Their portions are pretty big! Calamari could have easily served 4 folks - and it wasn't your typical fried rings with marinara sauce either. It came with a serving of a tomato & won bok 'soup' as a dipping sauce - sounds strange, yes, but man was it tasty. We even wondered if they had it separate to serve as a soup! Both the steak and the prime rib were cooked very well and were also BIG. The garlic on the steak was roasted so it didn't have that raw garlic taste to it and was very plentiful. I have a pretty good appetite and even I couldn't finish it (which was good as now I have lunch!). My dad and I could have easily shared one of these and still walk away full! So bring your appetite when you go! The only thing I could say that I didn't like about it is that the tables were just a tad too close. This could be a bad thing for those wishing a quiet evening, but luckily for us, the parties on either side didn't mind being so close, either (and we could share the calamari among them as well, too). Would definitely go back again!
(4)Deanna P.
Love this place. One of the better lychee martini's on Oahu. The pupu's are always delicious and the service was great. I have never had a bad experience here.
(5)Swa S.
All the meat eaters loved their food. I liked my vege pasta but didnt love it. Also the tofu dip was yummy. Pricey though. But everything is pricey in Hawaii
(4)Sara W.
I love love love this place. Great atmosphere, super fun and consistent food. Great bar, good service. Casual with a modern edge, good job!
(5)Melissa M.
Great food! Great prices! Every person I bring there always want to go back!
(5)Brian P.
I like this place, but I've had a few bad experiences. The interior is pretty posh and the music might be a tad louder than I like. I hate having to yell when speaking to the person next to me. Food wise, some of it is good. I had some nice spring rolls and pizza but the ribs were terrible. Parking is royal pain in the butt if you are like me and refuse to pay. Sorry, I lived in cities much larger than our fair Honolulu and never, ever, pay for a lot. This leaves the street which usually has plenty of spaces. Of course, last time I went and parked on Kapahulu someone backed into the front of my car and didn't leave a note wile I was at Uncle Bo's. Maybe this is why im bitter about the establishment.
(3)Adrienne F.
The atmosphere was delightful and the food was simply amazing! The service was a little slower than I would have expected, but not so slow that the ambiance was thrown off.
(4)Chris S.
Great place to eat. Wide selection of food to chose from. Had a party of six and everyone was able to find something they liked. I tried the fish tacos and fire seared prime rib and both were excellent.
(4)Darcie I.
Love their pupus. Favorite is dynamite shrimp, and clams. The sauce for the clams is so yummy, I dip my bread in it. The pizza are generous in size, with a nice crispy crust. Bf had the prime rib which he enjoyed, although the crab was overcooked. Surprisingly good place for kids, they have a kids menu which is not bad. Usually pretty busy after 6, wasnt able to seat us without reservations on a tuesday night.
(4)James H.
I had a pretty bad experience at Uncle Bo's. We had a party of 10 for an Christmas party. The waitress was horrible. For instance, she takes everyones order but mines and leaves to put it in. Through out the night, we had to constantly call her to refill drinks, etc... She also gave us just 3 menus for 10 people which was pretty difficult. Than when we asked what's on the buffet menu, she just said most of the menu! WTF.. All orders come out at different times, meaning either you eat without your friends getting their foods or you let yours get cold. 2 of my buddies get their food close to when 8 of us are all done, 1 friend gets his side order of rice after he's done with everything! What are you suppose to do with just rice?? Food was decent but for the price, I don't suggest it..
(2)C L.
Really cute little place with two pool tables, and a stage. The music is pretty loud - or it was that night. Lots of tables near the stage for those that would like to just listen.
(4)Keola m.
Super Friendly Staff. Met some friends from work there and started with Oyster Shooters HUGE almost couldnt get in my mouth. Delicious. Bar is beautifully stocked with all my favorite vodkas and others for shots. Bucca Rotta was delicious (starter) We only did pupus and everything was great. Prime rib with fat steak fries and the Clams was super good. Ill definately go back
(5)Quadraphonix H.
Monday evening in Kapahulu. Planned to meet some friends for pupus and drinks. Walked into the first place around the "corner" it was quite empty but had a rude bartender say "you have reservations?" when we said no he replied "that's why it says wait to be seated" damn the sarcasm! sorry barboy the sign was not visible to me. Then a nice waiter walks up and says sorry we are fully booked starting at 7:30pm but you can stay for an hour. at least he was nice. My peeps said nah lets go to Uncle Bo's. We got to uncle Bo's and the hostess says "got reservations" of course the answer was no. She said let me find you a table sir! hmm what a difference but they were busier than the other place around the "corner" The experience from there on....awesome! the food, drinks and service was just exceptional. Congrats to the Uncle Bo for running a fine establishment. This place was incredible busy but the food came out so quick and drinks even faster. That is always nice. Will definitely go back to Uncle Bo's. Nice place to kick it with good friends! To the other spot around the "corner" definitely not.
(5)Paulene K.
OMG, the THAI-STYLE STEAMER CLAMS!!! We were all starving so we got a ton of pupus and entrées and they were all delicious but the high light of my chopping were the Thai Steamer Clams. I could have just had the clams, dipping bread and a spoon to sip on the sauce as soup! I've had bad experiences with clams and usually don't like to order them but this is a must! I can't wait to be back on the island again to have some more. My friends tried the fish entrées and they were all really good. It's not on the menu, but at request, the kitchen made an amazing loco moco. Really nice servers and a great place for small dinner and drinks get togethers.
(4)Malika T.
I promise to be faithful one hundred percent. That's my motto my code, my reviews will be honest and bold. Uncle Bo's is one of my favorite spots a little outside of Waikiki so you beat the tourist crowd most days. They serve full menue at the bar and most times I prefer to sit there. I typically start out with the Boca-Rota which consists of cheesy pieces of garlic bread circling thinly sliced prime rib with sauteed mushrooms...simply amazing and enough to split or for a whole meal. Next I order the Dynamite Shrimp not as big of a portion but the flavors are bold and unique it always leaves me feeling satisfied as I order a blueberry lemondrop martini for dessert. The service has always been quick and friendly. The ambiance is modern asain fusion keeping things simple, clean, and a little dim this is a spot you can go with your friends or take a date. All in All Uncle Bo's has my long standing approval. I meant what I said and I said what I meant. That's it That's all The end
(4)Amanda M.
I went here Saturday around 5pm with my boyfriend, and had no trouble getting in. I was a little turned off, because the outside looked like a dump, but the inside was actually trendy, clean and modern. We started off with drinks. I tried the blueberry lemondrop martini. It was only $7, and had great flavor. I'm used to spending a lot more in Waikiki, so this was a nice treat. My boyfriend had Hefeweizen, which surprised us. Not many bars out here in Hawaii carry it. We went for the dynamite shrimp and boca rota, based on the Yelp reviews. The dynamite shrimp were very good, and the price was just right at $9. My boyfriend enjoyed the boca rota, but I was expecting a little something more. I thought the bread lacked flavor. I know many people give it rave reviews, but I doubt I'd order it again. Guess when you come from the mainland and are used to great Italian, you have higher expectations. We were full after just two appetizers (big portions), but went with dessert anyway. The Oreo Haupia Mud Pie was AMAZING. It was made with kona coffee ice cream. This dessert was light, creamy and very flavorful. Our meal came out to $40, and that's a price you just can't beat. We'll definitely be coming back :) Note: Park across the street. It's $4 after 5pm, flat rate.
(4)Bradley H.
I went there one evening looking for a chill night of pupus and drinks...i guess at night Uncle Bo goes to sleep and his nephew comes out and runs the joint. Not literally, but this place was really a lot more upbeat (and louder) than I expected. They throw on all the hard driven beats and at times it was a little difficult to communicate with others...BUT... The food there was very good: The thai clams were pretty awesome...and don't forget to dip the bread in the sauce...i think the sauce was definitely the highlight of the evening...and if i wasn't already nervous about all the weight i've gained on this trip, i would have finished off the sauce with more bread. If you don't try this dish, i think you're missing out on something incredible. The nachos were like hawaiian taco bell on steroids. Personally, a little too much liquid from the tomatoes and what not that made the house-made tortilla chips a little saturated, but you can't really beat kalua pig and cheese over...well...anything! They have a pretty long wine list (especially since it seems most bars in hawaii don't believe that wine is significant enough to be sold), but i didn't look at it and don't know if there was anything great or otherwise. They also have a good amount of flavored hard alcohol as well as a diverse martini menu. I was a little disappointed that they only had like 4 beers on tap, but they did have a long listing of bottled beers...i guess i'm just not that partial to bottles. I found that the crowd there was very mixed. From younger people in their 20's, to families in their 30's (please don't bring your kids to this place and make them listen to raucous noise until the late hours of the night for goodness sakes), to the...uh...older generation in their 50's and (dare i say) beyond...or maybe people just don't age as gracefully anymore, but i digress... All in all, i did have a fun time after i got used to the noise. Great company, great food, great beer (well...beer), and i WILL be back when the stars align again in the future. Happy Eating!
(4)K.C. I.
FOOD: OK...If you want to have a FOOD BABY come here with 10+ peeps (it is a requirement) and get one of the Chef's Choices (either all you can eat "certain apps" for $25 per person or $35 for all you can eat "certain apps"[decided by your waitress] + a [I believe it was a pasta entree]) - HOWEVER the whole party has to agree to do the chef's choice. Our party of 10 people agreed to do the $25 ALL YOU CAN EAT (or try to at least). We had the following: 2 - Pot Stickers 2 - Kalua Pig Fried Rice 2 - Shaken Beef 2 - Spinach Artichoke Crab Dip 2 - Calamari 2 - Dynamite Shrimp 2 - Thai-Style Steamer Clams Bo's Big Nachos 2 - Thai Street-Style Grilled Chicken Wings 2 - Ahi Poke 2 - Boca-Rota Pizza (I think it had Ham, Kalua Pig, & Tomato) We could not finish it all, but we weren't allowed to take any of the leftovers home either. I guess it was good because we got to try a whole bunch of stuff but cost wise & for the sake of not over indulging it would have been more cost efficient if we each order our own entree. Out of everything we ate I though that the Boca-Rota was the tastiest, as well as the Nachos (there is a sauce on the bottom so the chips might get soggy if you take your time eating this), and the Calamari. There was SOO much food some of us were starting to fall asleep at the table. DRINKS: I had a Honey Whiskey, with Lemonade, & Ginger Cocktail which was really tasty and refreshing (not super Gingery at all). I had a sip of my friend's Pear Cocktail which was also very tasty and sweet. Not heavy handed with the alcohol at all. SERVICE: Our server was awesome, really nice, polite, efficient, answered all of our questions before and during our dinner. At the end she kept checking on us to make sure everything was ok and to see if we needed anything else. Great service! Definitely going to come back but to try an entree.
(4)C L.
Great food. nice place.
(4)Chris C.
All you need to know is: Get the Boca Rota, the new "SOS", or the Thai Style Steamer Clams. These three are simply amazing. Most of the other dishes are average for the price, a few above average.
(4)Courtney C.
Don't judge a book by it's cover. From the outside this place looks like a dive bar, but once you enter it's a trendly little bar/lounge. Went on a Friday night and it was packed. Good thing they added that second room in the back to accomodate the dinner crowd. Ordered the Boca Rota Garlic Cheesy Bread & The Ahi Tornado Roll. The Garlic Bread was amazing and I could have eaten the whole thing myself. I especially liked that it had sliced prime rib and mushrooms on it. Didn't really care for the Ahi Tornado Roll because it was really salty. They also had some fun girly drinks on the menu. I can't remember the name of the one I ordered, but it was pear something. And for fun we ordered Hello Kitty Shots. They were sweet, but not bad. Had a really good time with a large group of friends. I think I would like to come back for a full dinner to try some of the other menu items that caught my eye. Favorites: Boca Rota Garlic Cheesy Bread & Pear Coctail (Sorry don't remember the exact name)
(3)Joe W.
We celebrated my girlfriend's birthday here with about 20 of our friends! This is a great venue for large parties, especially because of their deal where you can get all-you-can eat pupus for $25(?) per head. The only condition is that everyone on the table has to do this, and Uncle Bo's gets to decide what pupus and how often to bring them out. This worked out really well for the most part and everyone ate to their hearts' content! The servers later brought out cupcakes that we brought with candles lit so we could sing happy birthday, which turned out be hilarious because they accidentally switched the candles we brought for trick candles! The experience up to this point was definitely 5 stars! Here's the part that makes me subtract 2 stars, though. We had reserved 23 seats, and only 20 people showed up, which happens with large parties, and we had no control over it. They ended up charging us for 23 seats, saying that they could have made money off of a couple or a party of 3, and that we should be responsible for their loss. WTF? I ended up having to talk to a manager, then one of the co-owners, Hysuk, to straighten out the deal. It seemed like he was trying to punish us for our three no-shows. I eventually persuaded him that we shouldn't be responsible for the 3 empty seats since we just brought him 20 people's business, but not before getting a lecture from him. I couldn't believe it. That BS costs 2 stars, not just one. They're a popular restaurant, they really don't have to nickel and dime people like this. I'd still recommend coming back here, but either manage your group really tightly or be prepared to argue your bill.
(3)Tony A.
Went on Friday night and there was no wait and plenty of seats at the bar. The bartender was very friendly and helpful. Great drink and beer selection and extensive menu. I got the dynamite shrimp, highly reccommend it, great place to start a night out.
(5)Julie N.
This is the place where my husband and I would always pick for our date nights. It is our CHEERS bar for those of you old enough to know what I am talking about. It is also a must go to for Friends and Family from out of town. We always get the Boca-Roda, Clams, Crab Salad. Their pricing is incredibly fair for the portion. Parking can be a bummer but so do most places on Kapahulu and Waikiki. I feel that it is not fair for them to lose stars based on parking.
(5)Christine Mochi K.
Everytime I went it would be late night, servers a nice and food came out on time. Waitress was alway friendly and recommend wines or cocktails to go with meals. I love their Thai calms, escargot, oyster shooters, rib eye steak. Everytime I visit home this is a stop I must make to eat at.
(4)Darci N.
Love the food! Hate the wait! Can't blame the restaurant, due to their popularity reservations for a Friday night was booked a week in advance! Parking is rare across the street in the paid parking lot. We waited an hour.. very well worth the wait. The staff was fantastic.. especially when Bo himself came out to our table of 12. We didn't eat individual meals we went with the $25/head all you can eat chef's choice. It was the perfect recommendation by Bo himself. Each dish came out quick and at the perfect temperature.Through all the hustle and bustle of the jam-packed restaurant our table became immediately quiet once we started digging into to each delicious dish. Each dish a distinct, mouth-watering flavor of its own. I think next time I won't go with a large group but just me and the Mr. so we can enjoy the other ono entrees I was eyeing on the menu!
(5)James G.
Here is what my sis had to say about the place. She was just visiting from Guam: The atmosphere and service at Uncle Bo's were superb. Our waitress seemed genuinely friendly and even offered us free shooters at the end of dinner for an earlier mishap she had while pouring our wine. We barely noticed and quickly forgave the small spill, but it was a testament to her concern for her customers that she still offered to make amends. Judging by the descriptions on the menu, we could each order salads and still come away with hearty meals. "Hearty meals" was an understatement. These were huge salads with impressive fixings! The crab salad had real, fresh crabmeat, and the warm spinach salad had generous helpings of feta and bacon. The menu also had an impressive selection of wines, and our shiraz, despite ending up in a small portion on the tablecloth, rounded out the meal very well. All in all, it was a very enjoyable dining experience. -Ann
(4)Ashley C.
Great place to hook up with your friends to have cocktails and some ono pupus. Parking is tough but once you can get a spot, the pupus are pretty awesome...drinks too yah! The service is great and the prices are very reasonable. It's open late and it gets crowded at times. Still...the place is large enough that you aren't bumping into each other.
(5)King Hipp O.
The dynamite shrimp!! Wow that was incredible. The pizzas, the poke, the curry all so amazing. If try something new each and every time I came here.... Too bad I don't live here or I would!
(5)Davis Y.
A very big surprise and another example of Yelp being never wrong.
(5)Lisa N.
this place was OK. service sucked. i checked yelp. it said they closed at 11. i called at about 1030 and the girl told me they were closing in 15 minutes. i tried calling back about 5 minutes later and no one answers. finally decided to just rush over and try our luck.... we had: oyster shooters.. (mehh... whatever) dynamite shrimp (pretty good) garlic ribeye was ok (pretty good, def not the best) king crab legs (frozen tasted ok) lobster tail (also frozen, also tasted just ok) and 10+ shots the stupid waitress didnt even know what hennessey privilege was. (yet claimed thats what she was selling us, until I called her out, since they were pouring it from a REGuLAR hennessey bottle. -__- )
(3)C K.
Excellent. Excellent. Excellent!!!!
(5)Marisa O.
Uncle Bo's. Awesome! Good food, good drinks, and actually, a very swanky atmosphere. So why the four stars instead of five? Parking that you either have to pay for or walk far for. No good. Especially after a bunch of awesome food and drink! My fave? Boca Rota. Do it!
(4)tae k.
The place definitely has a lively vibe at night. The ahi wraps were ok and the steamed clams, though billed as a must have, were not as amazing as I was hoping. I could see myself trying some other appetizers.
(3)Olga F.
Great food & service!! Uncle Bo's pupus were SO yummy! My faves: The Dynamite Shrimp & Boca Rota Each pupu we tried tho, was delishhhh, to say the least. off the Grill: GARLIC RIB EYE STEAK FOR $24!!!!? What a deal! The rib eye was HUGE too. Came with a side of garlic mash & veggies. Me & my BF shared & killed it. so yuuuummy, succulent & juicy! The drinks were nice & strong & the atmosphere was grown. For an affordable sit down dinner in Waikiki, this is your go to place!
(5)Tiana K.
Uncle Bo's has a cool atmosphere. They have good fish and the prices aren't too bad. Plus they are really nice and treat their customers great. I'll definitely come back here again. The only thing I don't like is it can get a little loud because it gets busy, but I guess that is good for Uncle Bo's as they get alot of business! The locals seem to really like this place! :)
(4)Megan P.
Oh my gosh - AMAZING! Had been told we have to try this place while visiting Honolulu. Looks like a dive from the street, but once inside, it's really nice. We had an adorable and accommodating server! She explained their HUGE menu and we decided to enjoy a few different pupus, along with some wine and beer! We split the nachos which were different but delicious! They are on wonton chips and have shredded pork on top! Very good and filling! My husband enjoyed the prime rib sliders while I had the Dynamite Shrimp. Everything was yummy!
(5)E F.
Awesome find! Great food, large portions, reasonable prices, great drinks and lots of locals that know where to eat. Pizza was LOADED with fresh toppings, salad was great....Top notch clams and seafood according to my partner....Will be back when I go to Waikiki again. Nice selection of food for all kinds of tastes.....
(5)Sierrah I.
Two words: BOCA ROTA. That's all. Ho Suk, Bo and all the managers there are AWESOME. I've had about all my birthday dinners here or my best girlfriend's dinners here for the past 3 years. Never fails to please!.
(5)joe k.
A really nice find where locals eat. Terrific fish and the apptz are killer. The salads are huge and very fresh. I am not sure if they do Organic but I suspect they do for vegetables and salad mix. We go to Honolulu a lot and kept seeing the place heard it was good but never tried it. Last night there we decided to do so and it was terrific. My only warning is that the main courses can be very very rich and heavy. We decided this would be our big splurge for eating rich food when visiting.
(4)Stephanie S.
I will start with the good. Drinks are good. Food is AMAZING. I was a little disappointed with the beet salad because there wasn't much dressing, there weren't a whole lot of beets in it. My favorites are the deep fried ahi and the walnut shrimp lettuce wraps. I prefer sitting in the back room. Last time I went I was sat in the front room by the bar right next to another table, with waiters and hostesses walking right by me all night, which wasn't very romantic on my date. They could afford to take a table or two off the floor.
(3)Christian D.
Uncle Bo's has, hands down, not only the best sea food meal I have ever tasted, but also one of the best pizzas I have ever had in my life with the Dynamite Shrimp Pizza. This will definitely be a place I make time for every time I visit Hawaii. The inviting, modern aesthetic (complete with blade-less Dyson fans, no less!) is another nice plus.
(5)Angela A.
I usually LOVE Uncle Bo's, but my last experience was not-so-great. Our waitress was so very uninterested in our table. She asked us for our drink order and returned 10 minutes later to ask us again because she'd forgotten what we ordered! Who does that? The appetizers were hit and miss: the poke was excellent and the calamari was disappointing. I don't really care for the large, tough rings that Uncle selects and I prefer the traditional marinara sauce with calamari over whatever that sauce is, chili sauce maybe? We got the crab crusted opah to share for our dinner, one of our favorites! It held up to the high expectation and was eaten the next day for lunch, too! Better luck next time, huh?
(3)Jess M.
If I could rate this place a ZERO...I WOULD. The service was TERRIBLE. When we went in, there were three snotty girls that told us we couldn't check in because not half of our party was there. The tables were ready, but we couldn't sit and had to wait outside. Um, why can't we sit? If no one else is gonna sit there cuz it's RESERVED for US, why can't we sit? The girl who was taking our orders skipped people while taking orders. She was unhappy when someone needed something repeated. She didn't want to tell people about drinks and just said they could look at the menu. She didn't know if the bartender could make a specific drink when asked, and someone from our party had to tell her to go ask the bartender..uh, why can't you use your brain and volunteer to ask the bartender? Why do you gotta make life so hard? Someone on our table spilled water, and no one cleaned it. They brought us napkins to clean it ourselves. So I sat there while water dripped on my sandals through the cracks of two tables. I sat there w/ their stupid paper table covers soaking wet. When brought the check, she took away our menu (which was wet) and splashed it on my boyfriend's shirt. When I gave her my credit card, I got no "thank you" or anything. When she brought it back, she attempted to put the check on the WET table so I took it before she could set it down. I got no "thank you" for payment either... The food was TERRIBLE. I ordered the Chicken Alfredo. I would NOT recommend this dish. It was dry and don't be fooled when you say you would get "white creamy sauce" because there was nothing creamy about it. The noodles had no taste. The sauce had no taste. The chicken didn't have taste. The mushrooms were under-cooked. It was just BAD. My boyfriend ordered the Salmon dish and that was terrible as well. Random...but what is up with the hanging chains? I don't wanna get beat up while trying to leave a restaurant. So yeah, don't go here. I wasted $45 dollars here. I got crappy food and crappy service. So not worth it. I would have been happier buying a $1 noodle plate and 50 cent pork hash from the MANAPUA TRUCK.
(1)Melissa N.
This place from the outside is very deceiving, it looks run down and old. But once you walk in it has a full bar and a few flat screens to watch espn and other highlights. The hostess greeted us and sat us right away. We were waiting for a few friends but they still kept checking on us. I liked that very much. Service was great! We ordered clams, shrimp, escargot, calamari and this awesome bread and steak dish. Everything here was full of flavor. One of my favorite places in hawaii. Drinks are cheap too. Grey goose and sprite is only 6 bucks. You can't beat that. I will definitely come back whenever I'm in town.
(5)Kim M.
CONSISTENCY One of the greatest things I appreciate about Uncle Bo's is their consistency. Food wise, Uncle Bo's is thankfully consistent in both quality and flavor. Their dishes always taste freshly made and never old. Service-wise, they are consistently quick and on it! THE BREAKDOWN / THE DEETS This last time my bf and I went was a treat. We left completely stuffed with our pants unbuttoned. We had: +SEAFOOD CEVICHE shrimp, scallop, onions, tomatoes, & cucumber tossed with fresh herbs marinated in lime juice. $10. This is one of their newer dishes. To avoid compromising the freshness and taste, "they don't make it till you order it." And it shows! :) +THAI-STYLE STEAMER CLAMS 1lb sweet Manila clams simmered in a mild chili, garlic oyster sauce. $12. My bf's favorite. We order these clams every time we visit Uncle Bo's. The sauce is bread-dipping delicious! +WALNUT SHRIMP WRAP (4PC) wok-fried shrimp w/ candied walnuts served in buttercup lettuce. $8. One of my newer favorites. It's refreshing and so addicting. Good thing an order comes with only 4 pieces... +PRIME RIB slow-roasted overnight served w/ au jus & creamy horseradish. $24. Always tender and juicy. For my starch I always choose the garlic mash. :) steamed veggies also come with this dish. +OREO-HAUPIA MUD PIE $6 An Oreo cookie crust with a super thick layer of kona coffee ice cream and another super thick layer of haupia ice cream, topped with whipped cream and a flurry of chocolate syrup. It's extremely amazing and so very tasty. My bf usually doesn't like too many sweets, but he couldn't put his fork down! Other Faves: +FIRE-SEARED PRIME RIB w/ garlic-herb seasoning. So tender and juicy. Mmmm... +Spicy BAKED OPAH MAUNA KEA fresh island fish baked in a garlic chili aioli, topped w/ Parmesan panko crust served w/ 2 pcs of wok fried garlic shrimp $21 The sauce is great. I die for this. I'm more of a meat eater, but this opah mauna kea makes fish worth the while for me. +BOCA-ROTA garlic cheesy-bread, sliced prime-rib, sautéed mushrooms and mozzarella cheese $14 Great appetizer. This is like one of those guilty-pleasure type deals... Who doesn't love garlic cheesy-bread, prime-rib, mushrooms, and cheese?! Throw 'em all together, with some Uncle Bo's magic, and this is what you get. Definitely worth a try. OVERALL Uncle Bo's never seems to disappoint. They take pride in their food and their business. And this is definitely reflected in their fresh and quality-assured food preparation and friendly service. I am a fan. Great atmosphere, great for groups, great for dates, etc. You go, Uncle Bo's. Do your thang.
(5)Serena L.
this place is so awesome we came two nights in a row. Uncle Bo's was recommended to us from the hotel we were staying at in Waikiki. Uncle Bo's serves seafood, pizza and pastas, a great variety, especially for a group for 10 people who have different tastes. we liked the decor to this place. its a restaurant and a loungish bar at night. the bar is large, with an impressive amount of alcohol. they have a couple drinks that are exclusive to Uncle Bo's, they smelled awesome. I'm not a drinker, but from what I tasted, the espresso vodka was good, strong, sweet, totally different, and goes down well. the first night. our group ordered a round of pupus, appetizers. everything was pretty good, we especially enjoyed the clams, order more than one pound, you wont be disapointed. the nachos were pretty good as well, its topped with kalua pig, big enough to feed 2. we finish our meal, and stay for awhile for a good time and many rounds of drinks. leave happy. make reservations for dinner the next day. the second night. we were seated in the far back of the room. yay round tables are awesome for big groups. we all order more pupus and mains. everyone enjoyed their meal. we're happy. migrate to the front for more alcohol. we were hoping to meet Bo, the owner/chef. he wasnt in but Ho, the second owner was in. he's a pretty cool guy. he was down to drink with everyone and even bought our table a couple rounds. my friends are social =] great spot to just chill out and have a couple drinks. the service was great both nights we were there. my friends even got the waitresses to hang out with us. what can I say, my boys are ladies men. we will def. be back the next time we're in Waikiki. thanks Ho for topping off our trip!!
(5)Joson P.
Had dinner at Uncle Bo's on Kapahulu and really enjoyed it. We started out with drinks. The martini I ordered was 'meh', but everything else was delicious! For apps, we got the Boca Rota and the Shrimp wraps. The boca rota was really tasty. I wish I had a plate of it sitting in front of me right now. If you don't know what Boca Rota is, it's garlic bread topped with bits of prime rib, sauteed mushrooms and mozzarella MMMMMMMM! Is that enough M's for you? MMM! For dinner I had the Baked Opah Mauna Kea, with veggies and garlic mashed potatoes. They have a lot of items to choose from, so if you're undecided, I highly recommend the Baked Opah. The Opah fish baked with a parmesan panko crust. The fish was really moist and flakey. I really enjoyed it. It was also topped with two pieces of garlic shrimp. The service was really good. I liked the atmosphere of Uncle Bo's, though it can get loud when they're busy. I would say the ambience was hip/trendy. I really like the paintings they hung up throughout the restaurant. You can pay for parking at the lot right across the street, or you might luck out with street parking down Kapahulu. Looking forward to my next visit when I'll try the oyster shooters and the Steamed Opakapaka or the Crab-crusted Opah. Hmmm...
(4)Rung T.
I think this place is overrated!! Let me tell you why... 1. Start from the atmosphere. It's just a regular restaurant. Not really fancy (even though they try to make it look fancy). The service is good. No complaint but nothing extraordinary. 2. The food is just okay. Their famous dynamite shrimp is not that great. We also order the Hawaiian pizza, it's $18!!! I had pizza in a high end restaurant in downtown LA which tastes way better and still cheaper than this place. Drinks, nah... Not that great (well, they are not that expensive though). We ended up spent almost $50 for 2 drinks, one pizza and dynamite shrimp. 3. I was lucky got the street parking otherwise may have to pay for the parking. Overall, it's just a normal restaurant, okay food with expensive pizza. I'm not going back. There are other places that have better food and cheaper.
(3)Kelvin C.
Wow, for the prices...this place can't be beat! The spinach artichoke dip with wonton chips were tasty and so were the hawaiian style ribs (10 bux for a half rack is a steal! mind you, they were pretty meaty) . WIth a black label, lemongrass martini, some blue martini, two shots of patron orange, and a shot of stoli, the bill came to be 45 bux i believe. WOW. Being so close to waikiki, this place is dirt cheap for good quality food/drinks. Uncle Bo's is a MUST!
(4)Mary B.
Ate last night for first time at Uncle Bo's. Had the Seafood Trap (not on menu) and it was fantastic. Uncle Bo served it himself. It had a wonderful buttery, sweet Thai essence that was delicious. Also had the Crab Crusted Opah with mashed potatoes and a sauce that was so delicious. The crisp crust was heavenly. Go, don't walk to BO's. Go, go now!
(4)C M D.
Awesome fish!! Great service too...
(5)Cristina A.
Food was fantastic and a great price. But the customer service was exceptional. There was a delay in our meal and the manger personally came over and gave us all (party of 7) a drink and dessert on the house. We were upset we found this restaurant so late in our trip or we would have been back many more times.
(5)Bernard V.
I'm really close to giving this place 5 stars. The only thing that stops me from giving a 5 is the acoustics in the room. Yes, the acoustics. When the place gets packed, it gets very very loud. Hard to enjoy your delicious dinner and chat with your friends. Something about the walls, you can hear everyone else's conversation, sound bouncing everywhere and no absorption. Also, when a dinner party gets loud and starts cheehooo'ing or yelling cause their happy, the sound is unbearable. Okay, thats the only negative thing about the place. The food is great and the wait help is great. It's hard to have a favorite because when we try something new, that becomes the favorite. My personal favorite at the moment is that steak with cheese on bread. That thing is winners.
(4)Edelyn D.
First off, id like to thank all these yelp reviews about this place! Wouldn't have taken a bunch of my friends here if it wasn't for all your reviews about how good their food is. I took a party of 25 for a christmas gathering there and i must say, this place did not fail at all! Since we were a large group we were placed in the back room which (i guess) held larger parties. Though when we got there, another large group were there too. All the food we ordered were great! Almost all the yelp reviews I've read said to try their Boca Rota so of course we had to order it. I must say those reviews weren't a lie, i loved it! The Dynamite shrimp was another best seller with my party, i loved that one too! lol We ordered about 6 entrees but those two were our favorites. Those are the "must try" pupus. Dessert, of course it'd have to be the fried ice cream :) Cant ever go wrong with ice cream and with it fried never tasted any better. The crust reminded us all of Leonards Malasadas because of the sugar coat. With my friends, it was gone just like that! lol Pricing here are very reasonable with the amount given. No complaints about the food here.
(5)Devin B.
My girlfriend and I had planned to indulge in our usual ramen spot, however, after several failed attempts to find parking we gave up and stumbled upon Uncle Bo's. Let me say that from the street it appears to be a grungy dive bar, but don't let appearance fool you. Great ambiance, admirable service, and hands down the most savagely delicious meal I've had this side of the island. Ordered the walnut shrimp wraps... Flavor was uncanny, and the only way the pupu could've been better is if the lettuce were chilled and crisp. Also, we ordered the dynamite shrimp pizza. So much shrimp it felt like stealing & literally blew up my taste-buds. We topped the meal off with fried ice cream, which was aesthetically flawless but the dough was too thick for my taste. If it were thinner and more like a crystallized créme brûlée chewy crust the 3 course meal would've been suitable for the Gods. I would suggest featuring at least one local draft beer. Maybe from either Maui or Kona brewing Co.'s.
(5)Stephanie H.
I had a fabulous birthday dinner here with friends, and it was the perfect spot for a celebration. Yummy drinks and AMAZING food! We heard that the pupus are where it's at so we decided to order a round of pupus for everyone to sample. Every last bite was onolicious. The seafood cevishe was fresh and light served with fried wontons. The spinach artichoke crab dip was creamy and delightful. The dynamite shrimp pizza lived up to its name and the clams were full of flavor. I am saving the best for last, the boca rota, oooooh that boca rota. It's prime rib, mushrooms, and mozzeralla cheese on top of garlic cheesy bread. If heaven had a flavor this is what it would taste like, from the very first taste it was love at first bite. We ordered two plates of it, and it was gone within minutes. If you're looking for a fun place to hang with friends, enjoy some drinks and out-of-this-world food than this is the place.
(5)Tammy A.
As said in others reviews, don't be fooled by the outside. The inside of Uncle Bo's is quite fancy & trendy. Myself and 2 girlfriends shared the boca rota, peppered chicken pasta, & pepperoni pizza...and we of course ordered drinks! Everything was delicious. The boca rota is an amped up cheese bread served with prime rib and mushroom- super delish. The chicken pasta and pizza were also super yummy. I would definitely come back! The only downside is of course parking. But, that is always a problem in the Waikiki/Kapahulu area.
(5)Makakaualii R.
First timers and skeptical but glad though. We had the ahi po'ke for starters and was onolious. Then the Thai seafood and the SOS (soup/stew do seafoodand both were outstanding. Will go again and hopefully soon!
(4)Kasey J.
Is it even necessary to add another review about the amazingness of this place? Uh sorry but yes! We had a reservation for prime time, Saturday @ 7:30. It was a little busy in the front but really picked up by the time we left. Every table was occupied and lots of people at the bar. And can I just say that this place is so unassuming. The sign does not do it justice at all. I've driven by this place billions of times never even giving it a second thought. That all changed well 1) because of Yelp and 2) my co-worker calls this place his Disneyland. From the moment we checked in at the hostess stand to the moment we got up from the table to leave, we felt well taken care of. And I'm not joking about being taken care of as we got up to leave. One of the servers brought us a round of shots on the house and we took them standing in the middle of the dining room. Orange Dreamsicle anyone? We ordered 6 different apps and Uncle Bo even brought out an additional one-Fried Pork Belly Fat that was cooked to perfection. The stand out has to be the Boca Rota. How can you go wrong with cheese and garlic bread? Add prime rib and mushrooms and you have a party in your mouth. Second fav is the Dynamite Shrimp. Also loved the Honey Walnut Shrimp Wrap. I would say that even if I didn't care for some of the other apps like the Spicy Tofu Dip, I can still appreciate it for it's uniqueness. My hubby got the Rib Eye with Sweet Potato Fries. I thought they would be little stringy ones but they were the purple Okinawan cut like steak fries. Yummm! Perfect balance of salty and sweet. I would say don't be afraid to go pupu heavy and order anything and everything you may want to try. Everything came out super fast once we ordered. Our server had one misstep like forgetting our Clams but we did order this towards the end and it was not on the bill so we didn't mention it. We were stuffed pigs by then anyway so maybe she intuitively knew we didn't need it. But our drinks kept coming and our water was always filled. The food is delicious. The service is attentive. The decor is swanky and modern. You can dress up or dress down. You can have a date or large party. And Uncle Bo is always walking around. Its always cool to see the owner/head chef of a place mingling with the patrons. If you haven't been there yet, get there now.
(5)Sheila G.
It was our first time coming here and it wasn't a disappointment. Looking from the outside, you'd think that it was a very casual place to eat but it's not. It's pretty hip and trendy in there, something that I am not. You'd also think that it was a small place but wrong again. The place has a back! Mmhmm, a back room that seats more people. Hep hep, hooray! But I'm here to review the food, which I might add was delicious! We came here for a birthday dinner last night and was really blown away with how delicious our orders were. Price is a little on the steep side but totally worth it considering the food we ordered packed a punch to our taste buds. We ordered two appetizer platters and two entrees. I forgot the names of the appetizers but for the entrees, we ordered Uncle Bo's seafood pasta and dynamite shrimp pizza. Yummy in my tummy. The only thing I didn't like was my lycheetini. It was watered down at first, and by the end, it was just alcohol. Mind you, I kept mixing, twirling, and praying so that by doing the aforementioned, it'll taste better. Nothing happened. I rarely tasted any lychee juice in there too. Regardless of that, I will definitely return. Too bad it's on Kapahulu though. Parking is a nightmare. I wonder how everyone else in that place found parking because that place was packed. *Thumbs up for the metal chain curtains. For some reason I was really amused by that decor. I'd really like to try and swing on them.
(5)Dave W.
Absolutely love this place! This IS my favorite dinning place in Hawaii. Its just on the outskirts of Waikes, like 5 mins away. Service: Love it! Absolutely the best service we've had on our trip. From the lovely hostess telling me that it'll be a 30 minute wait and literally checking if my table will be ready every 5 minutes, to the single bartender keeping up with all the drink orders from the servers to the drinks/food for the customers at the bar welcoming us with a smile to take our order and making sure we're ok, and all the way to the waiter that served us and even moving us to a bigger table to account for all the food we ordered. Food: Hands down AMAZEBALLS! Dynamite Shrimp: amazeballs! Artichoke spinach crab dip with wonton chips: amazeballs! Oyster Shooters: Super Amazeballs! Thai-style steamer Clams: AMAZZZEEEBALLLS! Everything was super good and delicious. My girl does NOT like Oysters or Clams at all, but this place changed her mind. The seafood here is super fresh and lacks the sea taste, which makes the food just that much better. Oh yeah... get the bread and dip it in the Thai-style steamer clams sauce! You won't be dissappointed! Overall: Great place to hang out and get a bite to eat. Super great ambiance, friendly people, and did I mention the food is AMAZEBALLS!!!
(5)Michael D.
There are a lot of great reviews on this place so I'll keep it simple. Nothing bad to say about this place!!! Everything is excellent. The food, staff, drinks, price, selection, you name it. Great place to have a party, hang with friends, or even a nice one on one dinner. Some of my personal favorites are the Sea Bass, Filet (Not bad at all for just $20), dynamite shrimp, spicy tuna wraps and so much more. There's nothing I've had that I wasn't happy with. Maybe I'll see you there!
(5)Chris H.
I was getting worried. I'd been eating in excess, taking full advantage of my 'vacation diet', which meant gorging on 'dynamite shrimp' (adequate), plump shrimp slathered in a mayonnaise based sauce. Taking down multiple slices of Hawaiian pizza and cramming in the stoner friendly 'boca rota' (cheese bread w/mushrooms and steak) exceeded my caloric needs for the day. My beach body was threatening to fade into corpulent obscurity after sampling the kalua fried rice (greasy and flavorless unfortunately). My savior came in the form of a single bad Thai style manilla clam, which folded me in half with food poisoning, a position not dissimilar to the offending bivalve. I spent the next 24 hours shivering in a fetal position on the cold bathroom floor, cuddling a jumbo bottle of Gatorade like a newborn baby, and expelling from both ends of my body, any and all of the calories that may have accumulated onto my existing beergut. Shellfish based food poisoning is a painful and miserable experience, but its a helluva diet technique.
(1)Kristian G.
I always have an enjoyable experience at Uncle Bo's! Although their menu is a little pricy, you absolutely get what you pay for! When my family and I go here, we like to eat family style. We order a bunch of pupu's with the price ranging from 7-15 dollars. The amount they give is perfect and you'll be sure to get full off of them. To me, their Thai-Style Steamer Clams are the best thing on the menu!!! They are delicious! The clams are prepared in a chili garlic and oyster sauce, which is the best part. They serve it with bread so that when your done eating the clams, you can still indulge in it by dipping the bread into the broth. Besides the clams, I also love the escargot. Just like the other dish, the escargot is served with bread to eat along with it. Besides their food, their service is great. The waiting staff was very helpful and friendly, but so was Uncle Bo himself! My family went to eat one night and when we were leaving the chef came to our table and personally thanked us. While I was walking out the door I noticed that he was clearing the dishes and wiping down the tables. I find this rare, to see a chef cleaning his own tables. He had more than enough staff on hand, but that just shows he also cares about helping his staff out. Two-thumbs up for this place! I highly recommend it, and I am sure to be returning in the future!
(5)Toni N.
Love the food... It was awesome... I had the nachos amazing... Who would have thought to use won ton chips... The prime rib pupu style was cooked perfect.... Definitely coming back yummy... I would have given them 5 stars, but the service was o.k.. Our waitress came by a few times and forgot our drinks and really didn't have time to help us.... But the owner was awesome, and came to check on us... We will definitely be back...
(4)COURTNEY K.
I love Uncle Bo's. The atmosphere paired with their delicious pupu's is great! Always a good time.
(5)Frank S.
Hip, trendy atmosphere with some of the best pupus anywhere. Have the Thai Manila Clams, Dynamite Shrimp or Crispy Crab Cakes. For entrees: the Opakapaka or Garlic Ribeye.
(4)Lisa C.
I live within walking distance of Uncle Bo's, but maybe because it's so close I kept forgetting to go there. Well, I made it there last night. It was a good thing we made reservations cause the place was filling up when we arrived at 6:30 PM and by the time we left with our doggie bags, people were lining up outside to get a table. I did a lot of research before going to Uncle Bo's so I knew exactly what I wanted--Dynamite Shrimp, Boca Rota, Opah Mauna Kea, prime rib, and my expectations were high. The Dynamite shrimps live up to its name. I was surprised at how large the serving was. For $9, I was expecting a serving half the size. For that, I will forgive them for plating them on wilted green:) Boca Rota was delish. It would have been even better if they kept the bread and cheese under the broiler a bit longer to melt the cheese and brown the bread. I put my leftovers in the toaster oven and did just that, and the leftovers came out tastier than when it was served to me in the restaurant.... The Opah Mauna Kea was nicely done--perfectly seasoned and perfectly cooked. Even my husband, a non-fish eater thought it was good. We ordered the prime rib medium rare, but it arrived a touch undercooked. It was good, nonetheless. The sides that came with the entrees were mediocre. You can barely taste the garlic flavor in the garlic mashed potatoes, and the texture was on the fluffy side as opposed to rich and creamy. The sauteed vegetables were unevenly cut and the carrots needed to be cooked longer. The server was pleasant, but I felt she was cutting corners by not offering us a drinks menu or bread and butter... Maybe she thought we ordered too much food (which we did) and we wouldn't want any bread... but then she did ask if we wanted dessert... Uncle Bo's offers large portions of good to very good food in a modern setting at a good price. Despite the minor flaws, I can see why Uncle Bo's is so popular with locals and tourists alike. Although it is just down the road from where I live, and I thought it was good, I am not sure when I will go back. If I do, may be just for a drink and some pupus.
(4)Mya C.
This place is the BOMB!!!! It was my 1st visit. Don't let name fool ya. Don't judge a book by the cover. When my friend suggested this place to meet, i had doubts & then when i rolled up, i was even more unsure until i went inside. Old skool trendy decor. Great drinks! Bartender made it how i like it 1st crack! No happy hour however, drinks seem to be reasonably priced. Our waitress was friendly. Food, primarily their pupus was delish. I had 2 orders of the kalua pig fried rice since i shared my 1st order. Lol!!! Its a great place to hang with the girls. 2 downsides to this place: 1) they can't do separate checks & 2) parking. Paid parking across the street but if you're like me & hate paying to park, then u gotta drive around side streets & see if u can get lucky. Otherwise, I plan to go back soon!!!
(4)R L.
Decided to use my gift certificate I was holding for almost a year. This was my first visit and after hearing all the hoopla's about this place, I finally decided to check it out. I actually called in at 5pm to make reservations on that same day and was lucky to get in. We arrived around 6pm and the host seated us in the back room where there was a group celebrating a birthday or something like that which didn't bother me, I was focused on what to order. To quench our thirst, we ordered the Apple Martini followed with Lychee Martini. The Apple and Lychee martini's were both tasted fruity good with a strong punch. We then proceeded with our pupu's, Spinach Artichoke Dip and Dynamite Shrimp. Both were delicious good which I would highly recommend. For my main entree, I went for the Seared Prime Rib done medium with Garlic Herb seasoning. The Garlic seasoning was too too strong for my palate, had to scoop it to the side. The Prime Rib was very tender juicy how a typical Prime Rib should be. Overall, this is good in my books, will visit again to try other items on their menu.
(4)Daniel R.
Have heard great things about Uncle Bo's from a couple friends from work so decided to go with a couple of my friends for dinner and drinks. Uncle Bo's was pretty busy but had a few tables open, but the hostess decided to stick us in a corner all the way in the back of the restaurant. There were a couple of large parties in the back of the restaurant where we were seated so service was very minimal. Often we were waiting for refills on our drinks, which is a definite no-no. Despite the lack of attention my friends and I got that night, the staff was pretty friendly, the large variety of foods offered at Uncle Bo's was great! I will definitely have to go back to see if service is any better the second time around.
(3)Nicole N.
Uncle Bo's is one of my favorite places to eat. They are normally busy so if you come maybe you should call ahead of time and ask for reservations. So for the food well everything on their menu is ONOlicious (yes i busted out the Hawaiian, sorry i just had to haha) But really this place is awesome! The parking is right across the street and yes you do have to pay. I forgot how much it is to park already but I know that it's cheap so don't worry. I've been here several times and order various things. If you love seafood you have got to come here! I love seafood so this place is perfect for me. When I'm here I usually ALWAYS have to get the grilled peppered chicken pasta. The only thing is that I have them replace the chicken with shrimp! YUMMY! I also request that they make it EXTRA spicy too! I know...I know...I'm such an annoying customer but I can't help it if I know what I want. =) The grilled peppered SHRIMP pasta is seriously "onolicious!" The calms here are awesome too and so are 2938293 things on the menu! This place is also a bar too so you can drink while you eat. After 9PM they turn down the lights and play loud music. Honestly, I'm just not feeling the loud music when I'm eating my whole course meal. Also it would be nice if I could see my food when I'm trying to eat. I know a lot of people don't eat after 9PM but I'm a muncher so I do! But other than that its all good. As for the service, it's not bad and its not great either. That is why this place gets 4 stars from me. I've had good and bad servers before. I think what makes up for it is the food. As long as I get my food in a decent amount of time and my drinks then I'm one happy camper...at least most of the time!
(4)jesse g.
didn't expect to give 5 stars to this hidden on the side of the street place. i've passed by this place several times before getting curious enough to see what's inside. mainly because i've passed passed midnight and saw that they were still open. the interior was very clean and gives off a cozy lounge type feeling when you see it. the first thing i noticed was the impressive size of the bar and the wide selection that they have behind it. the bar takes up nearly 1/3 of the floor in the room where you first enter. big screen HDTV's keep you entertained while at the bar. the bartenders are knowledgeable and very skilled at mixing. every single time i've been at the bar they never messed up once no matter who served my drink. consistent, fast, and on point is a must have quality for someone making my drink. the menu is incredible. just the selection in pupus took up a couple pages. they all taste great and are available both in house and at the bar. they have varieties of in their dinner menu also such as pasta's steaks, and desserts only thought to be found in vegas like deep fried icecream. deeper inside past the bar there is more of a restaurant feel to this place that is quieter and better lit unlike the dim lounge-like bar. i enjoyed the fact that they respected and separated the two making it friendly for both family and friends. i suspect that the owner must be somewhat of an art lover since there are several tasteful paintings on the walls throughout the entire restaurant. open late until 2AM great food great service very cozy and friendly atmosphere that's what keeps me coming back and rating this establishment with 5 stars.
(5)Marissa C.
My boyfriend said we HAD to come here during our vacation in Hawaii and I'm so glad we did! This place is a MUST GO to place when you're looking for some good food besides pork luau. They have a full bar and a lounge type atmosphere with modern decor. Our server was SUPER friendly and always came by with a smile and made great recommendations. We basically just ordered a bunch of appetizers to go along with our drinks. Pot Stickers Shaken Beef Oyster Shooters Thai Style Steamer Clams Thai Street Style Grilled Chicken Wings I RECOMMEND ALL OF THESE! The best ones were the Chicken Wings for some reason. I LOVE chicken wings and I've gotten very picky on the type of wings I eat. These wings were so NOT frozen and the sauce made this dish soooooo good!! I wish they had one of these places in the Bay Area! :(
(5)Madelyn S.
Came here on a weeknight and it was packed! I had the Kalua pig nachos and it was ginormous (but a bit greasy). The prices seemed a bit much for the quality.
(3)Charice Q.
Got seated in the back of the restaurant....didn't get any service.Waitress waited on people that came in after us and didn't even acknowledge our table. As our group of 5 left, we mentioned to the manager that we had absolutely no service; he did was apologize, but didn't even try to get us to stay. I guess he didn't want our money. Won't be back here. One star because I had to give a star rating.
(1)Kody M.
My husband and I LOVED this place! Can't wait to go back it will just take us 11 hours on a plane.
(5)Melanie N.
A must visit on your next Hawaiian trip! One of our friend who use to live here suggested this place for dinner. He said they have great food and cute girls! He was right! =) The decor is very dimly light but they have screens for tv here? They have a back room for group parties. Here's a breakdown of some of the items i tried. -Calamarie- quite tasty with an asian zing -Ahi Poke- really fresh and seasoned perfectly, onions on top -Baby Back Ribs- nice portion but was ok. Kinda dry for my taste. -Nachos- the best nachos i've tasted. Buried with tons of mozzarella cheese and kaula pig meat, it was served with scrumptious crispy wontons chips! -Clams- Yummy! You'll want to drink the salty, sweet clam juice!!! -Garlic Rib Eye- not great as the meat was kinda tough -Indo Lobster with crab meat- very good- you can taste the lobster and there's plenty of crab meat on here. I would definately come here again to try more things! And the service was great! Our waitress never left a glass empty! Too bad they don't have Uncle Bo's here in Cali.
(5)Olivia S.
It was a little deceiving from the outside of where Uncle Bo's was located. Like many others, it seemed very casual from the outside in my opinion. But once I found it, we were in business! It's nice and trendy on the inside. The restaurant was quite busy when we got there, but two seats were available at the bar so we sat down right away. I liked that the bar top was spacious and could fit those humongous plates the entrées came out on. Highly recommended, the Nachos!! So delish! There was so much toppings I had to ask for a side of chips to finish up all the yummy goodness. One dish I always look forward to that screams, "yes I am definitely in Hawaii, I can't get this anywhere in the mainland!" You'll definitely have a fun time when you visit Uncle Bo's.
(5)Jazeleene G.
It looks shitty outside but inside it's really nice! The calamari was whack. It didn't even taste like calamari. The seafood dip was really good-- except the bread it came with was hard. The clams were delicious! Service was good, kind of annoying cause she came to check in on us every 5 minutes.
(3)Jacqueline G.
Went in late night after a concert for some drinks and pupu's. Our party overdid it with the appetizers. So many great choices but we stuck to, Boca Rota, Kalua Nachos, Dynamite Shrimp, and Spicy Eggplant Tofu. I love the ambiance and decor but it seems so much bigger in pictures (always the case). The Boca Rota was TO DIE FOR! Who woulda thought, something so simple like prime rib, mushrooms with bread and cheese make for an awesome dish. Absolutely mouthwatering.
(5)Chris D.
I felt like I was playing musical chairs while I was eating at this place. My friends and I were asked to move to a different table to make room for other people in the small room in the back. On top of that, we were given a time limit. The food was good, but between the parking situation, the wait for your seat and the musical chair fiasco...I won't go again.
(1)Tara C.
We walked in on a busy Saturday night. They said it would be an hour, but something told me that despite the big parties there, it wouldn't be an hour. 15 minutes later our table was ready. Now, this is a pleasant surprise, except, it really drives me crazy when the place so little grip on the way things turn that they miss the mark by that much. None the less, we were happy to sit. I like eating pupus for dinner; its fun, especially as a group. Plus, I was mesmerized by the HUGE bar...what to drink?! I mean, a girl likes to get her drink on a little, right?! Unfortunately, their super-sweet drink menu (I get it, you have lemonade) along with the overwhelming choices just had me ordering my "regular" cocktail of Absolute+Tonic. We ordered the Hamachi with Japapenos, Clams, Tiger Pork Kabobs, Dynamite Shrimp and Escargot. The Hamachi was the stand out, although we've had similar dishes elsewhere that we liked better, and I loved the Manila Clams, but mostly because I ordered bread and soaked up the sauce that came with the clams. I anticipated that the escargo would be rubbery - it wasn't at all. In fact, it was well cooked, but the cheese was completely overwhelming. Tiger Pork Kabobs on the other hand, completely UNDERwhelming; underseasoned even with the sauce-snoozefest 2011. The Dynamite Shrimp was "OK". Again, way too many toppings that make up for overall lack of seasoning; I love cheese, but Parmesan does not a dish make. Our service was "fine". Not great, but friendly enough. In fairness, it was a busy night with several large parties, I think our waitress was doing her best. Its a fun atmosphere, great for a group (or maybe a first date), but if you're a true foodie, I'm pretty sure you can find better food for the price in Honolulu. In fact, I KNOW you can. So, if you go: bring good company, leave your expectations at the door..and be prepared to wait at the door...for less time than they say.
(3)Vincent K.
It's unfortunate I came here to meet up some friends on a visit to Hawaii only 1 hr AFTER eating at Alan Wong's. You could imagine with a 7 course meal, I was full...like REALLy full. But in anycase, had to say wussup to my friends and join them for a beer........or some snacking. And yes, despite the 7 course meal, I had somehow managed to make room for more eating. SMH The setting is great, with a semi more sitdown feel in the back, but a lounge-ish nightlife setting in the front. The service was definitely attentive and the food was a good balance of asian hawaiian fusion. We were able to fit some of the following into our stomachs: -Kahlua pork nachos - delicious and such a beautiful sight of a mountain-load of pork and other ingredients on a mound of chips. - Shrimp and spicy clams - amazing. great flavor and zest
(4)Josh L.
Love the rib eye, escargot, and pasta. Soo damn good.
(5)Justin S.
This place used to be Auntie Pasto's, and the idea of that was sufficient to keep me at bay for a good, long time. And then I noticed that every time I drove by the place, girls and dudes dressed to impress were crossing the street and waltzing into this seemingly-ratty hole in the wall. How could this be? I heard the name of the place a few too many times this week, and was compelled to visit. Luckily for me, some friends had decided that it's where they wanted to go, and off we went. The place is decked out like a modern lounge, with leather couches and chairs, tables, and bar seating. Football on the screen, great looking patrons, and servers, and patrons. And patrons. Drinks are reasonably priced, and the bar has all of the normal offerings. The food wasn't something I was expecting to be notable, and yet it was. The pupu menu is humble, with one- and two-star notations for items of greatest popularity. I especially appreciated this because I'm the kind of person that always leaves my first order up to the server that's taking it. We went with Boca-Rota, a plate full of cheesy bread and marinated stead, kind of like a dismantled Philly Cheesesteak. It was amazing. Next up was a simple platter of nachos...but it was different. There were more Asian ingredients and flavors than you'd expect, and each of them was surprisingly fitting. The last item on the table was something a straight guy wouldn't generally order: Spicy Tofu Dip. There was some allure in the wording that called me over to it, and I took a couple of panty and tampon jokes for ordering it. And then everyone tried it. And it was incredible. Super garlicky, great textures and crunch, and crusty bread to dip in it. I'm curious about the rest of the menu, and the Dynamite I keep reading about seems ever more inviting. Since it's down the street, I'm sure I'll go back again -- no, I commit to going back again. For the patrons. I mean, the food.
(4)Derek N.
Keep your eyes open or you WILL miss it!!! It looks very small and run down from the outside but its totally different once your inside. From the shockingly giant full bar to the to the great aroma of delicious food, my time and money here was well spent. Call me what you want, i had to stuff my face again before i left to go home and the second time around i was equally impressed, if not more. Just an FYI you'll need to get there early or make reservations because its gets fuller than how i felt when i left! I highly recommend: - Dynamite Shrimp - Clams - Baked Opah Mauna Kea This place is a MUST
(5)Hailey V.
Good tasting food. Hubby had the steak, he like it a lot. The dynamite shrimp is good but too sweet for me. Oyster shooter is really good. Had the Thai seafood curry, it was ok. The price is really good :)
(4)Jade N.
Visit: Friday 8/5/2011 @ 7:00 p.m. Purpose: Toney's Surprise 30th Service: Great service serving 30 people. When I called to confirm earlier in the day, they were generous to ask if I needed help making sure the guests were comfortable and if we had planned how we were going to surprise the birthday boy. We were placed in the back room where you can have little get togethers and stuffs. Food: Delish. We did mostly everything pupu. Read my previous review...I think I mentioned some of my faves. What's cool: We also had those birthday blowers for favors and we did not get in trouble once for it. They were really accommodating in making sure that our time there was spent having a great time. This place has such a great atmosphere for sure. It was hilarious walking in with Toney blind folded and the hostesses where very polite and catering making sure we knew where exactly to go. (Perfect for someone who decides to do a first time party in the back room) Recommended: Yup.
(5)Kevin A.
WHEN WILL I LEARN? That dynamite anything = death by mayonnaise. I like dynamite shrimp, scallops, etc. but the proportion of meat to mayo has to be reasonable. Uncle Bo's version was just too overwhelming for me a ton of mayo and manini shrimp. The Thai wings were good enough to order again, but a little pricey. That said, it's a cool looking place to grab a few beers and the bartender is super friendly and smokin' hot.
(2)Tony B.
I love Bo's! They got a ton of money from me this year, but it was well worth it. I can say that after a full day of surfing, Koko Head, China Walls and Bikram, the Chicken Ceaser, the Seared Ahi and a few glasses of Opolo '08 Mountain Zin.... I was in SOLD!! I would hit it up after the dinner crowd though and with some friends, more of a local spot to cruz with the group after a day fun
(4)Lai X.
Clam dip is bomb!!! other that that everything else i tried is meh but thats not the reason for my single star. The few times Ive dined here weather its a date or with a group of friends the service i got was less than exceptional with a dash of attitude and a splash of rudeness...ahha i know that was lame.. But this place needs to step their service game up or just get a whole new set of staff cuz idk but these people are just mean..(mosly girls). idk why and when i tried to order a clam dip to go they gave me artichoke dip and chips.. (soo sad) i didnt notice until i got home and when i called they said to me "nope u ordered the artichoke dip" soo i was like F#@% it im over it.....
(1)Roxane W.
Uncle Bo's was a great way to end our Hawaii trip visiting friends. It has a trendy yet casual atmosphere, the bar and waitstaff were friendly, helpful and gave just the right amount of attention to our table. There was a short wait for a table so we sat at the bar. The drinks were fun and tasty! Once seated, our table of four shared a bunch of pupus (appetizers) and all of them were really delicious. I especially enjoyed the nachos, which were a fun Hawaiian twist to regular nachos. FYI- I would avoid ordering too many items that include wonton chips (ceviche and nachos for example) because although it was amazingly scrumptious, those chips are soo fried that even after sitting in nachos for a while they were still crispy. Crispy and deliciously fattening that is. Interesting fact, the restaurant dimmed the lights and turned the music up around 10PM, making the whole place feel more like a sake bar then a restaurant. Awesome. I would come back here in a heartbeat.
(4)Tyson S.
Excellent food. Had the meat lovers flatbread, alfredo pasta with chicken as well as chicken parmesan pasta. Everything was excellent and service was fantastic. Only down side was the hostess at the front saying they needed the table by 8 o'clock p.m. but we arrived at 6 and that was more then a adequate amount of time for us. Great atmosphere as well. Highly recommended.
(5)Lily V.
Don't be fooled by the exterior.. It's a nice, upbeat bar with great food! Service was good. Highly recommend the pupus. Will definitely be back!
(5)Cher S.
Food was fabulous! YOU GOTTA EAT THE NACHOS!!! The pizza was awesome too! I am allergic to shellfish, but the rest of my party scarfed the clams. Service was wonderful. The waitresses are friendly and attentive. Gets kinda noisy as it gets later...I'm old, but the youngins in my party seemed to enjoy the atmosphere! I'll be a return customer!
(5)Russ A.
We were passing through Kapahulu on our way home and always wanted to try out Uncle Bo's. Easy parking across the street. Greeted by hostesses on the way in. Place was crowded but had two seats at the bar. We had excellent full service from The bartenderess (Lisa) I think. Had the Hamachi Sashimi plate and the Boca Rota.....very good! Also had a black n tan with Guiness on top, Widmer on the bottom!
(5)Merritt W.
The atmosphere is nice and cozy! The owner Uncle Bo was even present! Really enjoyed the firecracker shrimp appetizer. It was delicious! Was not impressed with the opah I ordered. I have never had that fish before, but it seemed to be Overcooked! Otherwise it was a nice experience and good menu :)
(3)Alma W.
I don't want to be harsh but Uncle Bo's is mediocre at best. The food was just not that impressive. Maybe my expectations were unreasonable but still, ehh. We tried the dynamite shrimp which was good but nothing special. Crab cakes were huge but I always insist quality over quantity. The overly sweet sauce overpowered the crab and it almost tasted like cough syrup? Now on to the entrees. The bf ordered a rib eye steak which was decent but the sides were terrible. Fries were like giant baked potatoes and you know they got the frozen kind from Ralph's. The steam vegetables consisted of carrots and broccoli which is fine but why not just go to Denny's? I ordered the seabass which was served on a bed of stir-fried choy sum and i LOVE choy sum!. There was like soo much excess liquid from the vegetables that my dish looked like soup instead and the flavors we're boring or lack thereof. On my next visit, will I visit Uncle Bo's again? Most likely not.
(3)Will P.
Doesn't look like much from the outside and I would've driven past had it not come so highly recommended. The inside is much more trendy and nice looking. The food was good. I'm not a big fan of mayonnaise though and its seems like everything we ordered had mayo on it. Lesson learned for the next visit, ask if it has may before ordering. The Kahlua pork nachos was unbelievable. They're on a wonton style cracker instead of a traditional nacho chip and they go so well together. I think about them almost daily. Service was really good and everyone was very friendly.
(4)WonderWoman W.
First time, Saturday night dinner with a friend. Seated in the front part of the restaurant near the bar. Other patrons were shown to rooms in the back. Not sure if they were private parties or other sections of the restaurant. Want to say up front that the server was friendly, attentive and helpful, in spite of it being a busy evening. Overall, the food was excellent. The only disappointment was the miniscule amounts of crab and avocado in the Crab Salad with Avocado. Small diced ham pieces outnumbered crab and avocado pieces by quantity and weight. Otherwise, the salad was tasty. So was a quesadilla appetizer. My friend liked the Opah Special. There was more than enough and we both took home the extras. Most memorable dish was the Taro Beignets we shared for dessert. 'ONO LOA! Light, airy, crispy, dusted with powdered sugar, like the originals, they didn't even need the tasteless sauce and storebought ice cream they came with. I've had deep-fried poi balls before and they were ono, too. Except for the deep frying, healthier than deep fried wheat products, including Cafe du Monde beignets. The one big criticism is the noise level. Background music was very loud, which made the diners talk loudly, adding to the cacophony. Unless the back rooms are quieter, NOT the place to go and have a nice chat with a friend. It can be done, but with difficulty. Bottom line, I would go again and try something different, saving room for the beignets!
(4)Kimberly N.
The Hobo dessert was one of the best things I've ever had in my life!!!!!!
(4)Sean S.
Good drinks and food. Everything there looks good. This was my 1st time and we split nachos and had a few drinks. The nachos are awesome. They fry their own won ton chips and throw the kitchen sink on top!
(4)Tim S.
uncle bo knows his subtle and complex flavors. but hes also cool with laid back kids coming in wearing board shorts. everything is super good...ask the wait staff if you cant make a decision. but it seems like the place where everything is a great choice!
(5)Gina K.
This place is alright, I guess. The food was good but nothing memorable about it. The parking sucks and the main reason I am giving 3 stars instead of 5 is because of the seating. When I'm on a date or even just eating with friends, I would like to focus on what my friend is saying. Here, the tables are pushed so close to each other that I spent my whole dinner listening to the guy next to us try way too hard to impress his female companion (who was obviously married!) Sure it provided entertainment but I couldn't enjoy my own company. Put more space! I probably won't return unless there is a party planned here by a friend.
(3)Sharon D.
Love the pu-pu's at Uncle Bo's. Favorites are the Thai clams and their fried rice. Haven't had anything yet that wasn't delicious. Parking can be an issue but where isn't it an issue on this island?! And you are pretty much guaranteed to be really close to other diners but as long as you know before you go it shouldn't be a big deal. Later at night the line can go down the street. Food is always wonderful and service good.
(4)Lora H.
From the outside, and the name... makes it seem like just a typical dive bar. But, it's certainly no dive bar! Such a cute little place - good vibe, great ambiance, easy parking across the street, large menu. I've been here a few times now - it's just a cool place to go, whether on a date or hanging with friends. The food, there's a little of everything for every palette. And I have to say, the Lychee Martini here is pretty good!! Definite must try and good option for when you're just looking for a place to grab a few drinks, kick back, and hang with friends.
(4)Malia H.
Clams, nacho, bread with steak, ahi katsu, beignet, and haupia ice cream pie is the bomb.
(5)Maria G.
A great little tapas place in the restaurant haven that is Kapahulu Avenue. Nice tapas place. Chic yet fun atmosphere. Great for birthday parties or group gatherings. Absolute best dishes are the clams, wonton nachos, but really most of the dishes are winners here. Customer service is very accommodating. They didn't even batt an eyelash when we asked to split our checks between 7 of us. Great job! A plus (well maybe to some, maybe not to others) but Dog the Bounty hunter came in while we were eating and sat next to us.
(4)Trip S.
Went with my girlfriend for her birthday dinner. We started with the Boca Rota which completely lives up to the hype, as well as the Dynamite Shrimp. The Dynamite Shrimp was a really good shrimp dish, but I think maybe I would have enjoyed the consistency of the flavors if they had butterflied the shrimp. We then had the S.O.S., a super savory seafood bisque. We told our waitress that we were going to share this as an entree and when she brought it out, they had already split it into two portions. We finished with the Oreo haupia mudslide for dessert, really delicious, and the coconut is so subtle that you really need to search for it. Our waitress, Natasha, had the most intuitive reaction. Anytime we needed or wanted anything she was right there. She was friendly and polite, yet she was very professional and had everything coming and going in the most expeditious way. The industry needs more waitresses like Natasha! The portions for food are very generous, make sure to make reservations
(5)Paul K.
Delicious food, great service and perfect location!
(5)Anj D.
love the pupu's!!!
(5)Steven Z.
Good food, service, ambiance. Bo is always on the floor interacting with guests and staff. Nue(?) is a good bartender. Order the Calamari, Warm Spinach salad. Hip atmosphere.
(4)Aldora K.
good place to hang out and have some onolicious food, but the only thing that bothers me is the wait time and street parking.
(3)Tyrone H.
Beat the crowd by getting there early. Have the oyster shooters, not the chicken wings. The beer selection is great, the bartenders are nice and mix a mean martini. If you like beautiful waitresses who know how to smile, this is your kind of place.
(4)Mark S.
I'd have to say that my overall experience at Uncle Bo's was pretty good. The two pupus we ordered were presented beautifly, especially the shrimp cocktail while the Cajun Seared Ahi With Honey Glaze was deemed "right on" by dad as well as another patron who frequents the restaurant. For dinner we had two pasta dishes, a pizza dish, and a seafood dish. There wasn't really that much to write home about on the two pasta dishes we ordered, Chicken Piccata and the Chicken Pesto. The Meat Lovers (pepperoni, italian sausage, bacon, kalua pig) pizza, which is an Uncle Bo's specialty, was better than other kalua pig type pizzas I've had. And the seafood dish got rave reviews from my dad. For dessert we got the Warmed Fudge Brownie Ala Mode which was pretty good. The atmosphere was great and front room of the restaurant looks pretty trendy. While they have a variety of menu choices, I think what they excel at is their seafood dishes. I definitely want to go back to try more.
(4)Kim-van T.
I found Uncle Bo's on Yelp (yay!) and the bf decided to have his company group dinner here on our final night in Hawaii. Uncle Bo's is off the beaten path - 3 miles from Waikiki right up the street from Rainbow Drive-in. I was super skeptical when we drove by this place because it really doesn't look like much from the outside - in fact it looks like a hole-in-the-wall Chinese restaurant - not exactly a place you would want to take your boss to. HOWEVER the interior is actually more along the lines of what I thought it would be - minus the mismatchy decor. They need a new interior designer - STAT. This place is pretty intimate though - there's a back room for large private parties and a smaller dining area and bar area in the front. This place is super accomodating to large groups and can handle big parties - there's even a special children's menu for the kiddies. Service was very attentive and for the most part on top of things. What I was surprised to find out was that despite the hodgepodge menu the food is actually pretty darn tasty and the portions are HUGE with reasonable prices. The bf and I split the crispy potstickers - decent and crispy. The bf had the filet mignon which came with steamed veggies and his choice of the pasta of the day. The filet was cooked the way he wanted it which was definately good. The pasta of the day however was watery and runny and definately not so good. I ordered the Baked Opah Mauna Kea - a parmesan crusted HUGE piece of fish with garlic shrimp and steak fries (of course). The fish was yummy, the panko crust gave a slight crunch to the delicate texture of the opah. Steak fries? Uh, how can you go wrong?? Would I go out of my way to eat here again? Probably not. But if you're looking for a restaurant with reasonable prices and lots of choices on the menu within reasonable distance to Waikiki - I'd say give it a go.
(4)S. T.
Food was great and would have given it 5 stars had it not been for the service and parking. We made a reservation for a party of 6 and got there in time. We were greeted with "Will you be able to finish dinner before 8pm as we have another group coming in for your table?" Hmmm - not the best way to welcome first-time customers. We were done by 7:45pm. Our waitress did not refill our glasses even once. We ordered the Warm Spinach Salad with bacon on the side. It came with bacon mixed in. She took it back but clearly the bacon was hand picked out as we found several pieces still mixed in. (One person in our group did not eat pork.) What if someone had been allergic to bacon? Waitress came and shouted over our conversation twice to ask if we were ready to order dessert - no excuse me. They have one restroom for women and for men. One of the ladies in our party who was waiting in line to go to the ladies room was encouraged by a waiter to use the Men's Room! She declined. We ordered a bunch of puupuus (Dynamite shrimp, walnut shrim wrap, seafood ceviche, Nachos, Boca Rota) and salad (spinach salad, crab avocado salad) - they were all excellent. Salad portions are generous. Parking is across the street $5. Not so convenient on a rainy day.
(3)Guillermo H.
I was on Vacation in Oahu with some friends, and someone recomended this place. I must say that the food was incredible. We tried the seared Ahi tuna, it was so good we ordered 2 more.. we also tried Opakapaka, and one more fish they were both delicious..... I also tried the mussells in a red sauce they were so fresh and so tasty..... and the best part was our server ROSS he so atentived and so good to us.. Great place great food, A must go while you are in Honolulu... Thank you Uncle Bo,
(5)Lourie A.
Cute,modern restaurant on Kapahulu, close enough to Waikiki but far enough from the traffic. I was suprised when I walked in because you would never assume it to be so modern from the exterior. The have an extensive drink/bar menu which is definitely a plus, our bartender was very accomadating and made our drinks exactly how we like them, when me order an extra extra dirty martini we mean exactly that. As for the food, their pupu selections were wonderful and it said they can make their entrees pupu sized too. We ordered several pupus and I remember the poke being scrumptious! We also ordered entrees but would recommend having just several different pupus and you should be satisfied. Would definitely be a good happy hour spot, don't know if they have a happy hours menu!!
(4)Michael Edward J.
I went to Uncle Bo's for the second time and it was really good! They just needed a little time to kick out the kinks, but the appetizer menu is great! I had the calamari which was outstanding; and I don't use that term loosely! The scallops were very tasty too(they had a couple of sand grains) but the flavor was really good! I'm not going to give them 5 stars because I ordered the lobster and it came out looking great but I had to use my hands to pry it away from the shell.(nobody's perfect) I think they've got a good thing running! Mostly all the patrons were neighborhood goers and that says a lot!I've already recommended UB's to three people and they all liked it as well!! Kudos!!
(4)L W.
Went here with my mom and her co-workers from out of town. Extremely apprehensive at first since the place is named "Uncle Bo's". I envisioned a shack with over priced not so fresh food. Boy, was I wrong! PUPU DINNER: Walnut Shrimp: Four tiny shrimp in sweet condensed milk sauce topped with walnut halves. Very tiny, and not what I wanted for that price, but overall taste was just like any other Chinese kitchen. Black Bean Shrimp: MUST ORDER! Jumbo shrimp, bell peppers, onions, and beans in a thick tomato-spice sauce. Great seasoning and just the right portion-you'll be ordering more! Crab Cakes: Two, soft, four inch in diameter patties of deep fried crab, (a little too much) mayo, and vegetables. They were alright, came out steaming hot with a sweet sauce glaze. Dumplings: Tiny morsels of chicken and pork loosely placed in sticky dumplings. Taste was again like any other chinese restaurant, but presentation was lacking. Pot Stickers: Came from Costco. Ahi Poke: SO FRESH! Rough cut onions, green onions, hawaiian seasoning, along with huge chunks of ahi. Definetly a staple. Hamachi Carpaccio: Basically just hamachi (white fish) sashimi
(4)donnie b.
Food is alright; however, the service is horrible. The bar is full of bartenders that are more interested in trying to hook up with chicks rather than provide service. Good place to go if your a chick, but if you are a dude, then forget about getting a drink very quickly.
(1)Jamm K.
Not a very good experience here! I have been wanting to come here because of the good buzz this place has had but I was really disappointed at their lack of professionalism. I had some guests from out of town and we were looking for a late night place to drink and have some pupus. My friend reminded me about this place so we called Uncle Bo's at around 11:00 pm to see what time they close and they told us at 2am. We got there at around 11:45 and thought we would have a good 2 hours to enjoy our wine and pupus. The service was friendly enough but very amatuerish. I can excuse bad service if the server is friendly but when I'm spending $100 for a couple of appetizers and wine, I expect a little bit more professionalism. * I don't expect the server to take our plates away when it's only half eaten without asking us if we are finished with it. *I don't expect them to do last call at 12:45am when they are supposed to close at 2am. *I don't expect them to serve us our last call drinks and then turn off the music and turn the house lights on five minutes later. *ESPECIALLY WHEN THAT LAST DRINK IS WINE!!! *I don't expect to be double charged on my credit card for the tip. My guests even were totally disappointed that they just suddenly turned the lights on without notice. I especially hated all that time I had to spend with my credit card company to delete the double charge on the tip. It does make me wonder if the server put an auto gratuitiy on my bill.... All in all, I tried to be upbeat while I was there for the sake of my guests, but it was the kind of experience where the more I think about the place, the memory becomes more and more negative!
(1)A R.
Walked a mile to eat here. Didn't seat us right away we had to approach someone but it was late. We have the crab dip and clams for apps both excellent. I had linguine and clams excellent as well.
(5)Laraine Y.
Ever since they opened, Uncle Bo's has not had to advertise. In Hawaii, word of mouth or coconut wireless is the best. The prices and the quality of food cannot be beat. Owners Uncle Bo and Hosuk have found a formula that works. People will return if the food is tasty, the service great and the prices right. And we return often! Other reviewers have listed their favorite dishes, so I don't need to reiterate, but we like to order several pupu dishes and share them family style.
(5)Jeff H.
Parking- on the street for free, you can valet for $5 Reservations- you should make them. I didn't, still got a four-top. Great service! Apps- the big nachos: won ton chips, kalua pork, ham, onions, cheese, I am a nachos fan, but these were incredible. I got my huge rib eye to go, because the nachos were so tasty! Original, great spices, perfect serving! The Wait Staff- Kinda like the Seinfeld episode with all busty beautiful servers! Nice to look at, but great at what they do, they all deserved to be there with there skills and service! Dessert- I had the fried ice cream, as recommended in a previous review- it was right on! Delicious. Simple and tasty! Atmosphere- Office party-like until nine, then the hoochies and cool dudes came in. A very hip place. Decor- Hate the stupid chain mail hanging near the bar. The bathroom wall was very well done (50s & 60s moviestars) I would go back here in a heartbeat, too bad not open for lunch! I would recommend this location for parties and just to hang out.
(4)Wakako U.
When I visit Hawaii, I go to Alan Wong's and Uncle Bo's. Uncle Bo's is a hip and cool hang out. And, who are those cute owners?!
(5)Allison N.
Don't let the exterior or name fool you. The ambiance and interior of the place is modern and kinda trendy. The food was delish! Pretty much ordered dishes based on past yelp reviews. Ordered the thai steamer clams, dynamite shrimp, boca rotta, and kahlua pig fried rice, all of which were amazing. You have to dip or soak the bread from the bread basket they give you in the sauce of the clams. I tried to eat the fried rice along with the shrimp but there was so much flavors coming from both dishes that I wouldn't recommend doing this. The fried rice should be eaten by itself. The only downfall was the timing of the boca rotta. This dish wasn't ready until a good thirty-forty minutes after the other dishes came out, and by that time we were all full. It was really good but, kinda wish it came out all around the same time so I has some more space in my stomach to eat some more. All in all this was probably one of my better meals on my trip.
(5)Justine G.
Went here with my family for my birthday dinner. The service was not very friendly or helpful at all. In fact they were very rude and not very accommodating. Our waitress even forgot to put in my sister's dinner order! The food was good which is what got the two stars... but for me, service is the BIG part. If service is terrible, I'll suffer on not eating the food again. Probably won't go back.
(2)Jane D.
I really wanted to like this restaurant when I walked through the front door. Deep, deep down, I wanted to feel like I could come back to this restaurant and eat their delish food. But I didn't like the atmosphere upon arrival. I thought the front part of the restaurant looked a bit pretentious and not very welcoming. Fortunately, they ran out of space in the front and sat us in the back room. It was much much better back there. The décor was warmer and it had more of a family atmosphere with mismatched furniture and wall art. Okay, so now I got that out of the way. What I loved the most about this restaurant was the wait staff. We had a really nice waiter, and good looking I might add. He was quite popular with the ladies. He was thoughtful and everso attentive. The large table of local women in the back celebrating a birthday party, would have probably eaten him for dinner if the food wasn't so good. I don't know if it was the alcohol they couldn't help hugging him and teasing him on the way out of the restaurant. The food is served in large portions. I would recommend ordering a few small platters and one entre for two people. We ordered one small platter and and 2 entrees. It was too much food at the end of the day.
(3)Joey e.
i love uncle bo's!!! the food is great! the people are great! and the service is great!! such a wonderful place to go for drinks and hangout with friends or go on a date for great dinner!!! everything on the menu is wonderful!! i go every time i come home!!!
(5)Amy C.
Absolutely Divine! After 28 years of being a food fanatic and enthusiest, I have found my ultimate favorite restaurant. And Uncle Bo's Pupu Bar & Grill is the one! My friend recommended this place to have my birthday celebration admist our 10 day Hawaiian vacation and eating tour. Thank you Rick! What a birthday surprise! Uncle Bo's doesnt look like much from the outside, but step inside and feast your eyes on a lavish bar. Our party of 15 were seated in the back room and to our surprise, only had 1 waitress to wait and serve on all us. She did a phenomenal job and didn't miss a beat. Our waitress was cute, sweet and kept our drinks flowing like there's no tomorrow. I give their customer service an A+. Now let's talk food. Every mouthful was exploding with asian fusion flavors. My absolute favorite kind of food. On your visit to Uncle Bo's, make sure to order the Sweet Chili Calamari, Kalua pork Nachos and the must have Thai Style Steamer Clams. You will have an orgasm with every bite of the clams. The sauce is so luxurious, I smothered every peice of food and bread in the sauce. I couldn't get enough and basically ended up drinking it like a soup. Being that it was my birthday, everyone was very generous to let me taste a bite of their meals. From the Opakapaka Chiang Mai macadania nut panko crusted fish, to the Indo-Lobster stuffed with crab in a parmasean crust, every bite was like the best birthday present I've ever received. I look forward to my next vacation to Honolulu. Not only to experience skydiving, kayaking, cliff jumping or shark cage diving... but mainly to eat at Uncle Bo's Pupu Bar & Grill.
(5)Porky T.
Another over-priced overrated eatery place in Honolulu. Found this place from Yelp and decided to try it. The dynamite shrimp was average. Do not order the crab cakes or the island fry noodles as they are terrible. Not coming back for sure.
(1)Cynthia A.
My Beau and I were expecting a sports bar type of place based on the name of the restaurant and the font that was chosen for the sign. We were a little surprised when we walked in because it's got a really neat, lounge type atmosphere reminiscent of Panya's in Ala Moana. I believe The Lion King was playing on several flat screen TVs on the wall, which was strange but weirdly cool. My fiance said that the sushi appetizer was REALLY good. My specialty drink was not great - it was a lemon grass infused martini. I love lemon grass and sadly could not taste it in the drink, and it was just generally not a great martini. They didn't seem to have any other specialty drinks. The pizza was REALLY good - it's made from scratch. The crust was the best ever! I really enjoyed this dish, which is saying a lot because I prefer to avoid pizza. We are definately planning to return.
(4)R T.
This was our favorite restaurant and the one we miss the most. Uncle Bo's means pupus. Which mean lots of tasty appetizers. I can't remember everything we ordered, but I do know that everything was extremely tasty. Maybe it was many cocktails I had with the food that makes the evening a bit foggy. A common theme that we found when we left the touristy areas of Waikiki was that the people were very friendly and always eager to help out. This place was no exception. Skip the hotel restaurants and walk up to Uncle Bo's and Ono Hawaiian Foods (very close to each other) for some truly amazing food.
(5)Ellen Mae V.
When I have out-of-town visitors and they ask for a nice place to go for dinner I usually recommend Uncle Bo's. It's a nice, non-franchise, non-commercial restaurant with good service and character. Despite its proximity to Waikiki you definitely get that "local" feel when you come. It's nothing like Cheesecake Factory in Waikiki, you don't have to fight your way through crowds of tourists. (Thank goodness for that.) Food-wise, Uncle Bo's has a variety you can choose from. My friends and I usually do family style everything and we often find that a few pupu plates fill us up. I'd recommend the calamari, crab cakes, kalua pig nachos, and the pan fried opakapaka. Yummy. There's also a bar in the restaurant, so if you're looking for a nice casual or more formal establishment for dinner/drinks Uncle Bo's is suitable for both. If you plan on coming in a group larger than 4 be sure to make reservations. I'd give it 5 stars but parking is rather difficult. I always resort to parking at the Zippy's parking lot. =/
(4)Grimeater A.
Pretty chill place. The waitress was very friendly and helpful. The drinks were a little on the small side but at least there was enough alcohol in them. Only ate the cajun seared ahi since I'm on a diet but everyone's food looked pretty damn good. Will definitely be back when I can eat again.
(4)Blythe S.
Fun atmosphere, nice decor, friendly staff, and delicious pupus and cocktails.
(4)Natasha H.
What's not to love about Uncle Bo's. There firecracker shrimp on a bed of mixed greens is amazing - have to get it every time. They have a great selection of things and a fun atmosphere. Definitely a place worth checking out. It is the only restaurant to survive in this location since I can remember, which proves that they must be doing something right!
(5)Gina V.
I'm in love with Uncle Bo's Dynamite Shrimp! It is so yummy and never disappoints! Uncle Bo's looks like such a dive from the outside. You would never guess that inside is a sleek and classy restaurant that caters to locals. It's very trendy and offers a large selection of reasonably priced menu items. The pizza is excellent, salads are good too. I have also tried their seafood and that is great too. As for previous reviews saying $12 for a salad is expensive...I would have to say that being a regular salad eater that price is pretty standard. I also work at Chili's where we have awesome salads and I think the cheapest is around $11 (and come on it's Chili's). The service is consistently good. And my favorite part is that it's open til 2 am. The lounge area is very cool. The bar is very stylish with a very interesting wine rack, metal bead curtain separating the bar from the eating area, and a more casual back room that would be great for large parties. Over all I highly recommend it!
(5)ElDiablo A.
Great food and drink. Casual atmosphere. the Dynamight shrimp was a let down...i expected a bold dish and got a creamy what seemed like a mayo based one instead. My steak was really good and the vibe was really right about the place. Defiantly a must go while in Waikiki.
(3)Brandon U.
I love Uncle Bo's! It is an awesome placed to go after work for drinks, or on weekends with friends. The pupus are very tasty and reasonably priced. The main dishes are great, and I have never had something that I did not like! Their fish dishes are by far one of the best things on their menu. The only issue is parking, which is a common issue for all restaurants on Kapahulu. Overall, I highly recommend it!
(5)Rita A.
From the outside, Uncle Bo's looks like pretty non-descript. On a whim, I looked up the reviews on Yelp and decided to try it. Totally worth it, this place is great. The food and service is excellent and the ambience is fun. It was the best meal we had on our vacation and far exceeds the restaurants on Kalakaua Ave. Enjoy!
(5)Meep M.
I love this restaurant's layout and decor. It's different and modern. The food is yummy. The broth their steam clams come in is UNBELIEVABLE! I definitely suggest sopping it up with bread. Their escargot was eh...okay. I'm not a fan of escargot that is covered in mozzarella cheese.
(4)Jaci K.
one word... CLAMS!!! they have awesome pupus! if you have a big group you can pay $25 per head and its all you can eat pupus! totally worth it.
(5)Patti S.
We found Uncle Bo's on TripAdvisor and I am glad we did! We were there for my birthday September 17th. The food was amazing and the service even better! We had this amazing waitress that was beautifully pregnant! We had 4 in our party and decided that by the size of the meals we could share 2 appetizers and 2 entrees. We had the Dynamite Shrimp and Spinach salad to start and the Lamb Chops and Ono! WOW! the tastes of all the dishes was beyond compare!! Then, in birthday style, they sang to me and provided a complimentary dessert. On the way out, we met the owner whom was headed to Las Vegas to get married, congrats! **We drove up in a limo....looked at the outside exterior and said, "doesn't look like much", good thing, or the line would have been out the door with hours of wait time!!! We love your restaurant. I have already recommended it to my brother and family for their visit in December. Rod, Patti, Ronda and Jay from California
(5)Angel L.
Uncle Bo's is great! The ambiance is really nice and service is superb! I was really impress with everything. The food is good! We've went out with our friends just to hang out, I believe its the best place to just chill and talk story:) This is the place you got to go!
(5)stephanie l.
wow, I can't get enough of this place! First time I went, I was mesmerized by the decor and then the food. The overall vibe of the place rocks and makes you want to stay until late night! Unfortunately, the secret's out and it's tough to get a place to sit. But my friends don't mind standing at the bar with me and enjoying the ambience while sipping on an ice cold drink and downing mouth watering pupus.
(5)Noni Y.
mmmm seafood trap. it was so good we walked our asses in the dark, over a mile, to grub. we did this twice in a week. we also tried the bbq ribs ( too sweet), sashimi (bad presentation, too much rice, but nummy flavors) and the panko covered dynamite shrimp ( very rich and deeeeelicious).
(4)Annie P.
This restaurant is a hole in the wall place. The outside didn't look appealing but when you walk in the atmosphere inside is totally hip. I wouldn't have gone on my own but a friend of mine who lives in hawaii highly recommended this place and told me their dynamite shrimp was to die for, I didn't mind trying out good food esp one that is recommended by a local. The wait wasn't that long and the food plus service was A+. After coming back home to Cali, my husband realized our cc was over charged and didn't match our receipt, we had contact the restaurant right away and the manager took the time to research and called us back, they told us we will be reimburse the difference and for the trouble they had caused, he was going to send us a $ 25 gift card, My husband just wanted to tell them that I loved their shrimp platter, the manager automatically raised it to $ 50. That's what I call customer service. This is the one joint that I will for sure go back when I am back in the island.
(5)Peter H.
The pupus and entrees were hit or miss... The chicken wings and calamari were phenomenal, but the salads and pasta left a lot to be desired. Prime rib and pizza were fairly decent. Portions were ginormous and great for sharing. This is definitely not a fine dining experience, but rather a great place for starting the night out with a bunch of friends. Awesome space for groups and larger parties. Relatively upscale ambience for Kapahulu.
(3)John L.
Big thumbs up for Uncle Bo! Best restaurant I ever been to in Hawaii, the dynamic shimp was killer(same as the fircracker shimp I suppose?) oyster shooter was good, but not used to the thai flavor, maguro sashimi was ok, wouldn't expect it to be better than those japanese restaurant when it comes to sashimi anyway , I also tried the chicken pasta and the meat ball one, both were beyond expectation, the decoration was fun, and my waitress was friendly and fast. I heard the restaurant will turn dark after 9? but didn't the day I went,bump... and only 1 dislike was the table was too small, not enough place to put all the food!!^^
(5)Nicole D.
I've never left disappointed. Although I see that some reviewers disliked the pizza, I really enjoyed it. It wasn't too thin or too thick but more importantly, it wasn't oily. I really enjoyed the fish, they made it perfectly! This is our "go-to" spot when a bunch of us can't decide on a pau hana place. Great food, great drinks, great atmosphere. The entire staff is amazing. Can't wait to get back there...
(4)Jessica H.
This place is super cool. The Thai Steamer clams are so tasty, it's hard to talk over a bowl of deliciousness like that! Also the strawberry salad is not your average appetizer salad, it's chock-full of crispy bacon, walnut chunks, and hearty pieces of feta. It's accented with fresh slices of ripe strawberries. Deeeelish!
(5)Kristy d.
If I had given this review right after dinner it would have been 4 or 5 stars. My apps were fabulous and I quite agree that the outside does not do the inside justice. Unfortunately, my boyfriend had food poisoning the next day from the fish he ate there. He originally said it smelled a little funny, but we were so impressed by everything else and he was so hungry, he thought it would be fine. It definitely was NOT.
(1)kevinho c.
the pupu's were awesome, fish tacos were only OK... Guinness on tap is a major plus
(4)Beau M.
Had driven by this restaurant a hundred times over the past couple of years, and a friend and his wife invited my wife and I out to try the place. We waited in the cramped bar when we first arrived, but had a great time people watching and enjoying the solid bar selection for a couple of cocktails. Once we were seated, each couple ordered two appetizers and they were out of this world! We could have ended the evening then and been content, as the appetizers (escargot, calimari, seared ahi, garlic bang-bang shrimp) were out of this world, and HUGE portions to boot. The entrees came, and I was honestly beginning to get stuffed, but dug into my ribeye steak with gusto and enjoyed every forkful. My wife had the the Chilean sea bass and loved the texture and taste...we didn't want to leave the place! The owner/chef makes it a point to visit every table to check on the meal and the guests, which is a very nice touch. I want to go back to Uncle Bo's in a big way! Highly recommended! One of the very best meals I've experienced in Waikiki.
(5)K N.
My husband and I went to Uncle Bo's for the first time in a long time. For starters, we had the steamed clams and can I just say AMAZING! The clams are steamed and served in a Thai sauce which is sort of sweet and spicy. It reminded me of Thai curry but even better. They are also served with warm, soft bread which you can dip in the broth. We enjoyed every last bit. We also shared the crab salad and curry. The salad was light and refreshing. It had chunks of real crab, ham, avocado and drizzled with a vinaigrette. The curry was great as well especially because there was a lot of seafood including clams, shrimp, fish and scallops. The only thing, we were expecting it to be on the sweet side since it had coconut milk in it but it wasn't. Nevertheless, it was enjoyable after we got over the fact that it wasn't like yellow curry that we usually order at Thai restaurants.
(4)Breanne Y.
I'll preface by acknowledging that I've been here on a number of occasions, special and casual alike. But each time has gotten progressively less rewarding. We last visited about a year ago, when the menu was smaller and our car was nearly towed in the paid lot (we put the money in the wrong slot). Little inside has changed, with the exception of an expanded menu. Prior to heading down, we called ahead for reservations (it was 5:30PM on a Friday), and the waitress told us that even though there were only 2 of us, that they weren't taking reservations that night because it was a busy night. They would take walk-ins though. I asked if we would even be able to get seated if we arrived in half an hour, and she said, "oh yeah, we aren't busy right now." o.O We'd actually tried to get into Side Street first before coming here, but they had a 45 minute wait and I was starving. We got in there and didn't have to wait (BTW, parking is $5 at the lot...doesn't matter if you're there for 5 mins or 5 hours). Were seated right away but were pushed into the back room, and sat right next to the kitchen entrance. That's a really awkward and uncomfortable spot - make sure to ask that you NOT be seated there if you've only got a party of 2. It's noisy and you have the heat from the kitchen at your back, but the AC blows right at your food - cooling it when you don't want it to. Difficult to really get settled, and left me edgey the whole night. We had the dynamite shrimp to start, and that was pretty meh. I'd read about all the yelpers who loved it and thought that it would be the most redeeming thing there, but it was pretty average. Everything else on the app menu was more suited for pupus with beer, than as an appetizer. I ordered the shrimp pasta and BF ordered the prime rib. The waitress was really nice....but she didn't understand when we asked if the meat was cooked on the fire or if it was fried. At $20+ per plate, I definitely expect her to have the answer to that question. She did the right thing and said, "i don't really know....i can ask though." The food itself was pretty boring - the shrimp pasta was pretty watery and didn't have a whole lot of taste. I remember ordering this in the past and thinking that it was the best pasta I've ever tasted! Either my tastes have changed since or there are just better things out there. BF's meat was way over-cooked (he ordered his medium-rare, but there was no pink to be found). He did like the dipping sauce that they served, but said that the sauce definitely didn't compliment the meat. We never did get that bread that they gave to all of the other tables. Two days later, a friend told me that this may be something that you need to ask for, like at CPK. We opted to go elsewhere for dessert, as the meal in itself was pretty disappointing. About 2/3 of the way through the meal, a girl arrived who was obviously a part of a larger party and was setting up '21st birthday' celebrations. She was waaaay overdressed for a $20-head dinner and looking around, I realized that EVERYONE was dressed that way. That's when I understood that Uncle Bo's isn't a place that you go to for the food, it's somewhere that you go to be seen. BF put it best when he said, "this place gets old fast." The decor is nice, but it's become pretentious, and if you're there for the food, then this isn't the place that it used to be. To their credit, they get 2 stars because the waitress was kind and prompt and the food came out on time.
(2)Waynele Y.
don't be fooled by the exterior.. they've done such awesome renovations on the inside, it's hard to believe this place used to be aunty pasto's... i dunno who the hell uncle bo is, but he did an awesome job delivering a very upscale looking restaurant without the upscale prices. it's hard to describe their menu.. upscale local food?? in any case, it was all quite tasty. i highly recommend the teriyaki black cod (aka teriyaki butterfish). my husband had the steak and he said that was good too. the spicy tuna wraps, crab cake and calamari were excellent too. while the service was pretty good, you can tell they're still not quite organized. they came over to our table about 3 times with stuff that wasn't ours... but maybe that's their marketing ploy.. did you order the seared ahi? as she waves it past everyone's noses so the delicious smells waft by... doesn't it look good.. don't you want one? if you come on the weekends, it's best to make a reservation. parking is a little difficult. there's that dirt lot across the street, but it fills up pretty quickly.
(4)Demur E.
Uncle Bo's is a welcome addition to the Kapahulu Street family. It is a great alternative to late-night snackers who are tired of Denny's and Zippy's. They're open from 6p.m. - 2a.m. and if you have the parking mojo (must find street parking), it will put you in a happy place before going home. Food: There are a bunch of appetizers, pastas, salads and a few steak and prime rib choices on the menu. It's a solid menu that is well-executed. We ordered the garlic black bean shrimp ($8) that came with 4 shrimp and some nice stir-fried veggies. My friend G noted that black bean sauce can sometimes be overly salty, but this sauce was awesome. Our waitress suggested we use it as a dipping sauce for the complimentary french bread...and it was delicious! She even brought extra bread for us, as we are the type of people unafraid to sop up sauce in public. The spinach artichoke crab dip ($7) came with won ton chips and had chunks of crab and artichoke hearts in it. Too often, these dips get pulverized and you are unable to recognize the individual ingredients. The won ton chips were an interesting twist to the normal flat bread or cracker option. We also tried the Thai Street-Style grilled wings ($8) which was a particular favorite at our table. The charcoal grill taste (and crunch) really added to the lemongrass and herb marinated wings. The cajun prime rib (14 oz., $19) comes with your choice of starch and sauteed veggies (carrots, haricot verts, summer squash and zucchini). You can order the steak and prime rib dishes "pupu style," which we did. It came cut into strips. It was not very "cajun-y," but the meat was tender and flavorful. We got it with french fries which were steak fries fried until they were incredibly crunchy on the outside with just a hint of fluffiness inside. *sigh* I love crispy french fries and deplore soggy, starchy fries, so I pretty much hogged the fries at our table. It came with 4 little ramekins: ketchup, mustard orange marmalade (yum!), creamy horseradish, and au jus. Dessert was a must, (even though I was super full), so we shared two: fried ice cream ($5) and warm fudge brownie a la mode ($6). Frankly, I was not that impressed with either dessert. One friend thought the brownie was too chocolatey (I do not think such a thing is possible). I thought the fried ice cream was too doughy and not crispy enough on the outside, although the flavors were cinnamon-y goodness. If you have tried the fried ice cream at Sansei, then it's hard to go back to run-of-the-mill fried ice cream. Service: Excellent. Our waitress was really helpful in going over the menu and specials and always kept our water glasses full. It was also a stellar tip re: the bread and black bean sauce. Very friendly. Ambiance: When I first walked in (wearing shorts and a knit top), I felt a little under-dressed, until I looked at the other patrons who were similarly dressed. There may have been one or two couples who looked like they were dressed on a date, but the rest were friends or families in boro clothes, like me. The tables were spaced out nicely so you do not feel too cramped or part of your neighboring table's conversation. It had a good feel to it. Overall: I would definitely go back again. Sharing the food family style is a great way to try different dishes. Their hours are a real plus and I hope Uncle Bo's is here to stay.
(4)Scott R. D.
Where Uncle Bo's excels is in the Pupu menu. Stick to that and you'll be very happy. Our entrees were fine, but the appetizers were way better. The decor is pretty nice if you're in the front room. I'm not a fan of the back room.
(4)Todd L.
This is a great place to start or end you evening out! Really cool atmosphere, ono pupu's, and great drinks. Sometimes we start our night there and I don't want to leave. A very relaxing place with great food, drinks and cool people
(4)Jenny H.
This was the best dinner my friends and I had during our entire vacation in Honolulu. The drinks were delicious and the food was even better. Everyone was able to order something that they were craving and it was way more affordable than we'd expected. We spent $23 per person when in Boston we could have easily spent $50 per person for Asian Fusion Tapas and drinks.
(5)storm o.
I was very impressed with Uncle Bo's. It has the right ambiance, the right service, the right drinks, the right food, and the right price for what I'm looking for. I went to celebrate my birthday here with my BF & a couple GFs this past Saturday. The Thai Style Steamer Clams was ordered twice because it is so delish! Mmmmm...it's making me salivate just thinking about it again. LOL. The Dynamite Shrimp is also a must order. We also ordered the Walnut Shrimp wrap & the Calamari to go along with our alcoholic beverages. KA ordered the Opakapaka Chiang Mai which she very much enjoyed. We also ordered the Fried Ice Cream & the Brownie Ala Mode, both of which are also a must have (even if we didn't think we'd finish it, we actually did!!!) It was a Saturday night so the "Sex in the City" ladies are out & the men come in varying from very local boy attire to the dressed up we're going to the club after this. We didn't need to go to a club, the music (which I think is just running on the venue's system) as I saw no dj was a good selection of top 40's and hip hop. I don't need a dance floor if I got my good friends, my drinks, & my tummy is happy. My BF had been here twice before during the weeknights and he didn't see it packed like it was on Saturday. I will definitely head to Uncle Bo's again!!! Thanks, KA, for taking care of everything! Muah!
(5)Clay M.
It was my first time here and friends and I shared buffalo wings to start. I prefer them spicier, but the flavor was good. I had the Hawaiian pizza but couldn't taste the kalua pig, which there didn't seem to be much of. Also, the pineapple chunks were large and few; it would be better if they were smaller and more plentiful. I enjoyed the thin, crispy crust, but the flavor wasn't impressive considering this is supposed to be a bit fancier fare.
(2)R R.
This place was really cool! I've always heard about the place and seen my friends checking in on facebook, but my first time here was in March. It's a small place at first, until I realized there was a whole other room in the back! Around 9pm, they dim the lights and turn up the music. The atmosphere was great. I had their lycheetini and was disappointed. I'm in love with the ones from Indigo's, so I was expecting it similar. And while some people wouldn't complain about this, it was just WAY too strong for me. I couldn't taste anything lychee, it was like straight vodka. My friends tried it and agreed. My other friends liked their drinks though, so I just know next time to order something else. Our waitress was also slacking big time so unfortunately for her, she lost out on her tip from me. Luckily for her, my friends weren't as harsh. Other than that, we had a good time and I would come back, though hopefully we have a different person serving us!
(4)crown r.
Been here a few times to eat, been here a lot more times to drink. The food here is good...not great but they do get an "A" for effort. This past time, had their Thai style chicken wings which were great. The meat melted off the bone and was on the sweeter side on taste. Ordered up the kalua pork nachos which had a unique flavor and was pretty well executed. Shaken beef was fair but I've been spoiled by Crustacean in BH...had their chicken parm...decent but far from great. The place looks sketchy from the outside but once you get in, you'll see that they try to make it look pretty hip in there (at least the front room). I recommend this place for the overall experience either in a group setting or on a date.
(4)mINCe I.
have been twice and have enjoyed it both times. the pupu's are great as well as the entrees. some of the standouts from the appetizer are the dynamite shrimp, steamer clams and escargot. for the main course i had the crab crusted opah. one of my friends that was with me claimed that the fish served here is far more superior than the fish she had at Hoku's at the Kahala Resort. the drink were also good. on another occasion i was there i tanked four glasses of their moscato; should have order a bottle.
(5)Ninja N.
ok....we have a 2-yr-old
(3)Nate K.
If you are familar with Honolulu, you know that Kapahulu is a street on the up and up. What was once a street filled with struggling local eateries that couldn't compete with larger restaurants and fast food places that made the strip between town and the beach something to pass through - Uncle Bo's is part of a small restaurant scene that is looking to reclaim a strong nightlife. When you enter Uncle Bo's you will immediately notice a lively scene that makes you want to sample the menu. For starters, Uncle Bo's offer's an awesome spicy tuna wrap that will only make you more hungry. Then you can move on to a juicy prime rib or rich pasta that will fill the stomach. But wait, to end the night Uncle Bo's offers a fried ice cream that is the perfect topper to a great meal. And if you need something to wash down all that food - try one of there house martini's. Here's to a new hip night spot on Kapahulu!
(5)Amanda S.
seriously, get the kahlua pig nachos. they are insane. sister brought us here our first night on the island and it totally was not what i expected. from its name, i totally thought it would be this mom and pop hole in the wall but totally turned out to be this nightclub-esque feel especially when they turned down the lights at 11 and started playing the club jams. i must diverge from some of my fellow yelpers and say that i found the food pretty darn tasty. not only were the nachos good but the dynamite shrimp was fantastic. actually, the shrimp was my favorite - creamy, crunchy, savory with a little kick and totally decadent. we also had the ahi poke (which was ok but i'm pretty sure you can find better on the island) as well as the hamachi carpacio. the hamachi was absolutely not what i expected - it was more a deconstructed hand roll that you assembled yourself and enjoyed. it was totally tasty. i also had a fantastic glass of their cheapest riesling and boyfriend sampled the longboard beer. a great dinner of pupus for our first night!
(4)Kitty Y.
a nice spot to grab some beers and eat some pupus. we ordered some heinekens and newcastles from our awesome waitress (she has a star tattoo on her neck and angel wings on her back, she was a total sweetheart, very helpful and accomodating), as well as the crabcakes, spinach crab & artichoke dip, and fried oysters. the crabcakes were only 2 pieces but were huge and FAT. and very, very delicious, they came on a bed of red lettuce, spinach leaves and chili sauce. there were 4 fried oysters, each served on a leaf of lettuce, they were delicious too! and last but not least, the spinach dip, served with FRESHLY MADE won ton chips. verrrrrrrrrry impressive, and very yummy. overall the experience was great. the one downfall was the hostess at the front, she was kind of bitchy. sorry. but our waitress was fab, and totally made up for it, and so did the food. oh also i have to mention, the food came out literally at lightening speed! we were so shocked, and everything was hot and fresh. we would definitely return ;)
(4)Jimmy L.
Parking: I usually park across the street. Note, I heard it was illegal for them to boot your car now without warning, but that lot is known for doing so if you're 5-10 minutes late. They've gotten around this by TOWING cars, so be sure you pay extra ($4 total) for 4 hours to avoid paying a $120+ fee to get your car back from the tow yard. Do NOT park at Zippy's and walk over. I used to work there 8 years ago and they do occasionally tow cars when customers are not eating inside. And trust me, we know. Some people walk in one door to buy a donut and walk out the other door. We're not that stupid. Service 4.5/5: We were greeted when we first got in. Dinner on a Friday night was about a 20-30 minute wait. Orders were taken in a timely manner. Food took a while to come out for me, but apparently pizza's are made by god in that kitchen and I will tell you why later. But nonetheless, our waitress knew how to handle things very well on her own. Food 4.5/5: It seems like most of the people in our party were able to enjoy their meal. Although, I opted for the pizza instead of the ribeye, I think I made a good choice. While they are known for their steaks, they don't prepare it the way I prefer. It almost seems as if it was grilled over a stove top grill with no char... though I could very well be wrong. Anyway, my pizza was probably better than anything you'll eat from CPK or any other places you may THINK have high-quality pizza. Or maybe it was perfectly made meat lovers pizza for the perfect meat lover. Who knows? Dessert, was fantastic. You have to understand that even when you feel full, you still have room for dessert. Why do you think americans are so fat? They FIT IT. Okay? Ice cream melts. Don't have room for solids? There's your answer. Overall: I would highly recommend this place. It smells great every time I drive by at night and the food really does match. Just try to stick with the steak and the pizzas. MAN FOOD. Alright? Peace out.
(5)Amanda J.
The boyfriend and I came here after we got a recommendation from someone at our hotel. We made the walk out to the restaurant from the hotel and promptly found two seats open at the bar. We started with drinks - the honey bourbon one for him and the pear lemonade for me. It was good, but a little sweet for my liking. Since we read that the portions were huge (not kidding about that one!), we ordered to pupus and one main. We got the boca raton -- cheesy garlic bread with creamy steak and mushrooms; ultimate non-diet, comfort food -- and the six little piggies. The piggies were good, but nothing special. The boca raton, well, let's just say that you shouldn't eat that every day. It was so rich, creamy and down right ridiculous. We ate the whole thing. Finally, we split the fish tacos, which come with a 3-cheese dill sauce and avocado. Super tasty and loaded with steakhouse type fries. Way too much food! The vibe of the place is really sports bar like with big tvs and lots going on. If you're looking for more of a romantic meal, I wouldn't really recommend here, but if you're looking for a place that's less touristy and more fun, this is the place to try.
(4)Kristina C.
The seafood was delicious, fantastic and on point! I would definitely come back for more! Aloha and cheers!
(5)Peter G.
Destroyed the pupu menu! Most all were winners. What a genuine surprise for the commercialized Honolulu. Don't go here! (you might take my seat in this small venue) ;-)
(4)Sarah A.
First time here. Was recommended by the guy checking us in at the hotel. Told us to go get the boca-rota and that this was the pre-game spot. The outside fooled us and we were not dressed for how nice it was inside. We came directly from the beach. We ordered the boca-rota and the hamachi. They were both really good. The only set back was the price. I felt the prices were a bit high but I would Def eat here again.
(4)Coleen F.
I feel bad for not being impressed with this place. It was just OK for me, nothing too special. I would return to give it another try, seeing as how the reviews are great, but maybe my first time didn't give me that "WOW" factor most people experienced. I came here with my friends to celebrate a birthday. We were seated right away because we made a reservation. It looks small on the outside, but they have a backroom that seats more people. The front area is more like a lounge where people can drink by the bar. The food was all right. I enjoyed my grilled salmon and the calamari was yummy. They really know how to present their food nicely and I really appreciated them bringing a birthday shot for my friend.
(3)Tony R.
Best restaurant in Honolulu Waiki. Awesome food and amazing service, the best in Honolulu by far!! We came here the last two nights of our trip because the food, the service and prices are WAY better than anywhere in Waikiki. Come for sure:) Bo, Raina, and Noy are the best!!
(5)Julianne C.
Oh Uncle Bo's where do I begin?! This is my favorite pau-hana hangout spot on Kapahulu. IMO it's the perfect place to grab a few drinks/pupus with some friends and colleagues after work or on the weekends. However, reservations are recommended because it gets super crowded sometimes. The servers walk around in cute red outfits and are super efficient and friendly - great service even with a large crowd. Some of the must haves include a handful from the pupus menu: hamachi sashimi, boca rota, ahi katsu, crab cakes (even though I'm allergic), and the thai-style clams. Sometimes it hard for me to choose a few because the whole menu sounds delicious! My choice of drinks? - The peach lemonade vodka with less ice/ My main issue/annoyance is the lack of available parking after 8pm....ugh it's such pain :/ Although there's usually street parking (if you come early) or that big parking lot across the street, I'm still bummed that I have to spend 10 minutes going up and down Kapahulu and end up paying $4.00 for parking almost every time I go here. I guess I'm just spoiled by other places in town ;p
(4)Melissa G.
We absolutely love Uncle Bo's. Anytime we can make it onto Oahu we make a point to visit at least once. My mouth waters just thinking about visiting. Love it!!!
(5)Eric L.
The name doesnt give this place justice. I thought this place was some hole in the wall spot but its actually pretty upper class good food .... I had some amazing fried rice and shrimp .
(4)Ashlee E.
Went here last night, and while the food was good, a few things left a bad flavor in our mouths. Mainly, the front hostess stand--or at least that is where it started. First, we called and tried to make a reservation and the host told us that they weren't taking reservations. We asked if it was busy and she said no. So strange..She was not polite --very rude. So we kind laughed it off to her just having a moment, and still decided to go because friends from NYC and Cali were with us. When we arrived, there were two hostess. One brunette and one blonde. The blonde promptly greeted us and was pleasant. The brunette---RUDE. I assume this is the one we talked to on the phone. She continued talking on the phone, didn't acknowledge us..it was fine, however, because the blonde was there to take care of us. She was desperately trying to check the table seating and taking a look as to where she could seat us. The brunette brushed her a way as she was trying to look. So rude! The blonde waitress stood there, looking annoyed...After standing around, the brunette finally "gave her permission" for us to be seated..next thing they said was so annoying as paying customers -- " We can seat you here, but you can only stay till 8pm".... You know, maybe if it is true--you don't give deadlines to customers! Besides, it was 6pm.That was the second problem. My friend--her silverware (knife and fork) was so filthy, they were STUCK together.. Next friend ordered a lychee martini---a long strand of hair was wrapped around the stem..It was very visible--they weren't busy, so I am not sure how they didn't catch a black hair on a white drink. I was embarrassed at bringing my out of state friends here. While the food may be good, the cleanliness--and especially the hostess bar - is one of the worst I have experienced on this island. We felt incredibly rushed. No sense of customer service. The front should always have a nice smile and a friendly disposition. As someone who works in service, I know that good customer service is important. No excuses.
(1)Rj S.
Got the peach and pear lemonade with alcohol, Boca de rota, S O.S and chicken parmesean. Everything was amazing. Even the pre - meal bread was very good. Prices are fair and staff was nice. The place doesn't look like much on the outside but is very nice/modern on the inside. I rarely give 5 stars but this place earned it.
(5)Andrew k.
A must stop for anyone hungry for great cuisine. The dynamite shrimp is the bee's knees!
(5)Jessica-Nicole U.
Try the clams!!! Amazing! I went here for a party and I never realized how nice it was inside! People raved about it and it really is cool. I parked on the meter street parking. Went inside and was greeted. They lack on customer service. Our waitress was super cool but the other chick one could've been at least nice when we asked her questions. All the food was super good. Nothing to complain about. They were even able to accommodate such a large group. We sat in the back and were even able to dress the place up. Prices are reasonable. Great atmosphere. Perfect pregame place or place to kick back and chill with friends, catch up,etc.
(4)Melinda H.
My kids came along and waking in, it looks more like a bar than a restaurant. Wasn't sure if they allowed kids but the hostess didn't say anything. It's a pretty loud place. Food was really good. A little salty but could just be that night the chef had a salty hand. Lol I'd definitely come back.
(4)Jake K.
This place was interesting...a trendy spot with some great appetizers, Uncle Bo's will have you scratching your head at first if you've never been to Hawaii. My favorite here was the nachos - a unique spin on this ball park staple, these Hawaiian nachos will use won-ton chips, ham, Kahlua pork, cheese, and an oyster sauce to make your mouth water. Use chopsticks and you'll be one step closer to being kama'aina. Drinks are drinks - I ended up drinking a lot of beer after getting sick of sweet drinks (I'm not a big sugar guy). Service was great though and we weren't left wanting. Will be back again.
(4)Mike P.
Oh uncle Bo you are my favorite uncle! Because you're such a damn fine chef! This is an outstanding restaurant/bar. But two very important things to know: first - make reservations. This place can pack up pretty quickly. Second - there is plenty of street parking. Just down from the restaurant a bit on the main street. I am pretty sure that the meters stop at 6 o'clock. This place is loud but fun. If you're in the mood to celebrate the great meal this is the spot for you. I would not count on a quiet dinner. A must try is the steamed Thai Clams. This dish and a loaf of bread is a meal. Sap it up! The Kailua pork nachos are great, and as mentioned in all the other reviews the Boca Rota is awesome. I will admit after dining hear you will be shopping for a new bathing suit the next day.........in a bigger size! Everyone always seems to be enjoying themselves in this restaurant, so I hope you do too .
(4)Merry L.
The first word that came into my mind as as took my first few bites of the nachos was "foodgasm" I would definitely come back to this place. I still daydream about this food I don't quite remember what I had exactly but I had their version of their: Nachos Oysters Shrimp
(5)Ellen P.
Oh, Uncle Bo ! Your restaurant is definitely one of my top eats in Waikiki with a bar. Very cool and trendy and super quick service. MUST GETS: -Boca-rota: garlic cheese bread, prime-rib, sauteed mushrooms and mozzarella cheese -Dynamite shrimp -Spicy baked opah mauna kea: fish baked in a garlic chili aioli, topped w/ parmesan panko crust -Uncle Bos kalua pig fried rice -Thai-style steamer clams: sweet manila clams simmered in a mild chili, garlic oyster sauce.. make sure to eat alllll the sauce with the bread! so goood ! -LIttlle Piggies: my favorite!!!! pork belly on crispy bread with a sweet maui onion relish on top We also tried their special martinis, so colorful & good! Perfect amount of alchy ;)
(5)Jerrene T.
Restaurants on Kapahulu are normally not my thing. Lack of parking and the fact that most restaurants are hit or miss for me make it not worth my time and stress level (from lack of parking). Well I changed positions last year which resulted in my new department/office deciding that we would come here for our holiday party. Since I just go with the flow, I was okay with coming here. Heck, I was even happier when my coworker offered to drive us! We came here on a Friday in December for their all you can eat (in an hour and a half?) food spree. We got our 10+ people in tow and ordered like crazy. There was a flurry of food and by the time 30 minutes passed, everyone's belly was full and everyone was moaning about their food coma babies. The waitresses were on top of it in doling out beverages, refilling waters, and filling our table with food. We had some special requests (leave it to my son to ask for a plate of cucumbers, which he gobbled up) and they were more than happy to oblige. The crab cakes were good. There were a lot of pupus/dips but I guess this is a "Pupu Bar & Grill" so it was understandable. I never saw the menu but we all loved the food. I would definitely come back (even if I had to park in the lot... with the crazy attendant). Make sure you put more than enough time in the meter, as they do tow. The bar/restaurant itself is very welcoming. The workers were really nice and easy to flag down. We paid around $27 + tax and tip for all you can eat. It was quality stuff... not just your average or so Makino Chaya. I loved it! You do need 10 or more people. I had a great time and I can't wait until 2014's work Christmas party! Oh and those lychee martinis are awesome!!!
(5)Rachel M.
This place is amazing! The boca Rota is phenomenal!!! The drinks are also really good and reasonably priced. This was our second visit here and we will be sure to come again!!
(5)Christian H.
Just an overall nice experience if you're looking for a fun and refreshing bar to enjoy as a couple or group. They also have a bar if you want that kind of night. Nice ambience with a romantic setting. They know allow to accommodate groups of all sizes. The place isn't that big and you may have to wait to be seated. But, once you are, it's a great experience. Menu has an over abundance of selections to choose from, so don't get caught up on "what" to eat. Just enjoy what looks good to the eye is my advice. Mahalo for reading!
(5)Juliann C.
The Good: * Appetizers are the only things worth going for........! * The cheesy steak garlic bread thing... TO DIE FOR OMG!! *must order! * The atmosphere is nice * Interior decor is clean, well-lit for the most part * Service is served by women with delightful upper torsos :) The Bad: * Location is convenient but parking is just UGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH The Weird: * .....nahhh
(4)K. G.
Stopped by Uncle Bo's on a Wednesday night (recommended to us by my local friend) was still pretty busy for a weekday but we were able to walk in and be seated shortly after- about a 3 min wait. Restaurant itself is small and trendy (lots of indie music playing) - bar area was small also w/ not many seats (all full) otherwise that's were we would have sat. Menu itself was quite extensive (lit up upon opening). Ordered: Crab Avocado Salad- HUGE salad- lots of toppings all delicious! Dynamite Shrimp- very good, don't know why I expected it to be somewhat spicy but for me at least it was not (asked server for some type of chili sauce , which she remembered about at the end of our meal :[ ) Pig Fried Rice- I love fried rice and this did not disappoint one bit! Even though our server was a bit "spacey" (can't think of a better word) the entire night , meal was still great and staff was friendly. I don't see it as a "family" restaurant but there was a good mix of younger and older customers. Menu prices were reasonable and would most definitely revisit!
(5)Joanna Y.
I haven't been to Uncle Bo's in maybe 5 or 6 years, but my Dad had a birthday and my brother made us convinced that we MUST go to Uncle Bo's. We went on a weekday night at 5:30pm without reservations. LOCATION Kapahulu Ave., right before Zippy's and a block away from St. Mark's preschool (I used to go there haha). You can park on the street (meters), along the back roads, or in the small parking lot right next to Bo's. ATMOSPHERE Walking inside you don't get a view of the place from the window, but apparently there is the front room and a back room. The front room has a bar, tables, and lounge area. The back has only tables and seems much more secluded/private, perfect for parties. SERVICE Besides the hostess giving us attitude for not having reservations, our waitress was fantastic. She totally made up for the other girl. I should have got her name, she was extra pleasant, helpful with deciding what to order, and timely (she came often to check on how we were doing, delivered our food timely, etc.) FOOD Overall I was blown away by most of our food choices. Since my brother was the regular here, he did all the ordering for us. The menu makes it easy for us with 2 hearts for the faves/most popular, and 1 heart for the kinda popular? Here's what we had: - BOCA ROTA: My brother swears by this. He said every time he goes to Uncle Bo's he MUST order this...and I'm glad he did! Everyone in our party loved it. Who wouldn't love cheesy bread with steak and mushrooms in a mozzarella cream sauce for dipping?? - THAI STYLE STEAMER CLAMS: This was my fave! I love scampi style clams!! But this one was different because it came in a soup broth that was just so amazing! Hogged this one up. - S.O.S.: This is a seafood dish that comes in a thick sauce and served with a side (they recommended rice). Man that sauce was good. It was a tie between this and the clams for my fave but I think the clams was just a little better. - HOBO (dessert): Super yum. These are chocolate malasadas that come with a dip and ice cream. Another top fave that my brother recommended. - AHI KATSU: It's a seared ahi with katsu breading. Super light breading, goes great with the sauce. - DYNAMITE SHRIMP: This was OK. But probably wouldn't order this next time. - CRAB SALAD: Least fave dish of the night. Not because I don't like salad, its just that it wasn't anything that special as compared to the other dishes lol.
(4)Jeanine J.
One of the best places I've yet experienced in Honolulu, amazing pupus (appetizers). The oyster shooters, six little piggies and boca-rota were amazing. Very limited draft beer selection and adequate bottled beer, and good wine selection. Lots of tasty fun cocktails. Pupus average $12 each and are shareable amongst two at most. Lively but comfortable atmosphere, locals highly recommend. Now that I am a local I will definitely be returning! Service is great, about 5 min from order to served sitting at the bar.
(4)Nancy H.
Delish!! Four of us went and split a bunch of pupu small plates and all of them were sooo good. Plus the cocktails were really tasty, too. My Mango Mui martini was fantastic. Our favorite small plates were the chicken wings, wonton nachos and above all the nut wraps--yummy spiced nuts and sauce in lettuce wraps. Those were my favorite but everything was really good. The service was fast and very friendly. This was definitely worth driving the extra mile away from the touristy area in Waikiki.
(5)Yasmin S.
This is one of those places that you can't call yourself a local if you don't love. The clams are absolutely amazing and I can't live without them. If you don't know what to eat, trust your server. They know what's good and what most people order. The cocktails are also well priced and delicious. DO IT.
(5)Joe S.
I hate to be the barer of differing opinion and bad news, though I didn't completely have a good experience with Uncle Bo's. Please allow me to explain my experience: My wife and I called at 4:55pm on a Sunday and to make a 5:30pm reservation, as we were driving there already and had forgotten to make a reservation. We were told we could arrive at 5pm and stay until 7pm because the place was reserved at that time. No problem, we just wanted to try the 1 pound of "Manila Clams" that everyone has raved about as well as the "Boca Rota". Sounded great! We arrived and found the place practically empty in the front room and back as well. The TV and music in the front area was loud. Almost too loud for a normal conversation, so we opted for the back room. That was silent aside from the 4 other customers talking. Great :-) When the waitress came and I asked if the bourbon pours were decent. She said he, the bartender, is very generous, so I ordered a double bourbon. That's my usual drink of choice. My wife had an ice tea. I tasted the tea when it arrived and it was delicious with a slight fruity taste. My disappointment was that the bourbon came in a cordial glass and barley covered the bottom of the glass. It was definitely measured and at $12, I wasn't very happy. I'm use to a decent pour, and for $12 it wasn't worth it. Two sips later it was gone. Another disappointment was that water wasn't served. I suppose I had to request it and hadn't expected to need it with a decent bourbon. So... I shared my wife's ice tea. Ok, not the end of the world. Then the "Boca Rota" came. It had cheese covered garlic bread pieces in a round fashion with the most delicious meat and mushroom mixed in a mayonnaise sauce. Wow, that was SO DELICIOUS!! You must order this. Take my word, order it. It was $14.95 and worth every penny. The "Manila Clams" came next in a funny dish and looked delicious. There were tomatoes and greens. I wasn't impressed. The clams were average and the sauce was, in both of our opinions, too sweet. I am from New England (clams and lobster are our mainstay food there) and expected something else. The bread, although a small portion, was soft and nice. We soaked the bread in the sauce and although some people may like something a little sweet, we didn't. It was also $14.95 and I don't recommend it. The service was very good. From the moment we entered until we left they were on top of everything. Also, the food and drinks arrived quickly. That was nice. The place was casual, seeing other people were wearing T-shirts and shorts. They have cloth under a paper table cover. Very clean place. I think the overall experience was nice though not up to par with all the rave reviews. I think the "Boca Rota" was worth the trip however. I think it is something I've never experienced and I've been around the world many times and nothing compares with it. So, order an ice tea (or beer, not bourbon) and enjoy the variety of dishes they have to offer. I have attached a copy of the menu in the photos and you can see they have a lot to offer. I just suggest you avoid the "Manila Clams". Oh, if you like my review, please check the "Useful" button below. Cheers!
(3)Al D.
Been here for drinks and pupus with friends before. It's alright. Not a place I would pick myself to meet up with friends but I would still return.
(3)The C.
This place is fantastic. It's got character and good food. We went on a very busy Monday night. We hung out at the bar and got seared creole ahi. It was nice. We also got the pupu tuna and it was amazingly good. For dinner I got the chicken pasta with mushrooms. That was great. It's very crowded like every place in Honolulu. You have to wait. And around 9 they turn on night club music which gives it a different vibe. I'd definitely go back.
(4)Brandi A.
Amazing as always! Boca Rota is theeee bomb service was great, she was very attentive and sweet. Love it here!
(5)Michele S.
Get the boca rota but ask them to replace the bread with spaghetti noodles - it works out excellent as a pasta dish! Everything else has been said hundred times :)
(4)Steven K.
Don't judge a book by its cover. Walk through the door of its mustard painted storefront and walk into a cool and trendy eatery. Uncle Bo's breaks that image of local plate lunch with two scoops of rice with one scoop of mac. It offers a variety of amazing foods served by a staff of beautiful servers. Had a great time with friends on the 11th of August.
(5)Myron M.
A tradition for my staff and I to always come here when we are in town for our World of Dance Tour in December. If you must order one thing, it's the Boca Rota. We always order two, because it that's amazing and delicious. Everything we have tried on the menu has been great. Love the atmosphere and service.
(5)Kenneth R.
I really love this place. I don't come as often as I'd like, but each time has been a delight. I have always wanted to just come and chill at the bar, but it is always so crowded not sure how I would enjoy that. Anyway, the food is the star here although their cocktails are really good as well. Fish tacos are always a favorite here, I had their steak and lobster one night, and have tried many of their appetizers. Anytime I am in a celebratory mood I come here and should have come for my birthday, but when I close my next RE deal I will be here to celebrate. I always bring out of towners who are always impressed and rave about the place long after. Make a reservation if it is a special night, otherwise you should have not problems the wait has never been crazy for me. Mahalo!
(4)Mike R.
A locals and tourist favorite. My wife and I did a smorgasbord of pupu (apps) and it was awesome. Would definitely go back. Get a reservation though, they are busy!
(5)D L.
This place is awesome! I'm going to state the obvious and say that this is a restaurant and a lounge! The food is delicious and we need more fusion places like this.
(5)Ward K.
Don't be fooled by the outside. It may look small, but it opens to be a pretty big place which matches the big flavor of their food and drinks. This place is pretty busy on the weekends and during dinner time during the week, so if you want a guarantee seat it's best to make reservations especially if you have a large group. The last time I went, I had to get those OH SO DELICIOUS CLAMS! If any one of your friends say that they want their own and don't want to share, not even one... please do not take offense but rather just order your own as you probably wont want to share yours either. If I were at home I would definitely lick the bowl dry. That sauce is Oh Sooooo Good! Yes it was an OH MY MOMENT! The things I did share was the Spicy Tuna Wrap which come 4 to an order. If you like spicy tuna, you will LOVE this. Open Korean nori wrap with rice and a nice amount of spicy tuna on top. Next was the Crab Cakes. Two nice sized crab cakes with a generous amount of crab with a nice fried to perfection crust. Yummy! Then we had the Oyster Shooters... The oysters were swimming in a sea of some kind of ponzu sauce with a hint of cilantro and garlic. Although I had better, this one was delicious. Oh did I tell you that we ordered one more order of those clams??? Well we did and it was gone in a heart beat. Normally someone would ask if anyone would like the last one... well not in this case. It was everyone for themselves. As my friend would say, "eh get your own!"
(5)Trevor B.
Amazing Food!!! Dynamite Shrimp was fabulous and our meals Daily Fish prepared Chinese Style & S.OS. were absolutely the BEST!! We ended with dessert. Must try Hobo's! I was Leary but completely sold. Thanks for the Great Food & superior service!
(5)Taylor W.
NEVER GOING BACK HERE EVER AGAIN I gave it two stars because the food was okay and our server was nice but she did forget our ahi poke and we only ordered 3 things! The decor is ok a little confusing, kind of modern but kind of boho. I don't know what they were trying to aim for. The guy in the chef outfit (uniform) seemed to me was the manager/owner. He seated us and the while time all I could hear besides the loud music was him and his friends or regulars laughing obnoxiously. I guess because they were drunk and it's okay to have fun and stuff but not whole you're working, as the owner wouldn't you try to engage with your customers? I saw him the first time I came here for my friends birthday too and same shit. AND THE CHERRY ON TOP OF THIS ALREADY IRRITATING NIGHT WAS THAT NO ONE, NOT ONE SERVER NOR THE MANAGER/OWNER SAID THANK YOU AS WE WERE LEAVING! Well fuck you too.
(2)Darick M.
The service and the food is awesome! Among the dishes I tried, my favorites were the Boca Rota and Taro Beignets. But so much cheese and starch! I had a sugar crash that night and slept well:) I will definitely make it a point to go back and try the rest of the menu!
(5)Adelle K.
i love everything about this place. the food and servers are great. dont need to say more. except the prime rib, PASTA, PUPUS, JUST EVERYTHING IS GREAT
(5)Tracey K.
This place is packed but i don't understand why! The food was not good. It was swimming in fish sauce. I like fish sauce but not on everything we ordered and so much of it, so salty, even on salad. I drank a gallon of water afterwards
(1)Victor K.
First of all I love this place, not because of great food or exceptional service but mainly because its open late, and has great atmosphere. Food quality is inconsistent, I've ate here before when the food came out great other days food taste terrible, also not to be picky but they serve hefeweizen with a lemon, not an orange slice. Guess small details like this separate great establishments from decent ones. Also, if you're gonna be open till 2am, why does the kitchen close at midnight?
(3)Michael C.
I'm not exactly sure what else I could write or mention about Uncle Bo's that hasn't already been written, spoken, or photographed. With 300+ reviews on their Yelp page, I will humbly offer my review of my first and CERTAINLY NOT the last visit to the home of the Boca Rotta. I have a terrific group of friends that try, amongst our busy and hectic life and work schedules, to meet at least once a month for happy hour or dinner to catch up with each other. This month's "meeting", by a unanimous decision, was held at Uncle Bo's. I myself had never been here and so, like the nerd I am, I scoured various Yelp reviews (thank you Thomas O. and Kim. M.) for suggestions on what to order and tips on where to park. PARKING: Like many before me, our group chose to park in the parking lot directly across from the restaurant. $4 flat rate after 5pm fyi. OR try your luck at finding street parking. Although we did not have a reservation, we were fortunate that we didn't have to wait that long as they were able to bus and clear a table for our group of 4. CALL: I tried to call the day before for a reservation (on a Saturday no less) but was told they were not longer accepting reservations for that day. If you are able to make reservations I would recommend it, not only because I was advised to do so, but in order to avoid a lengthy wait time as well. FOOD: After looking over our menu, we decided to order "family style" to be able to sample more items from the menu: 1) Boca Rota (MUST order) 2) Spicy Tuna Wraps (generous portion...4pcs) 3) Seafood Dip (not bad) 4) Ahi Tornado Roll (nothing was left on the plate. totally devoured) 5) Vegetarian Pizza (Absolutely delicious!) All of our food was outstanding and delicious hands down. I made sure that the Boca Rota was one of our orders as it seems to be a favorite of other fellow Yelpers. And yes it's as good as everyone says it is!! Do order it! Aside from the Boca Rota, the Ahi Tornado Roll and Vegetarian Pizza were my next favorites. I was so impressed with the flavors of the pizza. All the ingredients and components to make the pizza combined to make one fantastic food party your taste buds will surely thank you for! DESSERT: 1) Fried Ice Cream (generous portion....you'll definitely get a workout trying to slice this orb of dessert into pieces) 2) Orea-Haupia Mud Pie (MUST order.....didn't really taste any haupia though....) Thank goodness we saved room for a sweet treat! Both of these desserts were great! They were the perfect ending to a wonderful meal and evening. I would have to say my favorite of the 2 was the fried ice cream. It's sinfully delicious. SERVICE: Excellent customer service was provided by our server as she was patient, friendly, and polite. And I truly appreciated that, despite the restaurant becoming busy and crowded as the evening progressed, she always made the time to check up on us. Water refills were also provided in a timely manner throughout our meal. Lastly, I do have to mention another thing that impressed me was how quickly our orders came out......we didn't have to wait very long. Bottom Line. Great food. Great service. I'll definitely be back!!
(5)Chad Y.
My Brother Loves This Place. I Just ... Like It... :-/ Just liking this place is not a bad thing! It just means that I didn't have an OMG moment! Here are things that I liked: -Great Waiter service! We never had to wait for anything! -The food came out super fast! -It looks cool on the inside, except for those chains hanging from the ceiling! I almost got knocked out by a clump of them! This is not a sex bar! Or is it!? :O LOL! -There is a bar and lounge area -Also cute waiters ;D -The steamer clams are the only good things here. The rest not so special... Here are things that I didn't like or could do without: -Parking is all paid! I had to pay $5 for night time parking! Not worth it if you aren't crazy about this place. -I don't know why people are crazy about the food here. I had three things here that didn't blow my mind. Not bad, but something to give you a Yelp Boner. This is the second time I have been here. -Garlic Rib Eye- Just fine for steak, but I had better steak at Side Street Inn. -Dynamite Shrimp- Not much dynamite to it. I would prefer honey walnut shrimp from Little Village. Still no spice, but at least it tastes better. -Fried Ice Cream- It was just a andagi slit open with vanilla ice cream inside. That Does sound delicious, but you could taste the oil the andagi was cooked in and it was burnt. I like the fried ice cream from El Mariachi in Aiea! Delicious!!!! Maybe I have to give this place a third try. Wait...I think this was my third time... Maybe I have to try it a fourth time? I am perplexed, but maybe one more time. Nothing was bad, except the parking situation. The food is worth having. Not a bad place, but next time bring it Uncle Bo's! LOL!
(3)Yuko A.
Sometimes I wish I wasn't such a foodie so I would go to a restaurant and 1. be indifferent by the menu 2. not be so greedy Unfortunately, I am the biggest foodie and despite having dinner at work I proceeded to stuff myself with food for pau hana with some co-workers including Dan M. I was pretty excited to try Uncle Bo's after reading some rave reviews by my fellow yelpies. It turned out to be a perfect time to go to since there was no line and the place wasn't too crowded.. We ordered Oyster Shooters - yummmm. I have been obsessed with eating oyster shooters since this (just ask my friend James G). I guess the one shooter wasn't enough...They oysters were a decent size too. 4 for $9 Dynamite Shrimp - I'm not a huge fan of dynamite shrimp but this was good. Not too too oily, with plenty of sauce on top. I bet it would be BOMB with a bowl of rice. Thai-style Steamed Clams- Oh my gawdddd. This is a must. Seriously. The clams weren't griney and so flavorful. They bring a loaf of bread so you can soak it in the broth....its seriously addicting. i couldn't stop. I could probably have eaten the whole 1 lb bowl of clams by myself.... Boca-Rota - Its like a heartattack waiting to happen but its so ono. Cheesy garlic bread that is served with a side of sliced prime rib and mushrooms. Oh mannn. If you are a glutton like me they you must get this. The prime rib was cooked just right, not at all dry just juicy and tender. I had their lemonade vodka drink. It was good, not too sweet. They have a good sized drink menu so there's plenty of choices for everyone... The service was great! When we were trying to pay for our bill, I guess the computer system was down so our waitress gave us a free round on the house....What? Just for a glitch in the system? It didn't even take that long to get our check. That is hands down A+ service which probably keeps the patrons returning for more. Definitely will be back but with an empty stomach so I can try some of their other dishes and have like 8 oyster shooters by myself. :) YELP 365: 229/365
(5)Rich M.
Great place. The Dynamic Shrimp was just fantastic. The SOS was equally outstanding. All in all, one of the best meals I've had.
(5)Anu M.
Pricey joint but very eclectic menu compared to the usual tourist catered fare around Waikiki. Dynamite shrimp lived up to its name was out of this world! Seafood curry was normal fare.
(4)Hayley K.
Uncle Bo's has a pretty nice atmosphere and staff look professional in their red and black attire. The restaurant is a little dark for my liking, but I guess that's the feel they're going for. The food is delicious and I'm always satisfied with what I order. I've been here a few times, but this time we came to celebrate a friend's birthday. I ordered the filet mignon, which was cooked to perfection :), the bota roca, dynamite shrimp, escargot, and of course an alcoholic beverage (honeydew melon martini, bf had beer) ($90). All great dishes. However, I do have to admit that I remember the escargot being a lot better. Maybe it's just me... since I had Hy's Steakhouse a couple weeks back. The parking for Uncle Bo's isn't the greatest. I believe it was $2 for two hours and $4 for four hours. There are other options if you need all day parking, but I doubt you need that if you're only having a meal. The parking lot is DARK, but at least there's someone walking around. He's not security, but I'd like to believe nobody would want to break in to a car with a dude scoping the lot 24/7. This guy is actually looking for cars to tow if they have run out of time so be aware of how much time you have left! All in all it's a good place to eat and it's worth trying at least once.
(4)Chaulcey C.
The food was ok. It wasn't Amazing. The service was annoying. Had go flag down our waitress every single time. The hostess never smiled and acted like she was important walking back and forth to the front of the restaurant. Usually you get a "thank you" when you leave, but not here. Well Fuck you too then. I work at a restaurant so I would know. The only person who gave us good service was the bus boy. Spent $100+ for two people and we tipped pretty good too(Bitch is lucky I even tipped at all).
(2)Isa R.
I feel like the name "Uncle Bo's" completely doesn't match the ambiance or cuisine that they serve. First thing first: parking kind of sucks. It's pretty much either street parking (not good for people like me who can't parallel park well) or private lot parking that is about $5 flat fee at night. I've been here about 3-4 times, and have had great experiences each time. The only things I've tried so far are the crab and spinach artichoke dip, dynamite shrimp, and the boca rota (cheese bread with diced prime rib and mushrooms in a special sauce). Everything is delicious! I just had a birthday party dinner of 27 for a friend, and we were seated in the back room. Surprisingly, they fit three square tables together to make a long table and put a large circle table at the end, so 27 people all basically got to sit together at "one" table. (Great for bigger parties who don't want to be split up). There are SO many things that I want to try on the menu. The crab and spinach dip is great, dynamite shrimp is a must, and the boca rota was good too (although I'm not sure I'd order it again). The menu is amazing and fairly affordable for the type of gourmet cooking you're getting. I saw what my other friends ordered and wanted to try so many different things, but my budget and tummy won't allow it. I definitely want to go back to try everything else on the menu. They even have fried ice cream!
(5)Kenson K.
Met a friend here for happy hour/dinner. Pretty decent menu: predominantly pupus. Had the poke, cajun seared sashimi thing which was excellent, and the rib eye steak ,which we shared. A good spot to pound back some beers and kick back after a hard days work.
(4)Michael Y.
But pricey but then again the food is supposed to be like escargot clams etc. It's bit like fusion Japanese Thai Italian. It gets crowded so if possible make reservation
(4)Lei D.
Went for a birthday dinner last night and service was excellent. Do Not order the chicken Cesar salad as it's very bland and the chicken tastes like it is from a can. I thought I'd order it because it was simple and easy, so I was sure it would taste good, but I was disappointed at the lack of flavor. I tried a few friends dishes and they were excellent though! Pasta, steak, some sort of cheesy garlic bread... all delish! The main reason for a low rating though is because the salad was just so disappointing. The quality of all their other food was excellent which made it that much worse. An important note is parking across the street is brutal! There was a sign on the door of the restaurant that the parking lot across the street allowed NO grace period. Greeted at the door by the hostess, she kindly informed us if we parked across the street, we had to be sure we paid, put the ticket face up on our dash and got back BEFORE our time ran out because the parking company tows cars if you show up 1 min late. That was a little off-putting, but I definitely was grateful for the warning. Sounds like they've had their customers cars towed a bunch before. They weren't joking either. As I left and got to my car there was a tow truck that pulled in and was hooking up to a vehicle. Overall, the food and ambiance is great and the staff were all friendly and provided good service.
(3)Dan M.
WHAT THE HECK IS THIS PLACE?! ...is the first thought that ran through my head upon entering Uncle Bo's, or as I call it, the "AMAZING FACTORY." I've passed by this place so many times, writing it off as a mom and pop type of place. But holy hell, looks can be decieving. Inside you're transported to a nightclub/modern-style restaurant. Arriving in shorts and a T-shirt, I immediately felt out of place, but I never got the impression I shouldn't have been there. But it wasn't just the style of the restaurant that threw me off, it was the food. Hmm, is there another adjective higher than incredible? That's how good their food is. The clams, the bread, and the almighty Boca Rota. I could live on that stuff. If you're indecisive about ordering (I know I am), start with the Boca Rota, and then decide from there what to get after that. Servers were way chill and even gave us a free round of beers because it was taking a long time to get our check. If they didn't have to kick us out because they were closing, we could have easily stayed for another couple hours. I don't know if there's an actual guy named Uncle Bo working there, but I love him.
(5)Ramfis B.
I just have one word to describe Uncle Bo's Pupu Bar & Grill: UN-BO-LIEVEABLE!!!! The food,drinks, and ambience here is just electric and i have to say i thought Home Bar and Grill had the best looking cocktail servers, now i have to go on record and say Uncle Bo's has some real lookers out there as well and the asian hostess who watches the front is simply stunning. Oh wait a minute, let's get back to the food here. I have been here two times and the first time i came with my guests from the hotel i work at, the service here was excellent but as time progressed, it was a little difficult finding the server for drinks and our bill. But that didn't discourage me from coming another time because i knew the food here was excellent so i knew what to expect the second time around. Now initially i had made a reservation for five the second time around at six o clock on a Friday evening, but they were booked and only had a reservation available at 8 o clock. So i asked the hostess if i could come in early and sit at the bar andhave cocktails and i something opened up earlier maybe we could get sat earlier an she said yeah, no problem. I believe her name was Aubrey?. She was very accomodating an gracious but that one asian hostess was just....WOW!! Ok, back to my review again. I have to tell you about something about sitting on bars. I can personally tell you, being in the industry for 23 years now, sitting on a bar when there is a place as busy like Uncle Bo's is just your ticket to getting great service and your drinks ASAP. And with my bartendress Alicia and Noy servicing me, i was just praying the barstools would open up so we could sit at the bar and have them serve us. You know all about Hawaiian time when it comes to reservations. If you have a reservation at 8 o clock, you have to tell them the resrvation is at six o clock. Catch my drift? Well all the stars must have been aligned because we were able to squeeze the five of us on the bar and i knew it would be the start of good things to come... Now for the food.....These are my must orders: THE BOCA ROTA: This my fellow yelpies, you gotta order here. It's sliced Prime Rib with Sauteed Mushrooms and Mozzarella which you put on this soft,garlic,cheese bread which is just an orgasm waiting to happen as soon as you take one bite of this....AMAZING!!! yelp.com/biz_photos/sv5X… THAI STYLE STEAMER CLAMS: These are a pound of perfectly cooked Manila Clams served with a mild chili, garlic oyster sauce and tomatoes. You better make sure you have some bread on hand to sop the juice up with or ask for a straw and sip it till it's gone.. yelp.com/biz_photos/sv5X… BAKED OPAH MAUNA KEA: Ok this is not an appetizer, but an entree that has to be ordered here. The Moonfish here is oven baked with a dynamite sauce and served with two pieces of tiger shrimp with your choice of starch..So Yummy!! yelp.com/biz_photos/sv5X… ESCARGOT: Oh my lord, the escargot broiled with garlic butter and loads of Mozzarella Cheese served with bread is just......... yelp.com/biz_photos/sv5X… BO'S BIG NACHOS: These are crispy wonton chips served with Ham,Kalua Pig, Onions,Mushrooms, and Melted Mozzarella with sour cream on the side yelp.com/biz_photos/sv5X… SPICY UNCLE BO'S DYNAMITE SHRIMP: It's parmesan panko crusted shrimp tossed in a garlic chili aioli....Delicious yelp.com/biz_photos/sv5X… SLOW ROASTED PRIME RIB WITH STEAK FRIES: yelp.com/biz_photos/sv5X… HAMACHI SASHIMI WITH NORI UMBRELLA: yelp.com/biz_photos/sv5X… SPICY TUNA WRAPS WITH KOREAN NORI: yelp.com/biz_photos/sv5X… UNCLE BO'S OYSTER SHOOTERS: yelp.com/biz_photos/sv5X… Now i'll let you in on a little secret fellow yelpies, if you have a party of 10 or more, it has to be at least 10, you can have an all you can eat pupu which includes every pupu on the menu and you can order more if you please. But you all have to have the menu and the cost is $25 dollars a person if i'm not mistaken. That is one hell of a deal if you ask me. Just call Uncle Bo's and they can tell you more about it. Now i have to tell you, Uncle Bo's is just a place to go for a few drinks and pupu's before you head out to the night clubbing scene in Waikiki and i have to tell you gentlemen out there, the eye candy here is simply
(5)Isaac L.
Came here for my uncles bday and were very pleased. On the menu there are symbols next to certain choices in the menu . 1 heart means good and 2 hearts means MUST TRY (the heart symbols are in NO WAY associated with the definition of healthy, polar opposites in fact ... With the exception of the salad of course) If it's your first time there pick anything on the menu with two hearts, you can't go wrong. Our 2 heart choices that I liked Boca rota - cheesy bread with steak and mushrooms sautéed in a creamy white sauce Ahi katsu - breaded tuna on top of a layer of sauce S. O. S. - scallops, shrimp, clams, and lobster chunks in a creamy tomato based sauce The ONLY bad thing..... Parking. There is a parking lot across the street but you have to pay. Best bet is to park on the street. Or in zippys if you run out of time...or patience Would go again!
(5)Sheryl L.
Pros: delicious food, great ambiance, great service. Favorites: calamari, fried ice cream hands down. Will definitely come back. Cons: parking. $5 next door, $4across the street, 25 cents for 20 min street parking on extremely busy street. Fills reservation book and then only takes walkins. We took a chance and despite having only one table occupied, they hesitantly sat us saying we had to be out by a certain time. We took it, no one filled the tables, but by the time we were told to leave, the place was getting full. We were lucky.
(5)Laurence K.
Cool place nice vibe sat at the bar has some local beers primo ordered the hamachi sashimi with yuzu and jalepeno ( which I had last night at Nobu) which was just as good! And half the price! After that we had the pig fried rice which was the best fried rice I've ever had! Smokey pork with a great flavor man was it good! After that the Shaken Beef which is Wok-fried steak w/ thai herbs, onions, tomato Dam Good! The food rocks here you must try!!
(5)Jennee G.
I'm going to review on a few different things. I'll start with the bad and finish with the great! The ceviche with won ton chips is a big no no if you don't like fish sauce! Although there is lots of yummy components in the ceviche that I would love to taste, you can taste nothing but fish sauce:( major bummer! We also had the clams which are delicious! A very generous portion for the inexpensive price point! We also shared the Steamed Opakapaka, Holy yummy! Such big portions for such a great price! (My bf is 6'5" and can eat like a machine) we were both full! Of course we left a bit of room for desert! we went with the servers recommendation of the Hobos. OMG let me just say, best dessert I've EVER had! Even if I hated everything about this place I would go there just to eat this dessert! They were fried taro donut balls tossed in powdered sugar, with a icing dipping sauce and vanilla ice cream on the I side. They are served hot and are the most tasty treat in the world! I'm in love:) overall it was a nice dinner. Our server Jenny was simple, helpful and attentive on a very timely matter. Much appreciated and hard to find! The bf will make sure we eat here once a week at least due to the great dessert:)
(4)Bianca V.
Uncle Bos has a pretty awesome menu. The bf & I met up with some old friends & had a few drinks & pupus. Being pregnant, I couldn't indulge in a cocktail but he enjoyed his. We ordered the kalua pig nachos, the manila clams & the kids pasta. They were all pretty good. I actually like my kids pasta the best! It couldve just been my craving being satisfied that made it soo delicious. But it was really good.
(4)William H.
Had an early dinner 630 pm Resturant was not full had 7 adults and 3 kids food service was slow and inconsistent. Food was ok for 360 dollars I would have expected more. Would I go back probably not
(2)Wendy A.
This was my first time to Uncle Bo's, which I heard nothing but great things about. The evening started out great with a yummy Pear Pleasure cocktail and the Dynamite Shrimp. However, the Ribeye was overcooked (even though I had ordered it to be cooked medium) and had little flavor. The Garlic Mashed Potatoes and veggies were great! My friends and I were enjoying our meal when about 15 minutes in to eating our entrees, we were asked if we would like boxes. This was only 45 minutes after we had been seated at the table. We told our waitress that we were not finished with our dinner and within 10 minutes, a second waitress came to the table to clear dishes. We felt as though we were being rushed through dinner and out the door. We were prepared to not only order another round of drinks, but also dessert, however that quickly changed when we felt pressured to get out. One other thing to note is that they do not provide separate checks. We were told that their policy is one check per table and we can let our waitress know how to split it at the time of payment. Such a hassle!!! I may return sometime for drinks and pupus, but definitely not for a full meal. I will also be sure to try to go at a time when I am not being pushed out the door.
(2)OGRAYDAY D.
Thanks to the homie for taking us to this spot! The wait was almost 2 hours but Id have to say that it was pretty worth it. We ordered a bunch of appetizers that were all unique and bomb as heck. They had this dynamite shrimp which was so Good. One of my favorites is The cheesy garlic bread and steak thing! Omg that was such an unusual combo but it was so gooooood! I could eat the whole thing if I wanted to lols mans. But we also had the beef slider thingys which were on some purple pan de sal looking thing and they were cool. For my main dish I had the garlic rib eye which was super sarap! Lols mans...well I dont exactly remeber everything we had but please dont pass up this spot that appears to be a hole in the wall. Its across the street from the famous side street Inn as well (they had an even longer wait tho...we actually put our names for both and just went to the one which called our cellphones first) I will def be coming back Here on my next trip to waikiki.
(5)Sara L.
Friends and I came for dinner and we shared the tomato beef stir-fry, dynamite shrimp, boca-rota and seared ahi. The boca-rota was everyone's favorite and the rest was average, but good. As for dessert we got the new item, which was a half green tea half vanilla ice-cream cake and it sucked. We also got the brownie with a scoop of vanilla ice-cream. The ambiance was young, hip and lively as well as the interior/bathroom. Next time i'd come back for drinks only though.
(4)Joel K.
Wow! Best crab cakes ever! Steamer clams were great! Beet salad was great. Food was fabulous. Service was great!
(5)Daniel V.
The best restaurant in Waikiki!
(5)Juliene C.
I have been dying to try Uncle Bo's for the longest time! I finally came in on a friday night at 5pm right when they opened. There were already a lot of people there. We didn't have a reservation, so the hostess told us she can seat us as long as we are out of there by 7pm. Fine. It was a small & chic restaurant. I like the ambiance. The service was ok. Nothing special. The food was just ok for me. I expected way more being that this place is so popular & everyone raves about it. -house salad: simple. Nothing special. -bocca rotta: garlic cheese bread w/ some type of cheese dip w/ mushrooms & sliced prime rib. It looks so good. This is the reason i wanted to come here, but sadly it was just ok. It didn't blow me away like i thought it would. -dynamite shrimp: panko crusted mixed in w/ some sort of sweet chili sauce. Very good! One of the best dishes of my dinner! I just thought it would be a bigger portion. -garlic & mushroom pizza: not a fan at all! Too much sauce. Ended up giving it away to our neighbor. Never again. Little Caesars taste way better! -taro beignet: taro beignet w/ some sort of yummy white sauce & a scoop of ice cream. Now this is what made my dinner happen! The beignets were so crisp & fluffy. The white sauce was amazing. I could've just ate the sauce as soup! It was like a cross of white chocolate & condensed milk! So bomb! I'm pretty sure i'll come back here again to try the other pupus on the menu. Hopefully next visit will be better!
(3)Susanne A.
Thus place was fantastic. Service was superb and every fish was perfectly done. We loved the Dynamite shrimp, the hamachi appetizer, the seafood pasta were all fantastic. The Pork stir fry was a large portion and also great.
(5)Joe E.
Interesting spot. Would have never expected the interior based off of the exterior. Outside it looks like a dive, but inside, very contemporary and trendy. We had four of us, and the seating was a bit tight (you better like your neighbors). We all ordered apps and a couple ordered entrees. I went for the Bo's Big Nachos (damn tasty) and a pork belly something that I can't recall the name of (also pretty tasty). The others at the table had items from Prime Rib to Dynamite Shrimp. Nobody left unhappy, except the one who had ordered the Prime Rib on the recommendation of a friend and then ordered it well done..... Glad we stopped in, glad someone told us about it, because I probably would have driven right past if I hadn't been looking for it.
(4)Stephanoodle T.
This is a pretty chill spot - looks like a shack from the outside and transforms into an intimate, trendy space inside. It's pretty small, but I think the owner is doing SOMETHING right. It's always packed. The menu is extensive, though not complicated and cluttered. Even though it's a small space, it would be a great place to come with a group of friends since a lot of the dishes are large and made for sharing. Two of the dishes that stood out most to me are the Bocca Rota and Uncle's Bo's Catch of the Day (it's a seafood pasta). Bocca Rota is basically chunks of garlic bread sprinkled with herbs and splashed with cheese, all of which surrounds a valley of cubed beef sauteed to perfection with mushrooms and other yummy stuff. The seafood pasta has generous chunks of salmon, clam, shrimp, scallop, and mussels and is tossed in a creamy, seafoody, tomatoey, garlicky sauce along with a generous amount of linguine as well. The best part is, it tastes even better the next day. Add some sriracha on dat and you're good.
(4)Kristen K.
Ahh, Bo's. One of my favorite go-to places. It just never fails me. The 2 owners are awesome, and the waiters/waitresses are super friendly. They can get REALLY packed though, and when that happens, of couse service gets a little slower and the volume of the restaurant get a hell lot louder. Not the best place for a "romantic date night", but more-so for a pupu's and drinks night with a big group of friends. My only "gripe" (which isn't even a gripe) is that I usually end up having a little too much fun here, if you know what I mean.... =)
(4)Hannah A.
OMGODNESS!!!! I miss uncle Bo's so much!!! Everything about the place (except sometimes the music is too loud during dinner can't hear each other talk) I AM OBSESSED WITH BOCCA ROTTA!!!!! If you haven't tried it your insanely missing out !!! Bo himself is such a sweetheart and he loves his Jameson! Mahalo Bo for bringing such a amazing place to Oahu !!! Can't wait to come back and eat more !!
(5)Jaime K.
Good food, good ambience, just a really good time! Definitely going back again when I'm in town. Yummy!!
(4)James L.
Heard about this place from a friend last year and then my friend heard about this place from their friend, so we had to check it out. We didn't have reservations (I guess it is recommended), so we were offered to sit at the bar. We ordered the Thai clams, boca roca (prime rib with mushroom with cheesy bread), fish tacos with purple yam fries, and crab salad. The Thai clams and boca roca came out first and they were so good and flavorful. These were considered small plates, but they were huge for 2 of us to eat. The fish tacos came out next and the purple yam fries was the best fries I have ever eaten. I could not stop eating them to be honest. We were already full and asked our bar keep if we could cancel our salad and they did...thank goodness. We just didn't realize how big the portions was here. Everything tasted really good here and the service very attentive. A definite place to hang and eat in Oahu. It was a nice surprise.
(5)Davin-Jay C.
Looking to impress a special someone or just have a nice dinner out? You found the place!! Although the outside may have you fooled to what kind of place you'll be eating at, you will not be disappointed at what they have to offer! Very clean and nice and inviting atmosphere. Start with a glass of wine! Don't forget to try the calamari (be carefully not to get full off it!!) and don't forget to try the pesto pasta! Prices are at a normal for Hawaii and a normal for the area being near Waikiki. Prices=worth the amount of food! I ALWAYS leave with a to go box!
(5)Kate Y.
Love this place. It has such a great vibe. I've usually walked in and even if they are busy gotten seated rather quickly. My favorites are: SOS seafood dish, Little Piggy's and Boca Rota pupu's! Would definitely recommend and will be coming back often!
(5)Ryan Mae S.
I sometimes forget about this place, because its kind of tucked away in Kaimuki area, but I met a girlfriend over there and sat at the bar last Friday and we had an awesome time. The atmosphere is relaxed and there are a lot of local people that hang out at Uncle Bos, despite the fact that its located right there on the edge of Waikiki. If you are in the mood to strike up a conversation and meet someone new, everyone who goes there and sits at the bar seems to be friendly and outgoing. The food is so flavorful and the portions are generous. It was the first time we tried the taro bignettes and they were heavenly. I would highly recommend this place to anyone who I liked :) The only thing I wasnt so hot on was the way all the servers pile their purses in back of the bar in full view of all the customers. I think this is something that would be easy to remedy.
(5)Bj D.
cool, rockin' hot spot. great locals food and vibe. don't miss it. loud, crowded, tables close together; everyone chats. we had huge pupu platters, plenty for four to six: dynamite-style crispy shrimp $9.95 boca-rota sliced beef, in mushroom sauce, with mozzarella toasts calamari wth veg curry sauce crispy won ton nachos with meats, salsa, cream wonderful fresh island fish dishes incredible light crusty taro beignets served with creme anglaise and vanilla bean ice cream. awesome server,Yim, had a beautiful aloha smile, and provided swift attentive service to our needs. full bar, strong lychee or pineapple martinis $8.00 and lots of beer selections. tapa on over! pay parking lot across the street. a fave spot.
(4)Daisy D.
Nothin really special. We shared the dynamite shrimp, steak garlic bread, fried rice, and prime rib. They were ok. Not enough for me to rave about. I was excited bc it was on our list of foodie hot spots for our HI trip but unfortunately, it was my least favorite. The drink we ordered was way too sweet and completely unbalanced. We only had a couple sips of it and the waitress didn't notice or care to ask about it. The service was ok too. They have a nice, somewhat chic ambiance. Definitely something you wouldn't expect considering where they are located. I didn't really like how it felt like a club with the music they played and the staff attire, but I can see others liking that if it's a birthday celebration before a night out in town or something like that.
(2)Edward W.
3.75 stars. Ok, so Uncle Bo's is a pretty good restaurant. I'll give you that. Kinda funky in a shabby chic kinda way. Dishes that please and sometimes excite. But let's look at the bigger picture, 'cause there is more to the story. Make reservations. UB's is sometimes booked up days in advance. Parking. What parking? That's the lowlight of Uncle Bo's. It all goes up from here! The interior of the space is dimly lit. A busy bar greets you upon entering with hanging beads separating it from the bustling dining room. Concrete floors. Low budget tables and seating that includes a mish mosh of wooden backed and folding chairs. White paper serving as tablecloths. The acoustics are quite loud. A young, attractive serving staff is pleasant and efficient enough. The food. The stars of this fun and diverse menu are the pupus. These small dishes are all very good, and I would suggest making a meal of just them for all but the hungriest. Order lots of them and share. Don't forget your adult beverages. That pupu/drinks combination alone could create the perfect night out with friends in Kapahula/Waikiki. 4+ stars. Baby back ribs in a pineapple BBQ sauce were fall off the bone good. The pot sticker gyoza, fried, were perfectly prepared. The dynamite shrimp is terrific. The walnut shrimp wrap was creative, healthy and tasty. All a solid 4 stars. And they are just the tip of the proverbial iceberg... The pupu menu is extensive and quite looooong. Salads were standard, main course quality fare. The entrees were maybe 3.5 stars - simple, good, but not as exciting as the pupus. The Opah Mauna Kea and the Opakapaka we're both nice pieces of white fish, but they were both a little dry. A drizzle of what appeared to be the dynamite shrimp sauce on the Opah lent a spicy, moist kick to that dish, and I would highly recommend asking for that preparation for those who like spicy. These dishes included fire-grilled zucchini that were inconsistent in their done-ness. Some were over cooked, though some were done nicely with a charred outer skin. Penne pasta is one of the starch accompaniments served with stewed tomatoes. This was a simple, flavorful side, though you can opt for rice, garlic mashed, or fries, too. So in my opinion, go for the ambience and the pupus. Plan on an adventure in parking, know that the space is eclectic and loud, and know that the cuisine is often creative, often really good, but sometimes misses the mark by just a little.
(4)Tiffinie K.
6/16/12 visited Uncle Bo's. We parked across the street in a self pay lot near Side Street Inn and Prudential's parking lot - this was about 7:30PM, and it was full. It was $6 for 3 hours, which is more than enough time. The stall we parked in wasn't a stall, but the security guard said we could park there and enter stall #1. YAY, thank you! The wait at Uncle Bo's was supposed to be 45 minutes, but it didn't seem like it. We found a spot at the bar, and enjoyed about 2 drinks each. Hrmm, on empty stomachs, maybe that's why the time went by so quickly? About the food - I'd say go only for appetizers. The entree's we had were not good at all. I had the opakapaka; though the sauce was good, the fish was slightly rubbery. Other entrees tired were pepperoni pizza; it was too cheesy for the amount of sauce they put on and fish tacos. So, the appetizers were good. We only tired the clams and something wrapped in raw ahi. Excellent. The clams were really good. Try the clams - hehe, did I say I really liked it? The ambiance was OK. Restaurant noisy, but to be expected. Service was just OK. Nothing spectacular.
(4)Lynnette S.
Went there with friends on a Friday night. It was quiet & the atmosphere looked calm & relaxing. Had the Steak which was really good. My friends loved their dishes too. About an hour into our dinner it got so loud & crowded. Seems a lot of the college kids hang out there. Don't get me wrong....it's a great place for them to be social...but, for someone who wants to just have a nice dinner & relax with good service...I must say...that this place isn't for you! If you are looking for a good time to party & meet people....than this place will do you good!!!
(3)Elisa M.
I like healthy food, so this review may be biased. I am not Hawaiin, I am a tourist who has visited the island a half a dozen times. This restaurant takes fresh delicious ingredients and drowns them in off the shelf ingredients. I ordered based on the yelp reviews and that was my mistake. The boca rota everyone raves about is basically beef stroganoff in mayonnaise and with cheesy toasted white bread instead of noodles. The Manila Thai clams wer sickly sweet in a teriyaki like sauce which drowned out the fresh taste of the sea in the clams. We also triad the greasy noodles which were way too salty and topped with imitation crab meat. The 45 minute wait, for me, was not worth it. If you want to try it, go for it, but I think the Side Street Inn is way better value and flavor. The staff was friendly and the service was fine at Uncle Bo's, but I am not likely to return.
(3)Nixon V.
Decided to try this place out since we saw all the high reviews from different websites and forums. Honestly, this place looks like a bar, which been renovated to be a restuarant/lounge. The place is really crowded with local and tourists people so arrive early if you want to get a spot. What to know: Service - The staff are friendly and nothing over the level as top notch. Just order your food, they will provide recommendation and hand you the bill. Food - We decided to order their pizza and the dynamite shrimp. The pizza is just ok, but it is way over price for the portion and taste. $18 pizza. hmmm You can get a better quality pizza at your local CPK location. As for the dynamte shrip - It was very tasty so I can give this a thumbs up but nothing more. Drinks - Their Lychee drink was just ok. I would not recommend getting it at all. You taste more of the Lychee syrup then a real mix drink. This was a total bummer. Overall the food price is to high for the amount of food you are getting. Expect to pay a lot for all of your extra stuff.
(3)Megan N.
nice place, good food. The inside of this restaurant was not what I expected, it was pretty trendy and packed; I'm glad we made a reservation. My boyfriend and I ordered 6 lil pigs as our appetizer and they were delicious we split some kind of seafood curry and it was also very good. My ONLY complaint is that the tables are too close together, you kinda have to coordinate getting up from ur table and I could hear the conversations the couples on both sides of us. I would definitely go back just don't expect an intimate setting.
(4)Jordan S.
This place is fantastic. It is frequently busy, but the food is AMAZING. I regularly go with a group of friends, and we do the chefs choice special. Each person pays $25 (or $35) and they bring out food until you say stop. For $25, you get all of their appetizers, and they really are phenomenal. Their Kalua pork nacho's are insane, the pizzas are amazing, their seafood is perfect. For 35 you can also get their main dishes, their Filet Mignon is simply amazing., seriously one of the best in the state. I have also had larger parties (20+ people) there and the staff is highly attentive and everything goes very well. They also have a full bar, which is a requirement for most of my friends and I.
(5)Sara S.
I have a love hate relationship with Uncle Bo's. I love it because the food is always super good, but I hate it because I always eat a BEEPload whenever I come... I feel incredibly stuffed and disgusting albeit satisfied after. Why not exhibit some self control you may ask? I CANNOT RESIST UNCLE BO'S. Take last night for example. I was just going to get a salad and share an appetizer with my bf. I ordered the CRAB AND AVOCADO SALAD. Harmless enough. We ordered the BOCA ROTA- garlic cheesy bread with sliced prime rib and mushrooms. HOLY CRAB WHAT A HUGE SALAD I RECEIVED. There is no escaping the huge portions of this place even in the salads. The salad itself was okay, the lettuce kind of had a funny taste but I liked the dressing. They also use REAL CRAB folks, none of this imitation crab stuff. The BOCA ROTA is EFFING delicious... who doesn't like crispy cheesy bread with meat and mushrooms? They give you like 20 pieces too.. DANGIT. My bf got the OPAH MAUNA KEA. Holy eff biggest portion of Opah I have seen, covered in cheese-spicy dynamite sauce + 2 shrimp + huge mashed potatoes... Gosh. Other things I have tried: UNCLE BO'S NACHOS: HOLY (#*&$(#*$&! This thing is huge and taaaasty. Crispy fried wonton chips, kalua pig, ham, cheese, mushrooms, tomatoes, sour cream...... EEK i can feel my arteries clogging but at least my stomach is happy!!! DYNAMITE SHRIMP: I know this is supposed to be one of their must try's but it wasn't anything special to me. Maybe I'll have to reevaluate. CALAMARI: I've actually never been to a place that had disappointing calamari. This was no exception. The service is pretty good, basically all female servers.. lol. Make reservations because it's always really packed, especially the weekends!! I would suggest coming with a large group of ppl to share (as a lot of ppl do) or just come when you're freaking starving and ready to pack it away.
(4)Cedi R.
WORST NACHOS I'VE EVER TASTED! None of the flavors or ingredients made sense to me. It had mushrooms, 2 types of sweet meat, HUGE tomato blocks, sweet salsa, and the mildest mozzarella I've ever tasted. Felt like I was eating a dessert. Plus, the wonton chips were too dense. It was a complete fail at an attempt to recreate nachos. The shrimp pasta was incredibly bland. Felt I was just eating...substance. Service was better than average. Quick and friendly. Atmosphere is awesome! Pretty cool inside. Go to drink and chill, NOT to eat.
(2)Tabatha P.
I love Uncle Bo's!!! The plates are delicious, some of the best sea bass and pupus, and a nice environment.
(5)Lynn C.
I asked my brother what to wear to Uncle Bo's. He said, casual. My friend asked her brother what to wear to Uncle Bo's. he said, you should go shower. We were both right in our own ways. It had that clubbing kind of feel, with girls in sequins and mini dresses, booming bass and fancy schmancy lighting. But there others in tank tops, shorts which contributed to a more casual feel. Parking sucks by the way. You'll have to find parking on the street. Crossing Kapahulu Ave. is kind of treacherous; just gotta wait for the light to change near the Zippy's and then run and pray that no one runs you over. We got the boca rota (cheesy bread with prime rib) and Uncle Bo's nachos (won ton crispy chips with kahlua pork, parsley, tomatoes, etc). I could've eaten five plates of that boca rota if allowed. The nachos were plentiful but felt oily (my heart was like ehhh ehh). Still as far as pupus go, both were very tasty. I had two lycheetinis; both were considerably strong. My other friends enjoyed the full bar and drank beer, gin and tonics, and more beer. Our waitress was 1) gorgeous and 2) very attentive. She checked up on us every 10 minutes which made it seem like she was taking care of us and yet not being pushy. It wasn't just her serving us either, some of the other waitresses came to check up on us (and they were all pretty gorgeous too!). One downside was the noise. It was pretty difficult to talk to each other and there is no way you can talk on a cell phone in that place. I'd come back for the food and drink but not for a date or catch up.
(4)Julie N.
My girlfriends planned my bachelorette dinner here. They called and was told that they DO NOT take reservations here. So we planned to come early which didn't work out cause we were running late. One of my friends got there early to order first until we arrived. Then they told her they had a party coming and we had to be out by 7:30! I was like wtf they told us they don't take reservations?! My Friend kept calling & telling us to hurry cause the workers kept looking at her. The rest of us got there at 7, we rushed and scarfed our food down. Then they told us they had a party coming and that they could move us, but we just left. Overall the food was good but I was just upset cause they told my friend they don't take reservations when they do!
(3)Shayna K.
It all depends what you're in the mood for--if it's a night on the town at one of the most happenin places on Kapahulu Ave., then ask to sit in the front by the bar. If you'd like a quiet dinner, ask for the back room. There's also a private room in the way back good for parties. Must-have dishes are the Thai steamer clams, calamari, dynamite shrimp, chicken picatta, fried ice cream. The free bread is great, too. :) We like to each order either a pupu or entree and eat family style. Oh, the poke serving is very generous--we were surprised! Parking is kinda junk--either $4 in the paid lot across the street, or on weekends they have valet parking. Hardly any street parking. But, it's worth it. The atmosphere and style of the place, the good food and drinks, the warm, soft bread and clean bathrooms (don't mean to pair those together) make it a great place to get together with friends any night of the week.
(4)George S.
Asked the bartender for a local place to go and she recommended Uncle Bo's. No tourists (except those given the pass) and great food, drink and the local scene. We went twice and will return next year.
(5)Michela K.
Every time I come here, it's always amazing. I am in love with the boca rota. I seriously dream about that stuff. The steamed clams are amazing. And the oyster shooters are the best I've ever had. Service here is always on point. Tiffany we had tonight, and Jennie the other night. They are amazing. I will always come here.
(5)Terinna R.
Went here on a Tuesday night and the bar and decorations were breath taking :) definitely a nice to have a birthday dinner or a casual get together :) the waitresses are super friendly and pretty quick. The portions are pretty hefty although a little Smaller than the Cheesecake Factory. Pricing may be a little more expensive but for the quality of the food, I wouldn't mind the extra couple of bucks. The upside? The wait for seats is pretty quick and they take reservations for party of any size!! :) However, street parking is very limited so you pretty much have to park across the street and pay :( no validations.. We had the garlic rib eye.. Chicken pesto pasta? And fir deserts the three of us split the fried ice cream and the oreo mudpie :) the ribeye was very flavorful and not too heavy on the garlic :) side of sweet potatoe french fries, a little on the dry side but still not overly oily or fried. I had my steak medium rare.. And Lo and behold it was medium rare!! Hehehe :) super nice and juicy inside and not chewy :) my friend said his pasta was a little too garlicky for his taste but still very delicious and filling :) So overall 4 stars! Definitely a place to try :)
(4)Gemma R.
Cam and I brought our friends here a few nights ago and I was pleasantly surprised at how easy it was to get a reservation on a Friday night for a party of four at 7:30pm. The seating is pretty tight but there's still enough room between tables so you're not feeling like you're on top of each other. We ordered a round of drinks and decided to share a few plates. The bartenders are amazing and we all loved the drinks we ordered. I had a lychee drink and even though it was strong, it didn't have that overwhelming 'tastes like rubbing alcohol with a dash of lychee juice taste". The food started to come out and Uncle Bo's has changed the way I see nachos forever. All nacho's should come with won ton chips. Always. I loved it. I seriously think I ate the plate by myself. We had other food too - shaken beef, dynamite shrimp, fried rice and a lot of other plates. I love Uncle Bo's and can't wait to come back again. I wish they had a better parking situation but it's mostly street parking.
(5)Natacha M.
This place is freaking amazing. You must make a point to come here.,,,MUST!!! We had a group of 9. We walked from the strip which wasn't too far. It was well worth the walk. Our group ordered mostly pupas and a few entrees but we shared everything. Every single dish had us making noises....ummmmm......aaaaaahhhh! OMG!!! Here is a list of what was ordered: Uncle Bo's Kalua Pig Fried Rice Uncle Bo's Dynamite Shrimp Bo's Big Nachos Bo's Pork Belly Hawaiian Style Pizza This was our most memorable meal. Staff & bar was on point. Good service all around.
(5)Don D.
I went to Uncle Bo's to have a drink or two and some appetizers with some friends who were in town. While I normally dont like the smaller bars, for the "catching up" type of atmosphere we were looking for, this place didnt disappoint. Parking is across the street in the paid parking lot. Its $5 for 8 hours. Oh, and looks are deceiving. The outside of Uncle Bo's does not match the inside. The outside says, "diner"....while the inside says "classy bar". We arrived during the later hours and were seated right away. The server came by pretty quickly and since we were there to talk story and catch up, she actually came to our table a couple of times before we even looked at the menu. She was probably thinking, "oh great, these guys are gonna take up my time all night!" Anyway, we ordered drinks and food and they came at appropriate times. We ordered 3 appetizers. The clams, the ahi sashimi, and the shrimp. I think the shrimp was awesome. The clams and the sashimi were good but I could order 2 of hose shrimp appetizers just for me as a meal! Our server checked on us often and was pretty attentive. Most times the service in late night bars suck. I'll be back to check the rest of the menu because there are a lot of things on there that I havent tried yet.
(5)Trevor T.
Normally awesome place. Great food, good drinks. One server though, Jenny, was terrible. We had a 8-person group with a big tab ($400+), but we got super slow service, a grouchy attitude, then waited about 20 minutes to get our check to leave. Besides that one incident, always love going Uncle Bo's. Get the shrimp dynamite!
(4)Tracie F.
Just as the 5 stars denote, this place is "woohoo! as good as it gets!!" What is there not to love about deliciously irresitable food paired with a fabulous bar and the best wait staff around? NOTHING!! This place is the bomb baby (am I showing my age?)!!! Uncle Bo's is fabulous for pupus, drinks, dinner, catering or "d" all of the above. Pupus are wonderful! You can not leave without trying the Boca Rota. This wonderfully cheesy prime rib laden garlic bread is insanely delicious! I am not a fan of tofu but their spicy tofu dip is awesome! Anything I have tried here has been awesome, and believe me I have tried just about EVERYTHING! Now let me explain why (it's not simply that I am porky pig...well kinda)... Uncle Bo's catered our wedding and we could not have asked for a more professional caterer with impeccable service and delicious food. Our guests RAVED about the grub. Bo was personally involved in the whole process and made sure that everything was simply perfect. I really liked the fact that he basically served us a sample of every dish on the menu at our tasting. He then helped us to create a personalized menu that suited our palettes and the theme of the wedding. If you have ever planned a wedding (or special event) you know how stressful it can be. Bo took the stress out of stressful...and then we were simply left with ful. Yes I know that was cheesy but oh so true. Bottom line...looking for pupus and drinks? This is the place to go!!! Looking to take someone special out to a delicious meal? This is the place to go!!! Wanna cater your next special event? You can NOT go wrong with Uncle Bo's!!!
(5)Nicholas L.
Outstanding Food, Great Ambiance, and a Top Notch Staff! You can spend a lot more at other places, but trust me, you'll be back for Uncle Bo's Seafood Catch, the Boca Rota, or the Opah + Opakapaka dishes..Happy Eating! PS: No one orders the lamb, but trust me, the peppercorn reduction sauce is one of a kind. You can tell they not only import the best New Zealand raised lamb, but they also carve the rack up so you only eat the most delicious medallions of perfectly cooked meat. I'm already getting hungry!
(5)Livery H.
I was here with a large group and we wanted to eat sharing-style. The drinks came about 20 minutes after we ordered them. The restaurant was full and the waitress told us the bar was backed up and that all of our drinks would take 15 minutes at least to come out. For me, that was it. The drink I got was sweeter than fruit punch with three packets of sweetener added to it. The next time i wanted a drink, I almost had to tackle the waitress (literally I had to yell since the restaurant was too loud). and the drink came out as not-punctually as promised. The food came out all at the same time and tasted good for the price. In summation, the atmosphere was too loud, the staff was not that great, and the food was blah blah. Maybe I would have liked it if I had the same amount to drink as the people next to me singing Hawai'i Pono'i at the top of their lungs. Not coming back.
(1)Cindy L.
I can't imagine looking for a place to eat on Sunday night can be so difficult on Kapahulu, we went into several restaurants and most of the wait time was like 45 minutes to an hour. Luckily, there were seats available at Uncle Bo's. This was the first time I came here. Yes, even though they opened since 2006. There were a few of us, so we decided to sample different items on the menu: Uncle Bo's Oyster Shooters ($9) - 4 pieces of oyster in separate shot glasses soaked in cilantro sesame-ponzu sauce. Walnut Shrimp Wrap ($8) - 4 pieces of shrimp individually served on lettuce. Kinda like the Chinese honey walnut shrimp. Bo's Big Nachos ($14) - Huge huge portion of crispy wonton chips served with ham, kalua pig, onions, mushrooms and melted mozzarella cheese. Crab Salad with Avocado ($14) - Mix greens with Mama Bo's special sauce. A good amount of crab meat and a nice cut of avocado. Uncle Bo's Fish Tacos ($19) - 3 tacos with dill sauce and sweet potato fries. Not very tasty nor worth its price. All in all, I thought that it was a nice place to hang out with the girls, however, the food was just okay for me. My favorite was the crab salad because I just love the dressing. The worse dish was probably the fish tacos, since it was expensive and you can barely taste the fish in the taco.
(3)Sherylynn S.
Not really my first check in but a great place to check in sometimes!!!!
(5)Lina F.
This place should be right on the beach with all the other great restaurants. Make sure to make reservations though. Great service, UNBELIEVABLE food, love it, love it, love it!!! Gem to find!
(5)Brandon K.
as always the all you can eat menu for 10 or more people is just amazing. Service was EXCELLENT and the food equally EXCELLENT. I took some friends visiting from Japan, and they were all amazed by the portions for the price. Awesome bar, friendly staff, and the awesome food is a trifecta of goodness. "boca ratta" is my favorite thing... in the world thank you for everything uncle bos!
(5)Erin Y.
I wish MY uncle cooked like this. We went for our annual Christmas dinner with the girls. It was such an amazing flavorful experience. To start, a friend and I had the warm spinach salad. It was by far the best spinach salad I've ever eaten. The spinach was not limp like I expected it to be, and had generous servings of bacon and walnuts. For dinner, I had the special, which was a crab stuffed salmon with shrimp and scallops. It was a creamy white sauce on a bed of house made mashed potatoes (which were excellent). The scallops were slightly under-done, but overall it was a good dish. Dessert was the pumpkin crunch ice cream cake. Ohhhh, this was so delicious! I finished the entire thing. It had a slightly gingerbread tasting crust, with whipped cream and a light pumpkin flavor. The food was excellent. I do have one gripe - the tables are so close together that you're practically sitting at the same table as the rest of the people in the restaurant. I could not even get out of my seat without having the lady next to me (not in my party) scoot over a seat (which in turn the person next to her had to scoot over). Parking is sort of awkward, with you having to walk across the busy street. Also, the parking lot machine thing was broken and would only accept credit cards, no cash. Shady.
(4)Chelsea L.
Best of best! Uncle Bo knows what's up. Awesome food made that you can't taste anywhere else. My favorite restaurant. My husband and I always come here for special occasions. We live out in the west side and don't mind the drive to eat here. We love all the food served there but our favorites gotta be the baked Opah, boca rota, dynamite shrimp, prime rib and rib eye. The service is awesome, good teamwork to make sure we are always comfortable. Food is always quick to come out regardless if we come with a big or small party. Chef special is highly recommended for big parties. Uncle Bo himself comes out to talk story and make special occasions personal. Reservations a must here, never have to wait.
(5)Jeanne L.
The place was crowded when we got here and we encountered a 40 minute wait so we made our way to the bar naturally. One thing I love about Hawaii is that the drinks are cheap compared to the Bay Area. I had a lychee martini which is one of my favorites and I asked the bartender not to make it too sweet and she was more than happy to make my order they way I liked it. The Hawaiians are so nice! Now onto the food. We chose items with the stars next to them which were the restaurant recommendations. Our selections were the oyster shooters, sea bass, boca rota, blackened chicken penne pasta, dynamite shrimp, and hot chocolate fudge brownie a la mode. Everything was pretty good but the the dynamite shrimp which was only okay but I guess it is a favorite here. It reminded me of Chinese mayonnaise shrimp. The oyster shooter we a bit on the salty side and the saltiness stemmed from the sauce. If i had to recommend any of the dishes I would have to say the boca rota, sea bass and the chicken penne are my top picks. The service was good, the ambiance was settling into lounge mode around 9pm (turns into a lounge at night), and the one thing I dont like about this restaurant is that there is a long wait for the bathroom. There are two bathrooms, one for each gender with a single toilet in each room.
(4)Debbie L.
I finally came here for dinner and drinks after hearing all the good comments about this place. We started off with drinks. Our friends got there before us, so when we joined the table, our waitress asked us if we wanted something to drink. We looked through the menu and finally ordered. Since this is our first time here, it took us awhile to decide what to eat. In the first 10 minute, our waitress came back about 5 times to ask if we were ready to order. We felt a bit rushed. Or it seemed like she wasn't sure if we wanted to eat so she was trying to push us to order food. We ordered the bota roca, clams, kalua pig fried rice, and some beef dish (don't remember what it was called). My absolute favorites are the boca rota and their clams!! We ordered off the pupu list, and the portions are huge! Good thing we stopped ourselves from ordering more. The service is really quick. After we finally ordered our food, our waitress stopped coming back as much. I love the atmosphere in there. It's like a bar/lounge with dim lights and good music. Your best bet for parking is to find street parking. We parked right next door because there wasn't any street parking available and it was starting to rain. Parking was $5 -_- I think this is one of my new favorite dinner bar/lounge spots. It's close to where I live and their food is delicious!
(4)K D.
I have eaten at this restaurant many times over the last several years. The food and service are outstanding! Love the dynamite shrimp. All the dishes are quite savory. If you want a fantastic meal and great appetizers, I highly recommend a visit!
(5)Sheryl G.
what: restaurant/bar with an eclectic design, hip crowd and a 5 star menu : ) something good: the food here is really good. when i first came here i didn't have high expectations but everything we ordered was so good!! it was plated well and seemed like a lot of thought was put in to it! the design of the place is really hip and trendy~ i love the art and the small design elements~ what appears on the outside does not translate to the inside. from the outside it may just look like a rugged restaurant but on the inside is a little gem : ) ! i would definitely come back for more food!!!! something not so good: not sure if i would go to drink at the bar here but as a restaurant it is one of my favorites~ something to try: uncle bo's dynamite shrimp & spinach artichoke crab dip
(5)Rebecca C.
another voucher use visit. second time here. we decided to go pupu style and ordered the crab cakes = moist and filled densely with crab oyster shooters = yum and they were huge dynamite shrimp = meh there was no spice kick hamachi sashimi = good and sailboat like presentation was cool all washed down with a shock top and honeydew martini
(4)Steve G.
Was told about this place by a local, take a cab there is no parking. The Claims, The the food was super. A reservation is a must,,,,, we sat at the bar and had a great time
(4)Letitia L.
The perfect place to eat before a night on the town in Oahu! My friend and I were here over Xmas break and loved their friendly, fun service staff (who gave us club recommendations) and their full bar with Asian fusion drinks. The vibe here reminds me a little of Vegas, or AsiaSF in San Francisco. The food was delicious, they have good seafood here and gave generous portions too. Uncle Bo's definitely contributed to our wonderful Hawaii vacation.
(5)Alyssa B.
Everything was wonderful here! From the service to the food to the ambiance I give uncle Bo's 5 stars. The outside looks like a whole in the wall, but once you enter the atmosphere sets the mood for a great night. We went there for dinner and split 4 appetizers for 4 people to try what was recommended from our awesome waitress Tiffany. She was extremely helpful and recommended delicious appetizers that everyone loved. We got the ahi Katsu, dynamite shrimp (favorite out of the 4), bocca Rocca? (Forgot the name but was a cheese bread), and shrimp & walnut lettuce wraps. For dessert we got the hobo which was sooo delicious. They were 6 taro beignets with a side of dipping sauce and ice cream. HIGHLY recommend that. You'll leave uncle Bo's with a satisfied stomach!
(5)Mathias H.
I really loved this place -mainly for the food but also for the lively atmosphere with many locals there. It is located around a15 minute walk from Waikiki (on Kapahulu Ave) or it is also possible to take the short drive (or taxi/bus). Uncle Bo's is a mix of bar and restaurant and the longer the night progress the more lively the bar part gets. I do recommend the pupus (appetizers) to share (3 are more than enough for two to share). The nachos are great as well as the fried rice and the dumplings. In addition to the great food the prices are good and the service is friendly and quick.
(5)Carissa Y.
We decided to eat at this place an hour before we had to be at the airport for our flight back to LAX. Worried about our time constraint, we called in on our way over there for a table for 4, and put our order over the phone. Luckily, we received our food RIGHT when we sat down. Amazing timing, right?!? AMBIANCE Fancy. Trendy. Service was great, especially because they saved us a table and put in our order over the phone. It was pretty packed in there, too. FOOD DYNAMITE SHRIMP *Bamb. This was so good! I would have eaten this by myself, but you know, three other people at my table might have wanted some so...GET THIS! BOCA ROTA *Hot damn. This was bamb! We had two orders of this and wow. Good thing we did. The cheesy bread, mushroom cream sauce...WOW. GET THIS! SHAKEN BEEF *Not a fan. This was pretty chewy. Could have definitely down without. Maybe an extra dynamite shrimp or something. We also got a fried rice of some sort. But I don't remember what it was called. OVERALL: 4/5
(4)Randy L.
My go-to spot- The Clams and Boca Rota are a must for me.
(5)Shaun S.
This is definitely a restaurant not in tourist row... so that's the great part, wish we hadn't walked from our hotel... on the plus side, they nicely called us a cab when we were wrapping up! So even after our long walk, we really felt like we didn't want pasta, so we went super heavy on the "Pupu" or appetizers. The pot stickers were fantastic... we ended up with two orders. The Dynamite Shrimp were just that! And the Kalua Pig Fried Rice w/ Spinach while a tad salty, was amazing! Definitely make the journey away from all the ABC Stores and check out Uncle Bo's.
(4)Ana J.
Absolutely Amazing. Great quality
(5)Lauren K.
Uncle Bo's Pupu bar & Grill makes me feel... happy and f a t and happy and drunk and happy. Did I mention happy? Theres a front room, a full bar with seating, and also a back room. The staff is super accommodating for large parties, so it's great for birthdays. They've got this $25 unlimited appetizer option which you really, really need to take advantage of if you're with a group. The darker atmosphere makes it date night appropriate, too. Service is always on point. You -really- have got to order: *Boca Rota- juicy prime rib and mushrooms surrounded by ahhhhmazing garlic bread to soak up all the juices *Thai Clams- clams in the best sauce ever, order extra bread for dipping *Hamachi Sashimi- with jalapeños, nori, rice *Uncle Bo's Nachos- fried won tons, kalua pig and the usual nacho suspects Finish it all off with an oh so necessary brownie sundae and I think you're good for the week.
(4)Olivia D.
Before I start, check out my photo of the veggie pizza--the worst and most hilarious pizza you may ever encounter! Who puts gigantic chunks of celery, carrots, and green beans on pizza? When my friends and I saw it, we burst out laughing. It was the topping on the cake for us, in a night filled with hilariously bad food. More on the pizza later. Dinner tonight was, at the very least, entertaining, plus it gave my co-workers and I an opportunity to bond over how bad the food was. I wasn't sure what to expect from Uncle Bo's because half of my friends love this place and the other half told me the food was terrible. I am agreeing with the latter. Laotian fusion cuisine is not for me. The food at Uncle Bo's is too sweet and garlicky for me, and this is coming from one who loves garlic and cooks with it liberally. We were part of a birthday party of 20, but 5 of us were the first to arrive and very hungry, so we ordered some appetizers to tide us over. I asked our very pleasant and helpful server (who was a doll) what she recommended, then ordered the dynamite shrimp and dry-rubbed baby back ribs. My friends got kalua pig nachos, spinach artichoke crab dip, shaken beef, some kind of pupu-style prime rib with cream sauce and cheese all over it, ahi tournedos on the house, and Thai-style steamer clams. At this point, I was STARVING, so anything that came out should have tasted really good to me. The first dish to appear was my dynamite shrimp. It was okay. The shrimp were on the small side, around 31/35. It didn't have a lot of flavor. The ribs were also okay. The meat was tender but had no flavor and was barely salted. I doubt there was even a dry rub on it. It didn't look or taste like they put a rub on it. All the flavor came from the big chunks of onion, clilantro, and raw garlic on top of the meat. The onion mixture gave the meat much needed salt and flavor, but was packed with MSG and the large chunks of garlic were too strong. At least the ribs weren't sweet like the dishes coming up. The nachos have ham, kalua pig, onions (they really love onions here) (and garlic), mushrooms and mozzerella on top of fried won ton chips. It would've been okay like that, but they drizzled some sort of sweet syrup or sauce on top of the chips, which ruined the dish and made the chips soggy. The shaken beef came out next. My friend who ordered it took one bite and passed it around; it was just too sweet for her. I've never had shaken beef that sweet before. It didn't even taste like shaken beef; it was more like a beef tomato in a thick, sweet gravy with lots of garlic and onions. We just let it sit there. The clams were the worst, and this is the most recommended dish. It's a pound of manila clams in a sweet chili and garlic oyster sauce with choy sum. This time, I was the taster. I took a clam and dipped the shell in the sauce. Whoa! That sauce was like a sugar glaze! I didn't expect candied clams. It was so sweet. I immediately was reminded of how Sam Choy lost the Iron Chef competition partially because he made dessert out of the featured item that day--clam ice cream. The Thai clams tasted like a dessert dish. I don't get it--clams are naturally sweet--you don't have to add sugar to the sauce. After all those appetizers and tasting more apps from our friends who arrived later, my friends wanted a little something light for their entree, so they ordered a veggie pizza. The menu description said it was topped with onion (of course), mushroom, bell pepper, zucchini, yellow squash & tomato. Sounds good, right? As soon as the pizza hit the table, everyone around it burst into laughter. My friend Ag was the first to take a bite and her reaction was, "Oh HELL no! I did NOT just bite into a piece of celery. I HATE celery!" My piece had a chunk of celery, but also a lot of green beans and celery leaves , which I at first thought was choy sum--yuck! Either way, yuck! I was laughing more at the gigantic uncooked piece of carrot on my slice, which I at first thought must be a tomato, until I bit into it. The veggies were odds and ends left over from prep that was thrown onto the pizza; they were chopped up in different sizes and shapes and the edges were brown like they'd been sitting out a long time. At least it wasn't sweet! =P I feel bad giving this place one star, but this is my opinion. I know a lot of people enjoy fusion cuisine and even more people in Hawaii like their food on the sweet side, but I am not one of them. Every dish was overloaded with coarsely chopped, semi-raw garlic and I felt queasy for the rest of the night from eating so much garlic, not to mention from the smelly garlic burps I emitted for hours! After eating here, I just wanted to eat something salty without sugar, like a simple, grilled steak. The dinner here left us all, well, grossed out. My co-workers still grimace when we talk about the experience.
(2)Jeffrey T.
This is always my go to place when recommending a local restaurant when someone is visiting. Family style pupus is the way to go so you can sample more items. My absolute favorite is the Thai style clams, flavor profile is crazy good. Definitely call for reservations a day early. I don't think they take same day reservations.
(5)Ed L.
First time @ Uncle Bo's and it seems like this place is where the party is at. Came here with a group of friends after a morning of running 26.2 miles at the Honolulu Marathon. It was a good treat to meet new friends and eat awesome food for the reward of hitting up another marathon and succeeding. The parking situation was very limited when we got there around 8pm on Sunday night, but with luck, we found street parking and that was awesome. We were seated in the back room,which was like 3 tables scooted together. It was a fun night and wished it hadn't come to an end. The service was good and loved how the food came out pretty quickly, for the size of our party. The waitresses were super friendly and explained to our non english friends on what goes into the dish(es) they had in question. Even I got a lesson in what was in something when I clearly thought of something else. I eventually got the chicken and spinach pizza, which at $16, was pretty reasonable for the size you got. Everything else on the menu - other than the pizzas - seemed to be over priced, but that's just me. I also got this German beer, that I forgot the name of. The pizza was good and the beer was decent. Overall, it was a pleasant experience.
(3)J. P.
We stayed on the strip with all the hotels and then went for a walk looking for dinner. We walked for a while and we weren't finding anything. We finally decided that whatever we come to next will be the place. We walked into Uncle Bo's expecting some hole-in-the-wall dive, and WOW! It was beautiful and posh. The menu was pricey, but the cuisine exceeded the cost. If we ever return to Waikiki we'll definitely head back to this restaurant.
(5)Stephen M.
service is awesome, big ups to the bartender and manager. The pizza of all things was ONO da bomb .. everything here is super
(5)Richard W.
Great food and nice atmosphere. The food was refreshingly creative and the presentation was pleasing. The decor was trendy and modern. Best thing I ate there were the clams. The clam broth is sweet, salty, and spicy. We ended up dipping our bread to soak up all the broth...yum! The service was good especially with the large group we had. I'll definitely make this one of my favorite spots to go back to.
(5)Michelle M.
Having a friend in town for the night, we wanted to cram in as much food and fun as possible for a Monday night. First stop, Uncle Bo's... I always thought that their menu was a weird mix of Asian (Thai, Southeast Asian, Chinese) and Italian. Not always is taking a gamble on such an extensive menu going to pay off, and honestly, in this case...it is just about hit or miss. The Dynamite Shrimp are kinda whack. The Nachos taste a bit muddled...and coming out of the kitchen a bit soggy to boot. The Seared Ahi Sashimi was alright, but the dipping sauce was in your face sweet! On previous visits, I have rather enjoyed the ribs, the Thai Clams and the Calamari were far better...but what I really enjoyed during a past exploit was thier Lamb. That would be at least a 4 star dish by itself. Anyhoo...the ambience is always nice, music just a bit too loud to carry on a normal conversation. That's why we decided to bounce after eating. Oh well.
(2)Guy H.
Having walked by this place several times, we decided to give it a try. The service was great and the food was phenomenal! The portions are very generous! While the menu is well rounded and caters to any size crowd, this place definitely seems to be more for groups. If going out with a group of friends this would be my top pick for some "pre-gaming" action. Can't wait to come back!
(5)Stacy A.
A MUST TRY IF IN HAWAII The best in hawaii just my opinion and i ate at lots of places dont get me wrong the others were great too but this is something different
(5)Alexis L.
I love Uncle Bo's! I've been coming here for years now and the service is always great. I've had a few birthday dinners and meetings here and the management team always make sure we have a great time. Awesome food and fun atmosphere. Highly recommended!
(5)Steve G.
Great food, staff was very efficient and courteous, owner introduced himself.
(5)Darcy K.
After an absolutely delightful dining experience I went back across the street to the parking lot. I just paid for 2 hours thinking that would be enough, I was back 15 minutes after that 2 hours and my car was gone. My dining companions accompanied me to the towing site at 444 Niu street. My car was there, unfortunately their c.c. Machine was broken so off we went to the bank. $176.00 later for a 15 minute 'over site' , waiting for the bill at uncle Bo's. whoever owns the site, shame on you for ruining a wonderful dining experience. Furthermore I have an issue with my vehicle after the tow. Be aware
(4)Thomas O.
Since I haven't reviewed this place yet, I'm just going to get down to the nitty gritty. Boca Rotta. If Boca Rotta was a city, I'd move there in a heart beat. If Boca Rotta was a woman, I'd marry her and take her last name. If Boca Rotta was a million dollars, I'd still buy it. If Boca Rotta was a normal entree item, I would not share it. Sadly, Boca Rotta is none of these things. But it is my hands-down favorite thing to get at Uncle Bo's. A gigantic plate of heart attack with a dash of aneurism and a hint of stroke. But hey, you only live once! So why not, take a piece of that cheese bread, soak it in the steak and mushroom concoction and die a not-so-peaceful death, but know that at least your tongue and stomach are happy! I came here with the Foodies for the second time last night, the time first being after baby girl Nicole graduated college. *tear* We all knew what we wanted, which was Boca Rotta and Thai Steamed Clams. I ordered the Kalua Pork Fried Rice and a Garlic Mushroom Pizza, while plates of Shrimp Dynamite flanked our tables. The GM Pizza is a decent size at 12" and is sliced into 8 pieces. It's loaded with a mild white mozzarella, thick slices of mushrooms and shavings of garlic. Nicole and I, being genius and all, just started putting the Boca Rotta topping on the pizza because we wished that they would make BR Pizza. I would faint if I saw that on the menu. Then I would wake up and order two. Believe it or not, it was the least flavorful of the dishes, but it came in handy as it balanced out all of our "heavy pupus." It tastes very similar to Bravo's pizzas, which is not a bad thing at all! The Kalua Pork Fried Rice came out late (I had to remind our waitress) but it was very very very delicious. If it was made into an omelette, that would be the best breakfast!! We finished the night with the Fried Iced Cream, which we felt could have been executed better. We wanted to taste the fried part but sadly, it could not be found. It was a fight to get to the middle of it though. Spoons clanging, tables banging. You know, us foodies love our food. It says it in our name! Our service apart from the forgetfulness (just write um down ladat, we no make fun dakine) was great. Thanks Beverly! Review 008/365
(5)Leanne K.
So my friends and I heard good reviews about this place and decided to try it out for the first time. My friend called and made reservations for us for this past Friday. Someone from Uncle Bo's called back the day of the reservation to confirm that we were still planning on coming. When we arrived at Uncle Bo's at about 630pm the hostess told us that there was going to be a big party later that evening and wanted to know if we could be or would be finished dining and out by 8 o'clock. My friend and I were baffled. What was the point of calling to make reservations only to be told that we had to be out in and hour and a half. Also if the staff/hostess at Uncle Bo's knew a large party also made reservations why didn't they mention that when they called to confirm with us. We would have been happy to dine in the other part of the restaurant and not in the back, where it seemed the people who made reservations were seated. So we did sit down, with other parties of 2-6 people, in the back area. Our other friends arrived and we tried to make the best of it. We were thinking they wouldn't rush us out exactly at 8, since we were planning to order dinner. But we only got past a couple of drinks and pupu before the staff (waitresses and bussers) kept coming around to take our plates away. As it was getting closer to 8 the other parties were also getting their food rushed to them and then quickly taken away. On our table for example one of our pupu plates, the oyster shooters, was delivered and our friend had just finished them off and not even seconds after she put her fork down someone come and ask "Are you done with that". FOR REAL, DUDE. she just put her fork down, let her digest a little. We barely had time to order pupus and drink. And no time to order real food or dessert. The staff didn't offer to relocate us to the other dining area or to even see if we wanted food to go. So in terms of food and our waitress. She was nice and attentive, drinks were "OK" food was "so-so" the best was probably the boca rota bread. BUT NEVER, EVER have I been to any restaurant where they asked me to eat and leave because another party was more important. Uncle Bo's you need to reevaluate how you handle reservations, because rushing people out IS JUST PLAIN RUDE!!!
(1)Vivien G.
The best food ever! Seriously! We have been coming here for years and can't wait to keep coming back. The Thai steamer clams are insane! True, it's very busy,but obviously there is a reason it's so busy!
(5)Riana S.
I wish Uncle Bo was my real uncle so that I could always eat his delicious food. Man, is this place misleading or WHAT? The outside of the restaurant looks like a beachy, hole in da wall, local kine place but you walk inside and it's super modern and nice! Nicole K. introduced this place to Thomas O. and I, we've been pretty much addicted ever since. Since it's far away from all of us (us, leeward folk) we don't go here as much as we'd like to so when we do, we go nawts boo. We got our seats, no problem (setting reservations have become our best friend) and I started off with the Sweet P. It reminds me of moscato, but with a lychee taste. It's served in a classy wine glass with a lime and cherry on a sword (how bad ass is that?) I could drink glasses of these and get pretty giggly. Chuco T. and I ordered the clams (OF COURSE) and he ordered the dynamite shrimp. Everyone got a good variety of everything (pizza, Thomas O.'s wife, Boca Rotta) so we got to share. It's ideal to dip the house bread in the clam sauce, thank me later. The flavors are go very well together, it's very buttery and rich, yet you can eat the whole thing by yourself. It's delivered in this really nice bowl, I told Cameron that I felt like the Little Mermaid (because the bowl is in a shape of a clam and I have red hair, yaddayadda). The dynamite shrimp was very creamy and it had these crispy pieces on top (cheese? not sure) that was a nice contrast in texture. The pizza served as our neutralizer because everything was rich. Chuco T. explained to me later that's what they meant to do so that they fill you up before eating the actual entrees. I don't think I've ever had their entrees...I'm always too full to look past the pupu pages in the menu :( The service was great, she kept checking up on us and she did forget some things but she had a smile on her face and was very nice about it. By the end of the dinner I was very satisfied with the meal. It's like buttah baby, it's like buttah. Yelp 365 Challenge #08/365
(5)Chuco T.
I can definitely see why this place would have good reviews, and a following of return customers, however, fanfare aside, i simply was not impressed. This was a 3.5 experience, but due to a few flavorful dishes pushing it to the cusp, im gonna go ahead and give Uncle Bo the 4. Walking in the door, you are greeted with a narrow hallway leading to the host(ess) stand. There is a small and comfortable bench next to the podium where you can sit and wait, but the walkway is very narrow. This area is a disaster. If people are trying to get in and out at the same time (god forbid someone have a baby stroller like the lady in front of me) it will take some fancy maneuvering to get through. We made reservations, and got our seats quickly, as they were reserved for us. We even had to push our reservation back half an hour, and pretty last minute, and they were very accommodating. Seating in the dining area is tight. I understand you want to pack in as many patrons as you can, but the tables were far too close together to make for a truly comfortable dining experience. I had to step outside for a minute, and getting to and from our table, was just uncomfortable. ok, enough #FatBoyProblems, on to the food: As is the general theme when dining with the foodies, everyone got items to pass around the table for the rest to get a taste. While i wasnt able to get photos of everything, i did get to taste them. Lets get the star out of the way first. Two words my friends: Boca Rotta. which i gather is a play off of the italian "bocca rotta" meaning "broken mouth". (oh, Uncle Bo... youre so clever) While generally i dont partake in the use of local colloquialisms, i might make an exception here only to agree with Bo. Dis buggah wen broke da mout! Garenz! Cheesy bread with bits of prime rib, sauteed mushrooms, and mozzarella cheese. A bit pricey considering what it really is, but well worth every penny. Maybe more. As per usual, i Pre-Yelped the venue, and used the reviews to make my menu selections before arriving. Thanks to suggestions from my brother, and of course Yelp, i ended up with Uncle Bo's Dynamite Shrimp ( yelp.com/biz_photos/sv5X… ) and the Thai-Style Steamer Clams ( yelp.com/biz_photos/sv5X… ) The clams were fantastic. Perfectly steamed. Not overcooked. And the sauce was great. Apparently a mild chili, garlic oyster sauce. And when you dip the house bread in the sauce in the bottom of the clam shell, it only adds to the dish. The shrimp was tasty, though given the rave reviews, i was expecting a little more. It was definitely not bad by any means. Crunchy creamy, sweet and spicy, all in one dish. I would definitely order this again. We also got to try the Kalua Pork Fried Rice and a Garlic Mushroom Pizza, Both were good. The pizza served as sort of a neutralizer to the other rich and heavy dishes. We ended the night with the Fried Ice Cream ( yelp.com/biz_photos/sv5X… ) which looked delicious, but due to the lighting fast, almost ninja-like spoons of "The Foodies", it was gone before you could say "Boca Rota" ( yelp.com/biz_photos/sv5X… ) Overall, a fine experience at Uncle Bo's. Not amazing, but surely not bad. Im sure i will return.
(4)Jewelyn T.
Came back to Uncle Bo's for my birthday dinner in August while visiting Oahu for the summer. Ho Suk took really good care of my bff and I that night. From the apps to my birthday dessert, everything was delicious! I'm not a drinker, but boy did he get me drunk that night! I'm proud to say that I was able to walk to the car with my own 2 feet. 4 shots put me straight to bed! Ahhh, only at Uncle Bo's! Good times. Thanks Ho Suk for a great birthday celebration! I always enjoy my nights at Uncle Bo's! I'll be visiting Oahu for the holidays and as soon as I come off the plane, I'm heading straight to Uncle Bo's to get my local fix. Can't wait! If you're visiting Hawaii or looking to try something new, you must put Uncle Bo's on your "must go to eat" list! Happy Holidays!
(5)Cicero S.
Unassuming from the exterior this hidden gem is a great spot off the main strip. This is a local restaurant slash lounge. You walk into a whole new world. Trendy inside TV's to watch the game if you want but most importantly the food was awesome. Because of the large portions my wife and i filled up on the appetizers which were off the charts. A beef stroganoff with a little spice, a pork with a great hard crust for texture. I had been around Waikiki and only saw the normal touristy stuff until i ask the concierge for where the REAL food was..."where d you eat?" I said and this was one of the places she recommended. It was great. Not even pricey. I thought it was just right.
(5)Victoria S.
Some good pupus and great atmosphere. There is a lot of variety with the pupus, and a few of them can be adjusted to be vegan/vegetarian. I've been here a few time and had different experiences with the servers though. The first time I went, our server messed up the pupus and a couple drink orders. The second time we went we had great service. The third time our server got everything right, but wasn't spectacularly friendly. Definitely worth trying, though.
(3)David C.
Great food, great drinks! Awesome place to hang out w a younger crowd and chill with the locals. Love the prime rib!
(5)Arthur S.
Been to this place twice. I can't say my first experience here was all that grate. I had the calamari, UNCLE BO's NACHOS, and the oyster shooters. Oyster Shooters: A little too sour for my taste. I didn't have too much of an appreciation for the special sauce they were in. I felt it was sour because i believe the sauce was vinegar based. Calamari: Ehh.. so so, typical fried calamari, the dipping sauce we had was sweet and the calamari flouring was a bit moist and not so crunchy. UNCLE BO's NACHOS: Probably the best dish we ordered the entire night. The kalua pork rested nicely over a crunchy bed of nachos with nice thick layer of mozzarella cheese to top it all off. The kalua pork itself was a dash on the sweeter side, but it somehow mixed well with the cheese. ROUND TWO: BOCA-ROTA- Definitely the BEST any kind of GARLICKY CHEESY BREAD I've tasted on the islands. Ive tried the cheesy bread at BUCA di BEPOS and its incomparable! This cheesy saucy bread is served with a side of meat to place onto the bread, but HONESTLY, i felt like the bread was so good by itself, i could eat a loaf sized serving if it were available! DYNAMITE SHRIMP: This shrimp isn't protected by a shell, but a nice crunchy panko crusts. Too bad this predator couldn't keep away from that defensive mechanism. It was nice and warm when served and not soft and chewy like the calamari i had the first time. The Aioli sauce topped it off well, not to overwhelming but added a bit of zing to the dish. ATMOSPHERE: excellent atmosphere. great lighting, nice wall art, great drink selection at the bar, and comfortable furniture to make the customer feel at ease. SERVICE: i don't recall having to wait long before being taken care of. We were seated asked if we wanted drinks, given time to order, and our orders came out quickly. PARKING: We parked on the street, although there maybe a private lot available. PRICING:Anywhere from $10-$25 for most of the items which matches well considering the quality of the food served. Can't wait for ROUND 3. I hear the Thai style clams are another popular dish.
(4)Nicole C.
Could my expectations have been any lower? Probably not. Yet, I was sorely disappointed. Overall, I give this 1.5 stars, somewhere between Yelp's description of "Eek! Methinks not" and "Meh, I've experienced better." But let's start with the pros: HUGE portion sizes. One pupu could easily feed two people to contentment. Being fatties, we (two people) ordered three pupus and barely put a dent in any of them. At first, the pupus seem expensive ($10-$15 each), but they're really quite a steal. Also, service is friendly. So they've got that going for them. Now, the cons: The food was not pleasing (for the most part). We ordered the nachos, the Boca Rota, and the calamari. I have to admit that the nachos were tasty. The chips taste like they've been deep fried - and really, who doesn't love deep fried? However, there was a lot of liquid that made the chips soggy. The Boca Rota and the calamari, on the other hand, were complete failures. The Boca Rota is basically cheese bread with some odd cream sauce containing mushrooms and sliced steak. Sounds good, right? Maybe for you but not for me (and I normally LOVE creamy, cheesy things). It was a weird combination. Also, how hard is it to make a proper calamari? At the very least, they could have provided the traditional marinara sauce rather than the strange butter vegetable sauce that did not go at all. The calamari, itself, was like large chunks of squid rather than those adorable whole mini-squids. But besides the food, parking is non-existent, and the person who showed us to our table took us to the empty back section of the restaurant in the far corner. It felt awkward and unnecessary. Couldn't they have placed us somewhere not so isolated? So... I'm going to pass on coming back to this restaurant. For $40, we had enough food for two people for probably two or three meals. Yes, they give you lots and lots of food, but no, it is not good food, not in my opinion, anyways.
(1)Nicole K.
How did I not review this place earlier? I could have sworn I reviewed Uncle Bo's and raved about their boca rota and thai steamed clams. But I guess not, so here we go. I like coming here on weekdays to grab a bite to eat and share drinks with friends. I also came here for a lot of parties and for my after graduation ceremony party. If you decide to come on a weekend, it's best to make reservations. If you have a large party then you definitely have to make a reservation. It gets packed pretty quickly in here. I'm usually lucky and can find street parking, but if you can't find parking on the street, there's a lot across from Uncle Bo's, and you just pay a few dollars. Every time I come to Uncle Bo's I have to get the Thai steamed clams. And I also have to get bread with it. I can devour that whole thing by myself ... as an appetizer. The clams always taste so good, and I'm a huge fan of the tomatoes that they add in to it. The sauce that it sits in is perfect for dipping bread (now you see why bread is so essential). It's about $12 I believe. I have gotten this dish every time I have gone to Uncle Bo's and I've never been disappointed. I also recently became infatuated with their boca rota. Steak with mushrooms and an awesome sauce and it comes with soft-inside-crunchy-outside bread. It's to die for. You seriously need to try this! David C. always likes to get the kalua pig fried rice, and that's always a winner. It's the perfect amount of salty, and I like that they have spinach leaves in it. I never ever ever have any complaints about my food. It's always just the way I like it, and it's not that expensive either. I like their drinks, as well. Lychee martini isn't bad. I usually end up drinking Riana S.'s lemon drops, and those are pretty good. But I usually opt for a Stella. The glasses are pretty decent sized, and I like that. Their wine selection is also very good. I'm a fan of red wines, and their wines never disappoint. And like the food, drinks are pretty decently priced. We always get really good service when we come here. Wait staff is always friendly and so are the bartenders. They remember our orders, and they make friendly conversation. I hate it when I go places and there's some sort of hostility between our party and the wait staff, but it's never like that here no matter how big or small our group is.
(5)Kelly G.
Yum. Good food. Decent prices. Nice ambiance. Decent service. Tuesday night 7pm we were able to get a table in the way back for 3. Warning: Parking can be a bit hard to find. YUM YUM YUM foods: Clams - Love the butter sauce Cheesy bread with mushrooms and steak YUM foods: Ahi poke - standard flavors with lots of raw onion and cabbage Kalua pig fried rice - standard Lychee martini - Love the amt of pulp found in the drink that gives it a "fresh" flavor EH? food: Dynamite shrimp - tasted like an overly mayonnaise dressed honey walnut shrimp. Edible, but for me, too much mayonnaise. Total bill came out to about $70 (with my 2 drinks, pre tip). Would love to come back and try more of their pupus! Wish they had happy hour though.
(4)Gaby K.
My good friend took me here for my 23rd birthday in August and Uncle Bo's is BY FAR THE best place I have eaten on the island yet!! It was just the 4 of us and we each picked an appetizer since my friend told me they were THAT good! we got clams, dynamite shrimp, seafood deep, annnnnddd I totally forgot the 4th one but I remember being amazing! lol the drinks were just as delicious! and the night ended with a Blow job shot for me!! haha great service and atmosphere! went a second time on another night and ordered the clam and shrimp alfredo pasta which was delicious but if we go again I'd rather just order like 3 appetizers for my husband and I :) DEFF recommend!!! theres parking across the street..I want to say it was $5 to park make reservations since every time we go it gets packed!! the outside looks small but REALLY roomy inside! :)
(5)Heidi P.
We took a few friends here last night and I have to say that every time I go back I am never disappointed. They have expanded their menu and added a few new items since the last time I was here. I am not sure if it because it was a week night but we found parking right on the street - rather than having to park across at the parking lot and paying $5. We got awesome service - I have to say my prior visits were OK for service. We usually order Pu pus, but this time we had a few entrees as well -- My number one favorite here is the Garlic Rib eye. I don't eat steak often but this one is addicting. It has a garlic sauce you can pour over the steak which is so tender! There is also some great vegetables under the steak and you can have it with Garlic Mash potatoes - if you just feel like you need more garlic in this dish! We also had the Lemon Shrimp with pasta! you can't go here without having the Thai Steamed Clams. If you try one dish this should be your first. Our food came fast - probably the quickest I have ever seen and we had a chance to sit in the back room away from the noise of the bar, so I would have to say that this dinner was a success!
(5)Stephanie M.
I had been hosting my sorority sister from the mainland for two weeks and before I knew it, it was her last night in Oahu. My friends and I thought long and hard about where to take her for dinner. After all, we needed to leave a lasting impression and give her a reason to come back! ;) I had never been to Uncle Bo's before, but my best friend RAVED about the Thai-style Clams, and since she doubles as my deliciousness guru, we HAD to go and try them. We got there around 8/30-ish and there was a 45 minute wait. After weighing our options (tasting the clams to see if they live up to the hype or settling for a usual spot with a similar menu), we decided that it would be worth the wait. The restaurant is a humble, yellow building that looks more like a shabby take-out place than a cool hangout. But low and behold, the interior is contemporary and chic! What a surprise! There is a beautiful wine display behind the bar, comfortable bench and chair seating, colorful artwork on the walls, and sexy bead curtains separating the bar from the restaurant. Since we were in a group, we opted to order pupus and share. Thai-style Clams, Kalua Pig Nachos, Ahi Tornado Roll, Boca-Rota, and the Spicy Tofu Dip. I'm a vegetarian, so I didn't indulge in the Boca-Rota or Nachos -- but the rest was INSANELY DELICIOUS! The portions were HUGE and the flavors were unbelievable. My group of friends and I agreed - the Thai sauce from the clams was tasty enough to drink. (But don't worry - we didn't!) It is definitely worth getting a basket of bread to soak it all up though! The only dissatisfaction about the experience was the slow service. By the end of our meal, we were one of the only groups left... but it still took an hour for us to get our bill. In retrospect, we needed the time to sit and digest - we were all so full! Bottom line - we all had a great time! The ambiance was fun, food was fantastic, and my sorority sister had a very memorable last night in Hawaii!
(4)Nathan N.
The best thing I have to say about Uncle Bo's is: "there's a lot of hot women in there." This is my first time to Uncle Bo's. Of course, parking is always the first problem with most small restaurants in town - don't look for street parking. Just go to the public parking across the street and pay the $4 week night. I traveled far from my home in Kalihi for late night appetizers, desserts and drinks with my pal Jenn. Our waitress was very attentive and brought me a new beer every time I was getting low. Extremely helpful with suggesting dishes. Uncle Bo's has a very trendy interior design. Subdued lighting and it's rather loud in there - hard to have a conversation. I remember years ago, this building housed an internet cafe and I thought it was small back then. The design team for Uncle Bo's did a good job on the efficient use of space. However, I am trying to figure out the point of the chain mail curtains. Bar 35 has chain mail curtains as well, but they actually create a barrier for a seating area. The ones at Uncle Bo's look like they just get in the way. And I didn't really care for the cheesy looking, 8 foot tall L-shaped wall as you enter. Minus 1.5-stars because of parking and appetizer wasn't that great. On to the food: Boca Rota - over rated. Would be nice if the bread was larger. Guinness - $5. Brownie ala mode - delicious!!! Cheesecake with strawberry ice cream top - delicious I'm going back for entrees next.
(3)Phil H.
Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwsome! Nice little spot and great food. Trendy of sort but I dig it. Got to hit it up. I haven't had anything there yet that I dint like. I think the booze help. Sorry people but it happens there everything cause its that cool there. U feel good relaxed and good about ur self. But food is good!
(5)Vivian H.
Must order: Thai-style steamer clams & Boca Rota (cheesy garlic bread w/ sliced prime rib & mozzarella) I've been pestering my BF to go to this place but parking typically sucks when we end up going. When we went we quickly learned it was definitely a trendy place. I felt a bit ashamed of my T & jeans. But whatevs I was there to eat. We also went on another occasion with a friend of ours. I'll include the food we had from both trips. Thai style steamer clams: it was delicious! It's packed with this sweet but distinctly Thai flavors. It comes in this deep decorative shell dish where at one point I wasn't sure I'd make it to the bottom. Because it had sooooo much flavor, I'd recommend sharing this with someone else. On my first visit I ate this all by myself and it was just toooo much sweet flavors. Boca Rota: this was a fave with my BF and my friend. There's a ton of cheese which is soooo melty good! The bits of prime rib are nice additions to the dish with an added flavor. Baby back ribs w/ BBQ pineapple sauce: this was OK. The flavors were good but the meat a bit tough. I like my ribs fall off the bone & onto my face style. This was not it. Tiger pork kabobs: I almost couldn't tell this was pork because of how tough this was. Definitely my least favorite of everything we ordered. Oreo-haupia mud pie: I'm a sucker for anything Oreo and how can I turn down a concoction that has Oreos, haupia AND kona coffee ice cream?! Although rock hard when it came out to us, it was good. I wonder if it would have been better had I not eaten the entire Thai style steamer clams for dinner, thus dulling my sweet taste buds. It's definitely a place to go with friends. Order different things and share. Oh and watch out for those metal chains that hit you when you walk through them.
(3)Ally W.
The outside of the building does not do it justice. It looks like a hole-in-the-wall type of joint, yet once inside, there is a bar/lounge area and additional dinning space in the back. I have to admit the front of the room is much nicer than the back room. Parking can be tricky, so save yourself the time and go across the street to the public parking lot and pay $4. Restaurant was recommended by some local friends and the food was pretty darn good. Be sure to make reservations, otherwise, the wait was 45min (luckly we had reservations, but the party in front of us didn't, so I overheard the wait time) for a Thursday night. THAI-STYLE STEAMER CLAMS 1lb sweet Manila clams simmered in a mild chili, garlic oyster sauce - this dish was a hit. Ask for some extra bread to slop up the sauce, it is that good. HAMACHI SASHIMI w/ sliced jalapeño, rice & Korean nori umbrella; drizzled in a lime-ponzu sauce - the fish was so fresh it just melted in my mouth and the jalapeno added just enough spice to the dish. CAJUN SEARED AHI premium cuts of ahi sashimi, flash-seared w/ cajun spices drizzled w/ honey glaze - I wasn't sure if cajun spices and lightly seared fish would be a good combo, turns out it is! The dipping sauce was unique and kicked up the flavor. OPAKAPAKA CHIANG MAI wok-fried island fish breaded in macadamia nut panko topped w/ choy sum & tomatoes sautéed in a sweet chili oyster sauce - it was an interesting mix of flavors. SPICY BAKED OPAH MAUNA KEA fresh island fish baked in a garlic chili aioli, topped w/ parmesan panko crust served w/ 2 pcs of wok fried garlic shrimp - kinda reminded me of an Asian dish, not too bad.
(4)Haein P.
Honestly, I'm not a huge fan of their entree dishes, but I'm most certainly on the bandwagon as a pupu aficionado! The atmosphere is modern and trendy with a sensual twist. BAR: full bar and they make any kind of shot/drink you can think of. MMMHMM. FOOD: - thai clams: these are SOOO good and you must ask for bread to dip in the sweet and salty juices these clams are basking in. - dynamite shrimp: perfect pupu food with a sweet and savory creaminess to it with the crispiness of its batter. - bread w/steak, cheese, peppers : idk exactly what it's called, but it's orgasmic. it's like the best garlic bread you've had, only amped up x 100 with steak, roasted bell peppers, mushrooms. It's seriously irresistible. SERVICE: the service can, at times, be hit or miss, but the owners/managers are nothing short of amazing. They were truly made for the food and beverage industry with their hospitable and welcoming attitudes. It's a great place to go on a casual date or with friends to pre-game and snack before going all out.
(4)Aulii H.
I went here for another night out with my boyfriend and another friend. We didn't have reservations so it would be a 45 minute wait for a table which it was... almost to the minute. As I was waiting, I got a drink from the bar. At the time, there was only one person working there, and she was constantly moving so I wasn't bothered by the fact that I waited as long as I did to get my drink. As I was waiting, I noticed that the hostess station is the complaint department for all the employees. This is where they complain about all the customers that irritate them. With that said, I wasn't bothered at all (Although it is definitely not a good thing to complain about customers in front of other customers) but mostly amused. I'm not sure how this place runs, but there was a couple that was waiting before me, and another couple walked in with no reservations and got a table right away because a different couple was late for their reservation. I don't know why the couple that was already waiting didn't get the table first. Anyway, after we were seated we got good service. Our server Courtney, (a guy) was on top of it. He met all of our requests in a timely manner, and checked on us frequently. The food is not the greatest, but it is worth the price. We were advised by the table next to us to stay away from the macadamia crusted fish, and they wished they ordered a red meat instead. The tofu egg plant dip was super salty, and I couldn't eat it. I liked my pasta with meatballs, and my two friends ordered the prime rib which they enjoyed. We also got the clams (It was good but there were a gew dead ones in there) and the escargot (It's covered in cheese, so how can you go wrong?) which was good. I like the ambiance here, although those metal curtains seem to get in the way of everyone. It's a good place to just have a good time with friends. If you think of it ahead of time, make reservations and show up on time.
(4)M D.
Two words: FOOD POISONING! Hope you didn't have the CLAM CHOWDER Friday night Jan. 10, 2014. Talk about diarrhea, throwing up, fever and chills. Couldn't function for 2 days. Think twice before eating!
(1)Obi R.
this place don't look much from the outside but once on the inside, get ready to have a sensory overload. with the extensive menu, i have never disappointed with any of the grubs put in front of me. great place for local hang out too.
(5)Jon M.
I don't know who dis Uncle Bo guy is, but I'd like to thank him for one of my favorite restaurants. I'm always torn as Uncle Bo's and Side Street Inn are across the street from each other, and they are probably my two favorite restaurants around here. Uncle Bo's food is delicious. No other way to put it. It's classy, delicious food. About anything you could want from seafood to steaks to rice. As you can see from the pictures they also do a great job with presentation. We've loved everything we've had here, never a bad dish. So it's hard to recommend anything specific. Just take a look through the menu and find something you like, seafood, steak, salad, whatever. Order it and you won't be disappointed. No worrying about whether it's as good as it sounds....it is just as good as it sounds. They do have a full bar as well. A specialty cocktail menu from which everything has been good so far. A nice selection of beers. And all the usual full bar booze. They have a couple TV's playing sports stuff usually, but it's not a sports bar. Two smaller TV's by the bar is all there is. So you can check it out if you want, but it won't distract you too much from the awesome food. The atmosphere is a great mix of classy and casual. It looks nice inside, well decorated, and at first look seems like a nicer, fancier restaurant. But you'll be just as comfortable in jeans, tshirt, and slippers as you will be in slacks and a dress shirt. It's a laid back atmosphere that appeals to all types. Lighting is low, music isn't overpowering, and tables aren't too jam packed close to each other. If you have any complaints, the atmosphere won't be one of them. They do also cater, they catered a friends wedding (as well as bartended it) and it was delicious. Leftovers for days and it was all good re-heated as well. So if you want to cater an event, this is a delicious choice. Not sure on the prices though. Parking is street parking or the Zippy's lot across the street. I think this lot is mostly a community lot, never had a problem parking there to go to Uncle Bo's or Side Street. There's also a paid lot across the street, but Zippy's parking lot is free so we always park there. If you're looking for a delicious meal in a somewhat upscale atmosphere, check out Uncle Bo's. You won't be disappointed.
(5)Will B.
Uncle Bo's is a friendly place with reliably tasty food at reasonable prices. It's not where you go on a diet; you go when you want delicious bites and don't care so much how they were made. Beware: you can fill up on the pupus! The nachos and the boca-rota (both highly recommended) are each more than enough to satisfy a normal-sized appetite. There's enough for a vegetarian to get by, but not many options. This is definitely a meat and seafood lover's place. Take a look at the salads, too -- the warm spinach salad is particularly tasty. Our service was good, too. Last night, our waitress was cheerful, knew the menu well, and was prompt, on fairly busy night. My friends and I were pressed for time, and we were in and out (feeling very full and happy as we left) in less than an hour.
(4)Rachel L.
Appetizers here are huge enough to fill your belly! They are all good, but the clams are my absolute favorite. Something in the sauce is addicting. Dip your bread from the basket makes it even more tasty. Yum!
(4)Matt M.
great atmosphere, and the food is wonderful, from steak to seafood to pasta, what ever you feel like they'll take your craving away. good spot for locals or tourists trying a local spot near waikiki
(5)808 W.
This place was awesome..got sat right away and when we requested the 4 top instead of the 2 top we were going to be sat out..no problem. Akemi our waitress, was attentive and sweet without being obtrusive and Bo, the owner also checked to see if our food was good...which it was! Awesome ceviche and well seasoned...will definitely come back and recommend Uncle Bo's!
(4)Manuela K.
The food was super delicious but I was disappointed with the slow service though. I got the calamari which was excellent that came with a chili sauce which also made it very unique. I also tried my friend's nacho pupu and they were the best nachos I've ever had.
(4)Scott K.
This place is all about the appetizers (pupu), good friends, and getting ready for a night on the town! I think we ordered everything on the menu, and personally I enjoyed the clams... but I always enjoy the clams, so that's no help. Everyone else seemed to gravitate toward the ribs and calamari, so there's a start! It's always good to have a place to be loud, happy, and fun if you're in the mood to be loud, happy and fun! Mayo is not "dynamite" on shrimp... and that cost you one star!
(4)Amanda D.
Omg, the CLAMS!!!! I fell in love at first taste. I could never say no to Uncle Bo's, knowing that those beloved, juicy baby clams are just waiting to be eaten... They are a MUST!!!
(4)Sarah D.
I LOVE times a trillion UNCLES BO'S! The service is AWESOME, the food is the bomb, tasty drinks are flowing, nothing to complain about! My boyfriend and I went there the other night, he ordered a jack and coke to start with and I ordered their Staborough Sauvignon Blanc, really good. Then we ordered the steamed clams to start off with... always tasty and good to dip your bread in! Next we ordered the steamed crab legs and mashed potatoes and boca rota. Its really hard to go wrong with crab legs and melted butter, and of course they were damn near perfection; along with the mashed potatoes which still had the texture of the potato inside of it, I LOVE since im such a huge texture nazi. I do not even want to know the nutrition facts behind the boca rota because if I were to get the death sentence that would be top 3 for one of my last meals!!! Garlic bread with melted cheese, dipped into au jus sauce and a delightful melody of steak and mushrooms.... aaaaaaaah, I DIE! After our great meal we had a couple more drinks at the bar and it was more than I could ever ask for because Reina was an extraordinary bartender, and Kristy and Jackie were also a great help. Go to uncle bos! I promise its a great atmosphere, great people, and also TVs to watch sportscenter!
(5)Elliott I.
Winners: Boca Rota, ahi katsu. Only alright: clams, shrimp dynamite, shrimp dynamite pizza. Service was good; atmosphere is interesting. The decor is modern and nice but the feel of the place is sort of loud and casual for a place with such style. Will probably be back but I have a feeling that half the time I might end up veering off toward Side Street Inn across the street instead for some fried rice and garlic chicken.
(3)Jennifer K.
This place doesn't look like much from outside but inside, it's a lot bigger than it seems. And a lot nicer too. I thought the decor was very interesting and I liked the artwork. It was very refreshing. The food was super good. My friends and I shared the big nachos and I just had to have the warm spinach salad so I forced my friends into sharing that with me as well. Hehe...the nachos was okay but I LOVED the salad. It was super good. I also had the baked opah mauna kea with mashed potatoes and that was so good. Pricey but good. We were all so full at the end of the night we had trouble walking to our car haha. Oh yeah, parking sucked which shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone really given the location. I definitely want to go back again. I also had to get the fruit sorbet so we shared that as well, with a scoop of each (watermelon, lychee, and mango). They were all super good but I think I liked mango the most.
(5)Mike M.
Great place for real authentic American-Hawaiian infusion'd cuisine that I dare you to recommend something better or equal to on the mainland. A definite must for visitors who can't get to other areas of Honolulu or other islands because it's close to Waikiki.
(5)Michael P.
This has got to be one of the best meals I've ever had in my life. You get 5-Star restaurant quality food for the price of a local family restaurant price. It has got an upscale night club feel when you first walk in, and then when they take you to the back to eat, it's a large family style restaurant feel. I agree with everyone else who says thier dynamite shrimp is nothing but amazing. Those shrimp have got to be one the best things I have every tried at a public restaurant. This place is so good, I felt compelled to tell as many people about it as I could think of. I have never wrote a review on Yelp until I ate at Uncle Bo's.
(5)Donna L.
It's all about the clams!! You must get the manila clams!!!!!!!!!!! And make sure you don't waste any of that delicious sauce - soak it all up with the bread... sooo good! :9 The only drawback is the parking; metered street parking along Kapahulu (I think it's free like after 6pm?) or pay lots. *Random note: they bump club music up in here (at least they did that one Saturday night that I went), so I guess it's a good place to go, if you wanna grab some grub before a night out... the music and cocktails will make you wanna put your dance-y pants on and cut up a rug after you leave!
(3)Courtney O.
NICE! Very well done, Uncle Bo!! I love your restaurant!! All of the staff are super friendly. Service is a big plus for me and they do not skimp on service! My steak wasn't done as well I would have liked it to be so she took it back and even made me new fries so they were hot. Usually when you send food back, the servers get mad or snooty but not here! The food is very good. There is something for everyone. The salads are delicious. The clams, dip and bread, steak, everything! You will not go home hungry and you will be very satisfied. Remember to save room for deep fried ice cream! Yum!! They offer valet but I have never had trouble finding street parking. You may have to walk a little bit though on weekends depending how busy the area is. You can often find Uncle Bo walking around and seeing if everything is good. He's super friendly so feel free to talk story with him!
(4)Tyra K.
If I wanted cheap bar food I could of gone to any bar and get it for less... I'm not really sure what you guys are trying to portray, but for the longest time I actually thought this place was actually more like home cooked meal... When I tried the food I realized its like every other bar, YUCK x 10!!! Plus it's def not Asian fusion either, you'd be better off going down toward safeway u'll find a couple of asian fusion places or even King St has a bunch of really yummy asian fusion places.. This place is just not worth it! The 2 stars is just cuz of the INSIDE ambience... It could be good to just come with a group of friends and have a couple of drinks but this place is def NOT THE PLACE TO EAT, and I'd rather go some place where you don't have to wait so long and the quality is better.. Maybe the group of friends I came with and I just picked the wrong batch of food, I just know I don't have much attention coming back here, even the seared ahi was too funky (and btw I LOVE my seared ahi)... But maybe I'm just bitter cuz I expected something more and better out of this place, especially when you see the signs outside saying its FRESH, it really made me think it was finally a bar like place with normal food... Guess that was a mistake.. Also service was so-so.. But it was busy so I do understand are server can't be all over the place, maybe they should consider hiring more..
(2)Maria T.
I love that this little hole in the wall is not really a hole in the wall. If anything, unassuming and satisfying good! I have driven past Uncle Bo's numerous times and have never given it a second look. Well, thanks to my birthday, and my BFF, I have discovered a not-so-hidden gem! Upon walking in to Uncle Bo's, the first thing I noticed was the happening bar and the trendy decor. I love the chain curtain that hangs from the ceiling as you zig-zag your way back through the restaurant. We had reservations which I am sure are recommended. A group of 5 of us sat down and went straight to the schmancy drink menu with not so schmancy prices! Being that we are girls, we all ordered something different so we could sample each others' goodies. Everything was pretty basic as far as drinks are concerned. When it was time for dinner, I/we couldn't decide soon enough. The food looked and sounded great. Then it was confirmed that it WAS great! We started with the Boca Rota-who invented this? Amazing! We all various dishes and they all tasted great. The best thing is that the average priced dish was $25.00. BUT! You get a $25.00 plate of food! No annoying little decorative dishes with a hefty price tag. I had a new item-Miso fish with bok choy. It was delicious. We ended the evening with various dessert items that didn't stand out, but were good enough for dessert. I give FIVE stars for main meal, ambiance, and service. The four star rating is for the crappy paid parking lot across the street, the okay drinks and desserts and the fact that none of the staff can take a decent group photo!
(4)Beth I.
Totally unassuming to find this trendy bar/lounge on Kapahulu. I've heard good things about this place for years, but never venture that far to get a drink. We stopped at zenshu first and Uncle Bo's was just a stone's throw away. Why not stop in there as well?! The outside looks like a typical neighborhood dive bar, but I was surprised with the beaded curtain detail and mod furniture. It was packed, but we were still greated promptly at the door. I made a comment to the server about how busy it was and he quickly responded that it was, but that he would clear a table right away. I think I love this place! Attentive employees that hustle get extra stars in my book. The bf and I weren't very hungry, but the food fare on the menu was so tantalizing! It wasn't the usual fries and edamame. It was so much more sophisticated than I imagined. We had to get the boca rota. The sound of steak, cheese and mushrooms in a cream sauce over garlic bread sounded too good to pass up... and it WAS! Being the little oinker I can be with food like that, I kept eating even though my brain said NO! Come with an appetite to Uncle Bo's. He won't let you go unfed.
(4)Zar A.
Fusion Asian food done right! It looks really dingy outside, but inside is completely different. Very nice decor inside! The food is simply delicious! Mind you, I am very picky when it comes to chefs trying to mix and change authentic Asian cuisine. Sometimes, you should leave a good thing alone. But I would say that this place does a fantastic job! Oyster shooters - gotta try it!
(4)Vanessa F.
Been in Waikiki beach 3 days and found no where I actually enjoyed the food at. One of the locals told me about this places and it was everything!!! Amazing food amazing atmosphere
(5)Nanilei d.
I feel bad for almost missing out on this place because I was judging it by it's name...but thank my lucky stars--I went anyway. The drinks are lovely--do try them all! The Lychee Martini is a winner though...it's balanced and the Lychee flavor does not overpower the alcohol. Food--just spend the $25 and do the chefs special of unlimited pupus. Clams, shrimp, thin crust pizza, cheesy meaty bread deliscious-ness, and more. There will certainly be a party-in-your-tummy when you are done. Reservations for more than a party of two are recommended so make the call. The entire back room can be yours if you have 25 -30 in your group making for a nice private party option. If you are celebrating a special occasion--you may wish to decorate a bit with party favors and florals.
(4)Tiffany N.
I went to Uncle Bo's and faced a dilemma that is actually pretty normal for me - I couldn't decide what to order. Luckily my dining partners were kind enough to share a wide variety of eats with me. So we ordered quite a bit of stuff including: -Spicy tofu dip, which actually wasn't spicy at all, but was still tasty -Pork skewers, these were sweet tasting, but nothing spectacular on my taste buds -Clams in a broth, which I enjoyed whole-heartedly -Dynamite shrimp, way, way, way too rich for me - I could have used about a quarter of the sauce and been just fine -Something I can't remember the name of but was cheese bread surrounding some sort of prime rib meat, I loved this one -Fried ice cream to top of the meal, this is heavenly good and so bad for you The service was nice and the space is big enough that groups can come here for dinner easily. While it wasn't my favorite place I've eaten so far in Honolulu I did enjoy it.
(3)Emiko T.
Wow I certainly had a lot to say on very first review. How lazy was that of me?! Well not only do I have more to say, I have pumped up my review to another notch on the star-meter and yes, Uncle Bo's is definitely the trendy shizz! We came on a Saturday night and of course it was packed. I don't know if I've ever seen it on a slow night or a night were you didn't have to wait. Our wait time was about 45 minutes and it definitely took that long but when you've got a bar there with some great mojitos being served the time passes quickly enough. We got seated in the back (where it's FREEZING cold, so bring a sweater if your susceptible to unprecedented levels of air conditioning). We ordered only one pupu--the thai street style chicken wings which were really tasty. The sauce is delectable. But the wings really paled in comparison to my entree: the fish tacos. This seems to be a new item on their menu and boy did they ever make a right choice with serving this up. Ah-ma-ZING. First of all you don't get some small little bony portions of fished wrapped in an envelope of a tortilla. No, you get huge chunks of fish wrapped in small flour tortillas and piled with mixed-greens and smothered in this amazing creamy dill sauce. I wanted to bathe myself in it. It comes with a side of sweet potato fries and these are the REAL deal when it comes to sweet potato fries--you can actually still see the purple color and they're not overly fried or oily. If you thought that fish tacos were unhealthy before the Uncle Bo's version might make you think twice, however the one unhealthy thing about this dish is that there's so much you might just end up polishing off your plate. But that's why you're spending that hard-earned money in the first place, right? Service was kind of lackluster and not very warm and friendly, but I seriously didn't really care because the food was that darn good. For an awesome clubby atmosphere+good food+good drinks, you can't complain if the service is simply reflecting a divalicious style.
(5)Krysten I.
My family used to frequent this establishment when it was an italian restaurant, but the parking lot across the street began charging for parking and finding street parking was a nightmare, so we stopped going. I think ownership changed a couple times since then, but when my friends suggested going to Uncle Bo's late one night, I was more than happy to try it out. I found street parking ALLLL the way down kapahulu, by Ono's hawaiian food because I refuse to pay for parking in the lot across the street. After the trek to Uncle Bo's, I was famished. We tried a bunch of dishes and everything was better than decent but not AMAZING. The service was surprisingly good too. I would be a fan, except for the horrible parking situation. I probably won't be back, even if the food and service better than average.
(3)Kalei N.
Everytime I come here, I have the best food and service! Must eats - manilla clams, dynamite shrimp, boca rotta and hobo's!
(5)Tellia W.
I like this place and the food is really good. Not the nicest place around but a cool place to hang out.
(4)Cary Y.
I've been going to Uncle Bo's for about 3 or 4 years now and it's still one of my favorite restaurants/bars. Not only is the food really good, but also the staff is always very friendly and inviting. Bo and Hosuk are constantly present at the front of the house making sure you're having a great time. I guess that's why this place is so popular. And don't let the outside fool you, the interior is super chic, but still w/ a comfortable feel. Some of my favorite foods: -Calamari -Dynamite shrimp -Thai style Steamer clams -Bo's Big boy nachos -Garlic Rib-eye
(5)SarahM B.
Don't let the strange décor fool you, this is a great restaurant! Very extensive menu, so there is something here for everyone. I had the salmon with garlic mashed potatoes and sautéed vegetables. It was fantastic, especially the mashed potatoes. My girlfriend had the vegetarian pizza, which had a lot of vegetables on it, but was nothing special. She also had a side salad. I would definitely come here again.
(4)Debra V.
I'm going to take a risk, and not use my grown-up words. The service here sucks. There's no other way to put it. Why do I keep coming back? Because the food here is great. Will I keep putting up with the bad service to get delicious food? Yeah, because the food is that good. On the negative side, first. I've been here quite a few times. And every time I keep hoping they'll redeem themselves with the staff. And every time they fail, miserably. There are only 2 options when you walk in the door--there's either no host, or they're busy texting on their cell phone. That's it. Nevermind there could be 5 other servers walking around with nothing to do. None of them will step up when the host steps away. The service doesn't get any better, which is not surprising. You either have to hunt for your server, or wait far too long, or ask repeatedly for items (silverware, water refills, extra napkins, etc.). You'd think with the number of customers they have, the servers would realize they would get better tips if they gave better service. Maybe they don't understand that concept? On the positive side? The food is frickin' awesome! Which is why I think they won't go out of business. In the times that I've been here, nothing, and I do mean -nothing- has ever been bad. The nachos? Lots of fresh tomatoes, crisp won tun chips, and a huge portion! The crispy shrimp lettuce wraps? Good amount of sauce (it doesn't overpower the shrimp) and crisp, fresh, lettuce (that doesn't look like it's been sitting for days). The seafood trap? HUGE! All of their portions are so big! It's a good medley of fresh-tasting seafood. None of the frozen, thawed, frozen again stuff. Maybe, what I should do, is order my food to go, and take it down to the beach. But that's a little too much trouble. So yeah, I'll probably keep putting up with the lousy service so I can keep getting such yummy food!
(2)Jenn T.
OK, seriously...how have I never been here before?! My friend and I came here after failed attempt #2 at eating at sweet home cafe (I swear they're always closed when we try!). I have always passed by this place thinking "man why do people eat here, it looks like such a dive bar full of bar food and fried foods!". But we walked in anyway because the menu outside looked delicious! To my surprised, it was really nicely decorated inside, with sleek looking tables, a nice bar set with a cool display of wines and hards and comfy looking couches to lounge in...man was i taken back by how opposite of dive-like it was! Luckily it was early in the evening (since we planned to try to eat at sweet home without a 3hr wait) and we were able to easily get a table. We ordered drinks first. I got this peach cocktail and holy crap, it was freaking delicious! It was light, not too sweet, strong but you couldn't taste it! My friend got the lychee martini which was also delicious. It wasn't overpowered by the lychee taste, which made it perfect! We decided to order pupus first and went for the dynamite shrimp, seafood trap and the boco-rota, which was new! It was this cheesy garlic bread that came topped with prime-rib, sautéed mushrooms & mozzarella cheese. It sounded way too delicious for us to pass up! I was totally blown away by the seafood trap!! OMG, super mouth watering delicious. There was TONS of seafood (see my picture) full of clams, shrimp, tako, fish and ika. The sauce was amazing and totally made the dish! It's a must try! The boco-rota was also delicious, and it was even better that i was able to dip the cheesy bread into the seafood trap sauce!! The dynamite shrimp, as suggested by yelpers, was definitely out shined by the 2 other dishes we got, and ended up being alright. It was pretty heavy but flavorful. seafood trap! OMG SERIOUSLY TRY THIS!! yelp.com/user_local_phot… dynamite shrimp + my peachy cocktail on the right! yelp.com/user_local_phot… After eating these 3 pupu dishes that came out with more food than we expected, we were stuffed, so we didn't even get to the main courses!! I definitely can't wait to come back and try more delicious items here. It seems like such a great place to chill out and relax while getting some awesome cocktails and great pupus! I forgot to ask about the happy hour specials!! I sure hope they have some! :)
(4)Shun P.
I have been watching the waitresses deliver food to the tables and the food looks and smells good and the portions are huge! Definitely coming back!
(4)William C.
Uncle Bo's has something for everyone on really extensive menu. Good Escargot! They smother it with cheese. Also great drinks and all around great dining with good service. This is one of Hawaii's best resteraunts! Prime Rib was pretty good but your probably better off with the Mahi Mahi. My only complaint would be that the tables are a little close together so it you may feel a little cramped. Your typical Hawaii fine resteraunt with tables practically on top of each other. Good food but not great. **update** quality has gone down, very inconsistent
(2)Carol W.
I was recently invited to dinner by friends to Uncle Bo's and was very impressed with both the atmosphere and the food. The place is hip for happy hour drinks and pupus with friends and nice enough to take your gf/bf on dates. Here's my food review: 1. Oyster shooters - ***** just the way i like em! 2 Tum Yum soup (Thai soup) - * taste nothing like the Thai soup that I've had at some fine Thai restaurants...don't order that! 3. NY steak - **** tasty 4. Crab cakes - *** I've had better...but it was not bad 5. Firecracker shrimp - **** pretty good! 6. Some shrimp wrap - **** Perfect little place for gathering with friends. Make reservation, this place fills up fast. *UPDATE* Went back another time for a girls night out and the food was awful...the oysters shooters were ultra salty and just bad in general...this other dish, I think its some kind of fish tartar...was nasty as well. I'm taking a star off for inconsistency!
(3)Sarah A.
FOOD is BOMB!!! Crab Cakes Shrimp Dynamite Fried Ice Cream Pros: 1. Friendly, on-point, extremely efficient staff! 2. Hostess warned of the 1-1.5hr wait but did everything she could to seat us within 15 min:) 3. Reasonable prices for portions given. You won't be disappointed! Cons: 1. Parking across street.
(4)Robert T.
My wife and I went there tonight. Great service, very good food. Reasonable prices.
(4)Dan P.
We went here after a full day of eating. It was recommended by some foodies we met so we had to check it out. The place is really nice inside. Very classy and clean. Having it be our first time, we let our little hawaiian waitress choose our meal, except for the clam chowder which we insisted on. First came the clam chowder, which was pretty effing gross. It was bland, thin and light... very uncharacteristic of clam chowder. Next she brought out the shrimp dynamite and an item that wasn't on the menu, prime rib strips with cheese bread. Both items were absolutely amazing. The breaded shrimp was rich and tasty. The prime rib was served with this fantastic cream sauce. Both items just melted in my mouth. At the end of the meal, we honestly gave our opinion of the meal to our server, letting her know we loved everything except the clam chowder. She comp'd it for us =) The 2 items, bread and a glass of scotch came out to $30 before tip. Great prices! Overall I really enjoyed this place. You gotta check it out!
(4)Thaila K.
I've been a fan for awhile...can't believe I haven't written a review yet...hahaha! I wish to rectify that right now, although Uncle Bo's needs anymore persuasion/recommendation but yea, here I am. Don't let the addy and outside fool ya. So what if its right in front of a bus stop? Walk inside and freak out about its hipness. This is a trendy, intimate and as someone else put it "a place to see and be seen" - it gets crowded especially from Thursday night thru the weekend. I've never had a complaint about the service. It's always been friendly. Albeit kinda pricey on the drinkie (depending what kine), the pupus and eats are awesome! The food portions are pretty darn decent and something everyone will be sure to like. I'm going to begin with 3 words: Clams, clams, clams...try the clams. I can't remember the exact name of the dish is except that it comes close to "Heaven in the Mouth" - seriously bet you'll even take the bread and sop up the soup...yummers! Spicy tuna wraps, nachos and pizza are also good for pupus and the pastas are good for din-din (watch out tho, you'll have left-overs, like I said decent portion sizes). Parking sucks...best to come down on Kapahulu heading towards Waikiki and make a right, right after Prudential Locations...there's a small public lot. Machine operated - I believe it takes cash and credit. You could get to it from the opposite side of traffic but you'd be a total dick turning on your left directional signal right there on the Campbell traffic light stop as trying to get across opposing traffic is a bitch and may take awhile forcing many a motorist either wait behind you or change lanes while yelling out profanity as they past you by...if you choose to go this route 2 points of advice: 1. make your intention to turn left known a long way BEFORE the Campbell traffic light and 2. keep your a/c on and windows rolled up and have your radio on loud so you don't get disturb by what's yelled out. Otherwise good luck on finding street parking. Or you can be lucky like me and live within walking distance. Hip place. Good drinks. Great food. Friendly service. Nice ambiance. Yea check it out...
(4)Lizzie C.
This place is definitely chill. Went here after HPU's graduation and every grad and their momma was there. Seemed like everyone (even non-graduates) knew each other too. The appetizers were really good - we had the calamari and the clams, both were cooked perfectly and weren't tough to chew. But by the time we got to the entrees, I was already feeling kind of full (and to be honest, a little cheap - most of the entrees seemed rather expensive), so I got the Greek salad. It was meh. There wasn't as much feta cheese as I would've liked and the salad as a whole tasted very bland because there was only a little bit of dressing on it. I had to ask for extra dressing. Though I tried some of the steak my cousin ordered, and THAT was good. I'd have to come back here again sometime to throw down $20 on a main entree.
(3)Sheryl S.
For a moment, I thought I was at the W hotel with its florescent & dim lights, black ceilings & white couches... but, I was at Uncle Bo's instead. Instead of my imagined Sam Choy's look-alike greeting me, women dressed in black & red took me to my seat. The house chardonnay was tasty. But the Moscato D'Asti was just wayyy tooo sweet. It should be used as a shaved ice syrup instead. The complimentary bread was nice & hot, but I wonder if it came from Safeway. The taste is very comparable.... & Safeway is just down the road, too. The pupu's I had were okay. Just had the Shaken Beef (basically stir fried beef with veggies) & the Fried Noodles. Both were on par with Zippy's.
(3)Bravo J.
EH ... I had a really bad experience here. The food was not that great - pretty bad actually and the service was unspeakable! I didn't leave her a tip ~ that's how bad it was! We basically saw our server 5 times ... 1 x she took our order 2 x she brought our drinks 3 x she brought our appetizer 4 x she brought the rest of our order 5 x she was flagged down to bring the check ... she never once refilled our drinks ... we were PARCHED!!! I think I should've known better when she didn't even know what LIMU was!! My hubby loves his poke -- withOUT limu. When he asked whether or not the poke had it ... she just totally ignored the question and went off on a tangent. He had to ask numerous times! I mean -- it got soooo~~with her ignoring the q ... that the gentleman at the next table had to answer it for her! We actually went to this place in April and I'm just now writing about it ... I can remember the server never coming to the table ... I can remember the NACHOS were not good! I can remember all the pupu's we ordered were salty! I can remember thinking I'm never ever going to come back here again! I can remember being upset that not only was the food bad - the service worse - but I had to pay for parking across the street!!! Oh -- the interior is nicely decorated!! That's the two stars 'm giving them! Sorry Uncle Bo ... maybe I went on an "off" day ... an off day for the chefs -- the server --- hmmmm.....
(2)Chantillie K.
Really liked this restaurant. Great atmosphere, reasonable prices, AWESOME food. THe clam appetizer was really good. Definitely recommend. :)
(4)Clement Y.
I came here when they first opened and truth be told i didn't think much of the place. I felt it was over priced and more of a bar scene than anything else and the food was just okay. The only reason i came here again was for a birthday dinner for a friend. At first i was a bit reluctant on coming but i do have to say i think i this place did get a bit better. The food was a great improvement from the last time i came everything we ordered tasted good and fresh especially the seafood. Service was just okay they were a bit slow tending even thought it wasn't busy. All in all i would have to say it was much better than the first time i was there but i think there are better places out there to spend my money.
(3)Sam O.
Dynamite pizza WHAT!?
(5)Keesha G.
One of my favorite spots. Boca Roca and warm spinach salad are some of my fav menu items. They make great cocktails too. This place is seriously good. I have tried most of the menu over the years and have never had anything bad. no wonder the reviews are as such.
(5)Forest F.
The food and the drinks at Uncle Bo's are top notch, so why only 3 stars? I called last week to make reservations for 10 people. The hostess took my name and number then asked me for my credit card. I thought it was weird but being in a rush provided it for her. After thinking about it for a minute I called back and asked her why she needed my credit card. "To hold the reservation" she said, which I thought was ok. I then asked her what they do the with the credit card number, she rudely said they use to to charge people who don't show up $10 per person. At this point I got pretty irritated and said I kind of understand their logic, but if they are going to have a practice like this (is it even legal) they should have disclosed this when I originally made the reservation. Anyway, I probably wont boycott Uncle Bo's completely but I thought the lack of customer service from their hostess was pretty rude, and we moved our reservation to a different restaurant. **** Went back to Uncle Bo's last night for a friends b-day. The food was SOOOO ono, service was excellent, all in all a great experience. I now have food amnesia from my last comment and have changed my rating from 3 to 5 stars Guess its true, the way to a man's heart is thru his stomach. :)
(5)helen s.
This was recommended by a friend and so I had to try it while I was in Oahu. I had some fries and calamari with drinks at our hotel bar prior to coming by here so I wasn't that hungry. we ordered beer and the ahi wraps and the steamed clam and both were alright. Our server seemed a little annoyed that we just ordered 2 appetizers but it's fine.
(3)John K.
Uncle Bo's! I have nothing but fond memories of this place. From the outside view, you would never suspect this place of being a modern locale filled with 20 something year olds dressed to impress! It isn't loud to the point where shouting is required to communicate but they usually have good music playing. The chain-linked wires hanging from the ceiling give the bar a nice touch. The lighting is just right for a nice date or a casual outing with friends. The drink menus and gamut of alcohol available were equally impressive. Pupus and entrees were superb! There really is no particular dish I would suggest as I thought all the ones I tried were delish. I frequented this place and every single time the waitresses and hosts were friendly and accommodating. Our waitress made good suggestions on drinks too! I will definitely be bringing my friends here the next time I'm in Hawaii.
(5)Billy K.
First of all the waitress was excellent last night that's why I gave it 2 stars, but the food was not it was usto be. Got in about 5pm got the korean sushi with spicy ahi and shrimp dynamite for appertizer it was ok. For entree we had the sautee opah and the steam opakapaka. Both fish came out over cooked. Opah was cardboard like and tasteless. The opakapaka was chewie and had way too much garlic. Also the next table was complaining about the same thing. We address the problem to the waitress. Normally a manager would come to the table and fix the problem but all she did was come back with a business card of the owner with a free appertize next time we go back. We just left it cause I don't think we would be going back.
(2)Eric N.
This place is great to get away from all the weird people who hang around Waiks the first thing you notice when you walk in is the bar, then all the food people are eating. the atmosphere is real chill, and there are different kinds of tables to be at with all your friends. We didnt get the cute hostess like the guy below me but man the wait staff at Uncle Bo's are awesome! (not because they're attractive, but because their really nice and they have plenty energy..which makes end of the day so much better) had the ribs, poke, hamachi carpaccio, and shaken beef...and a few beers =) everything was pretty good, the ribs were fall-off-the-bone making love to your mouth tender and weren't over-salted or overflavored. I think they ruined all the other food for me b/c they were so good. Shoyu poke was the same as you'd get at most good places, fresh, some spiciness, with the onions and all. def go here to hangout with a group, so you can order all their pupus and just chill with good company =) (also, so you can share the cost...plates here cost a little more)
(4)Jordan M.
Bo and his brother the bartender are awesome. We came in one night to eat and do shots. we walked in the next night and Bo recongnized us and called us "the shot people" he gave us a bunch of free shots and food, stood there talking to us and even did shots with us. Good prices and totally worth coming back.
(5)Rei K.
The selection of liquor here is great...you can get just about any mixed drink known to mankind. Most places either have good food OR good drinks...I love this place because it's one of very few places on this island that have both. :) In general, the pupus are better here than entrees. The hamachi carpaccio, oyster shooters, nachos, escargot & steamed clams are great here. (The nachos are huge though...so only order them if you're there with a group.) Of the entrees, the Opah with the lemon butter sauce is definitely my favorite. Their fried ice cream is a great way to end the meal...at least it would've been if my boyfriend had been more willing to share his. -_-;; I guess that just teaches me to order my own next time.
(5)Tyler M.
Pretty great place to go. It was a little busy when I came but thankfully we stopped by just for a few appetizers which were more than filling. The calamari, clams, and other dishes that were recommended were all great and cooked to perfection. The service was great too.
(4)Shannon L.
Everyone I asked gave this place great reviews so I finally tried it. It was awesome. The dynamite shrimp is phenomenal, cooked in garlic, covered with a sweet chili aoili and rolled in panko. If you make it past the first page of the menu, they actually have a dynamite shrimp pizza, which the waitress described as delicious as the pupu but with lots of cheesy goodness. I'm thinking, how soon can I get back there to try that! Everything on the menu looks delicious and I cannot wait to try some more. And the lycheetini is a little taste of awesomeness in your mouth. The pupus cost between $9-16 and the dishes up from there. The back room is a little chilly so bring a sweater if you are one who gets cold easy. We met a couple from Canada at the table next to us and ended up sharing our pupus and a couple rounds of Washington apples, very friendly atmosphere with a large selection of booze, beer, and wine. I could be in trouble since this place is walking distance from my house.
(5)Cassie P.
We came here to chill and have a few drinks and pupus and it was great. The nachos are made with wontons, so yummy. and the calamari was cooked perfectly. as for the drinks, we girls had lychee martinis that are actually made with real lychee juice! so ono! definitely coming back!
(5)Hazel T.
Came here for a birthday celebration. Food taste pretty good, BUT the fact that some of our food were running 30min late and when we got the bill they over charged us made this experience such a hassle. Everything was going smooth in the beginning. Came here at 6pm and food was coming out good timing. Dynamite Shrimp, SOS clams and Boca Rota is a must have! Oyster shooter was A-OK still wasn't worth it (I had parts of the oyster sell in my bite). Garlic steak was juicy but barley any garlic taste, we had to add salt because no taste! Chrissy pork belly which was so small for that price, we thought would be bigger! The kids loved the meat lover pizza but still over price for that size! We had other more food but nothing amazing to remember. Plus our table was shaky, I had to wrap my chop stick with a napkin to make it like a wedge so the table would stop moving . come around 7:30 no water refills yet and my Aunty and Uncle have been waiting 20min for a refill on their wine. The place looked full house, our server kept walking pass us trying to keep up with her other tables. Like seriously if the server and cook can't keep up obviously have more back up workers. Our table was ready to order desert already and still the food we ordered half an hour ago still haven't come out. When we got our check the tip was already included which was 19% like WTF, the service wasn't even that great and our food was coming out really late more like should be 10% our check was about $600ish and to be honest it was not that satisfying. You should just go side street in across the street
(3)Marjorie C.
Okay food, okay drinks, not too special. Went here with a very large group for a birthday party. We decided to do the $25 all-you-can-eat pupu selection. Also tried the cucumber cocktail ($7) and the wild turkey honey ($8) and ginger drink both very delicious. The waitress was very patient and efficient in getting our food and drinks out. What I didn't like was that the leftover food was cleared very quickly, we felt like we were being rushed out and couldn't stay and pick off the food we already paid for. All-in-all it was an okay atmosphere but perhaps not a great place for more than 20 people. Another tip: make sure all your guests show up, they charge for those that don't show and if you have any stragglers let them know not to pick off the leftover food or else they will be charged $25. Not sure when I'll be back.
(2)Marlyn C.
Sat in the back, in plastic folding chairs. The place wasn't even full. I totally felt jipped- and we're not even haoles... damn, that's cold. Ordered a slew of apps and a few glasses of wine. Nothing stood out, everything was just okay - even the mussels, dynamite shrimp, ribs, big bo nachos- Wine wasn't very good quality so I switched a cocktail. Got one of their specialty drinks but it was just sugary. Really disappointing.
(2)Helen C.
This definitely seemed like the favorite local bar/lounge. Everyone there seemed to know each other. It's a nice chill place to hang. We didn't have any food there, but it looked great and wish we did. The drinks were good and very reasonably priced. This is a place where you won't be harassed or looked at like a piece of meat. So come here with friends and just relax Hawaiian style.
(3)Kalai F.
Fricken grinds!!!!! I think everything we had was awesome!!!!! Great service, Fun atmosphere, easy on the wallet prices! What more can i say for once, i'm lost for words! Try it all! You'll like it!
(5)jan n.
Uncle Bo's-- a very nice surprise! The staff was very bright and helpful. Everyone around us said their dishes were great. You know they say that you can tell a lot about a restaurant by their soup, and Uncle Bo's Portuguese soup was clean, fresh, and delightful. It was not your average Portuguese soup. It had a clear deep broth with fresh crunchy vegetables and small bits of Portuguese sausage. It was very well balanced and full of flavor. The steamed opakapaka was good. I was expecting your classic style Chinese steamed fish, with hot oil/shoyu/ginger/cilantro. It was a slightly different style that was light on the shoyu, and served with sauteed vegetables. I will be back again to try their awesome pupu menu.
(4)Stacey K.
I think the food sucks. The ambiance is nice though. I don't eat here anymore, just get something to share (look at) and drink.
(2)Jolene i.
My daughter took me to Uncle Bo's after spending all day tasting different appetizers and wines at local bars. Uncle Bo's was by far the best. Fun atmosphere and great food. The dynamite shrimp is incredible.
(4)Kelly T.
Let me start off with the good. The drinks are strong. Ok, I'm done. The food is exactly two stars. "Meh." The spinach artichoke dip with wonton chips are pretty good. Not a fan of clams but everyone else I go here with is and it's their regular order. I've been here a handful of times and while it's a neat atmosphere and kinda convenient it's just not very impressive. The workers are never quick or super friendly. And when you ask for a tanqueray tonic with two limes you will get one lime and when you ask for another you'll get one lemon and one lime. Interesting. Others want to pre-funk here and I'm not objecting. It's just not my first choice. There are better places in Waiks but of course the aunties and uncles are scared to venture. And I ain't hatin' I'm just not a fan.
(2)Mali T.
One of my favorite spot to hit up when I'm home visiting! One thing for sure! The food and service are fantastic! Talking about flavors! Each dish is drenched in different styles, flavor and texture! I love the Oyster shooters at Uncle Bo's, just tempting to order more and more =) and definitely the Escargot, it tasted so perfect =) Below are some of the Pupu's that they offer and trust me, you won't be disappointed. My Favorite main dishes are their fishes: I love to order the followings... 1. OPAKAPAKA CHIANG MAI wok-fried island fish breaded in macadamia nut panko topped w/ choy sum & tomatoes sautéed in a sweet chili oyster sauce 21 2. NEW!!! SEA BASS broiled w/ garlic citrus-butter, topped w/ Lobster dill sauce 22 3. STEAMED OPAKAPAKA CHINESE STYLE island fish steamed to perfection w/ garlic soy-sauce topped w/ green onion, cilantro, and olive oil 21 4. SAUTEED OPAH w/ garlic lemon butter 21 POT STICKERS crispy w/ sweet chili sauce or steamed (4PC) 7 CRISPY CRAB CAKES generous portions of real crab (2PC) 9 NEW!!! VEGGIE WRAPS sautéed & tossed in house sauce (4PC) 8 NEW!!! SPICY TOFU DIP mushrooms, onions, & tofu served w/ toasted garlic-bread 9 NEW!!! UNCLE BO'S KALUA PIG FRIED RICE w/ fresh spinach 10 NEW!!! BABY-BACK RIBS w/ pineapple BBQ sauce 14 SHAKEN BEEF wok-fried steak w/ Thai herbs, onions, tomato 10 UNCLE BO'S OYSTER SHOOTERS toasted garlic, cilantro, sesame-ponzu-cocktail sauce (4PC) 9 SPINACH ARTICHOKE CRAB DIP w/ fresh crispy won ton chips (chips cooked in house daily) 9 CALAMARI wok-fried w/ choy-sum & fresh tomatoes in sweet chili sauce (sauce served on-the-side for extra crispiness) 9 NEW!!! Spicy UNCLE BO'S DYNAMITE SHRIMP wok-fried in garlic chili aioli, topped w/ parmesan panko crust 9 THAI-STYLE STEAMER CLAMS 1lb sweet Manila clams simmered in a mild chili, garlic oyster sauce 12 WALNUT SHRIMP WRAP wok-fried shrimp w/ candied walnuts served in buttercup lettuce (4PC) 8 ESCARGOT broiled w/ garlic butter & melted mozzarella (6PC) 10 NEW!!! SEAFOOD CEVICHE shrimp, scallop, onions, tomatoes, & cucumber tossed with fresh herbs marinated in lime juice. 10 NEW!!! SEAFOOD TRAP medley of fish, calamari, clams, shrimp & fish simmered in our famous mild chili, garlic oyster sauce 15 NEW!!! TIGER-PORK KABOB grilled w/ roasted veggies (4PC) 9 BO'S BIG NACHOS w/ ham, kalua pig, onions, mushrooms, melted mozzarella on crispy won ton chips 14 THAI STREET-STYLE GRILLED CHICKEN WINGS fire-grilled wings tossed in Thai herbs, lemon grass, cilantro, garlic, ginger, basil, Thai curry powder (6PC) 9 SPICY TUNA WRAPS w/ Korean nori (4PC) 8 AHI POKE made fresh daily w/ onions, cucumber, cabbage 10 NEW!!! HAMACHI SASHIMI w/ sliced jalapeño, rice & Korean nori umbrella; drizzled in a lime-ponzu sauce 14 CAJUN SEARED AHI premium cuts of ahi sashimi, flash-seared w/ cajun spices drizzled w/ honey glaze 12 NEW!!! BOCA-ROTA garlic cheesy-bread, sliced prime-rib, sautéed mushrooms and mozzarella cheese 14 NEW!!! SEAFOOD DIP shrimp, scallops, & crab jumbled & baked in creamy house sauce served w/ home-made pita bread 12 NEW!!! AHI TORNADO ROLL maguro sashimi rolled w/ Maui onion, capers, and our house sauce (6PC)
(5)Mike M.
My wife and I visited here on our honeymoon several weeks back and were pleasantly surprised. It's kind of a smaller place, and appears to be set up for large groups rather than couples, but never-the-less, it's worth the trip. The pupu's are good portions and not to expensive for what you are actually getting. I would say that just about everything on the menu is enough for two people to share, so don't worry about ordering doubles. All in all, I would say that it's a great spot for dinner if you're looking to get out of the heart of Waikiki, and need a break from those overpriced touristy restraunts around the strip.
(5)Leigh Anne J.
Had the Dynamite Shrimp & Bo's Big Nachos. Both were excellent. Nice atmosphere. Definitely has locals and non-locals which is great. Friendly quick service. Off the main drag of Waikiki which we loved.
(4)Daniel K.
Went here once back in 08, never came back to it since. Reason for it was that I got food poisioning here. Back in 08' I was living at Tripler Hospital as I working there full time. I had a Tripler meal card, which meant every meal I ate, was at Tripler. The one day out of the week I decide to go and eat outside of Tripler with my girlfriend, we decide to eat at Uncle bo's. I ordered a fish dish and she ordered a beef dish. It was a bit pricy but delicious. We both end up getting food poisioning and I know its uncle bo's. If I had gotten sick from Tripler food, so would all the 1000 people who eat at the tripler cafeteria. This place is overpriced and dirty. period.
(1)Johnine L.
Staying in Waikiki it's not easy to find restaurants that have good food and reasonable prices too. We are pretty darn picky and not as into the booze as the food. We really liked the menu. Really good food... Nice laid back atmosphere, We loved that it was within walking distance but not right in Waikiki madness. Loved the woman that greeted us. We'll go back....
(5)Michele O.
We always go to Uncle Bo's especially when our out of town friends come and just people we simply meet. The food is fabulous and BEFORE the service was exceptional. The food is still fabulous however the service sucks. Our waitress seemed more worried about how she looked then cared about servicing her table. When do you bring the spinach artichoke dip before the dessert???? Then blame it on the kitchen. Really!!!!! Asked for water the water came before the bill. Seriously!! The hostess was not any better. Hello our bill was $200 plus some change and we left Tasha almost $60 in tips. Bo bring back your old timers - they were the best!! I will continue to turn my old friends and new friends on to Uncle Bo's. Hopefuly the service from the Hostess Rebecca and the waitress Tasha would have changed
(4)Alexis T.
I first went to Uncle Bo's with a group of friends after a long day. We all ordered different things, trying each other's food, and I remember that we all thought everything tasted so good! When I was graduating from UH in '08, my mom told me that she wanted to throw a nice dinner for me at a restaurant and that all I had to do was plan it, book it, and invite everyone. I thought, 'I really want to pick a place with really good food.' Immediately, I thought of Uncle Bo's. At the time, I booked the place, it was unlimited appetizers (one of two party plans) for $35/person. Let me tell you, all 40 guests at my dinner were stuffed to the brim on all the yummy pizzas, shrimp dynamite (I don't normally eat shrimp... but I eat this one!), salads, and other pupus. It was sooo tasty! The food just kept coming and it was a great dinner. (Thanks, mom!)
(5)Dougie P.
Maybe the immense popularity of this establishment has attributed to a major decline in food quality/taste. Poke is straight up gross. fishy, frozen-fresh, mediocre grade fish, harsh yellow onion(instead of sweet maui/peru/texas varieties), green onions, cucumber all on a couple lettuce leaves w aloha shoyu . Quesedillas and tofu dip kinda sucked. the Seafood dip/& trap have been taken off the menu. hamachi sashimi w/ jasmine rice/nori sucks and doesn't make sense. Pretty bummed out. Three years ago, the food was great. Not sure what happened. Bo and his brother are still super cool.. The restaurant is highly successful. Not trying to hate on uncle bo's. The pressure of attaining popularity and success in any field is stressful and overwhelming. hope things/food get better
(2)Katrina H.
The food was so fun and interesting! The service was suuuper friendly! We had an awesome time and didn't even regret sitting in parade traffic on Black Friday! Thanks Uncle Bo ;)
(4)Phx A.
One of my favorite places in Honolulu! Pros: Well priced, good portion size. Fish is very good, filet mignon is great and only $19. Cons: Average wait staff, hard to get seating for groups larger than 4.
(4)HI Lyfe P.
This place has got some great food! Get the calms and make sure to order extra bread to soak up all da broth, broke da mout!! They have a good full bar here too and nice atmosphere, although I really hate the chain link curtain thing they got going on to separate the dinner tables. Go here with friends to enjoy the food, enjoy the drinks, and then have a couple more.
(4)Jay K.
First Hawaiian restaurant that I'm inclined to rate against other quality restaurants that I've been to on the mainland. One thing you gotta watch out for when looking at restaurant reviews on yelp at a such popular tourist attraction is that many of the people that give out 4-5 star reviews don't ask themselves the question, "WOULD I EVER EAT HERE AGAIN?" That's why you see so many of these 4-5 star rated restaurants near Waikiki. NOT because they have awesome food. So yelpers, keep that in mind when using yelp as your guide to local dining, especially if you're in Hawaii or Manhattan. That being said, Uncle Bo's is the first restaurant that I can truly rate against other restaurants on the mainland without giving any extra points AND it would still stand tall. I never thought how important it would be to ask that question "would I ever eat here again?" until I was faced with such dilemma, just one night after i went to Uncle Bo's for the first time. I can't say much about their main entrees, because I didn't have them. But in 2 straight nights at Bo's, I did get to try all but 1-2 "Pupus" (Appetizers) on their menu. They are all very delicious, but if you're getting oyster shooters, skip the lemon, because it's already so sour that the splash of lemon is just enough to turn the oyster shooter into edible HCl acid shooter. Other than that, their 1lb of clam is awesome, especially if you choose to dip the bread in the soup. It's well marinated with thai spices and has good clean, full flavor, boiled right out of fresh clams that they use. (thai fusion food) Their calamari is also very good. This dish reminds me of szechuan style dry sweet and sour dish without the blast on the scoville scale that usually accompanies typical szechuan dishes. (chiense fusion) Their new nacho with wonton, however, I would avoid. It looks good, but it doesn't live up to how it looks. And it's probably one of the more expensive items on the menu. Other dishes like crab cake, shaken beef, etc are all very flavorful and colorful on your palate. Seeing as how the chef seems to have thai background it's not surprising. Added bonus for dining at Uncle Bo's is their trendy ambiance that attracts lot of tourists that are out to have fun and Uncle Bo's is their first stop to feed the hungry stomach. My friends and I did some synchronized head turning at times, followed synchronized eye brow lifting and synchronized whispers of "damn~~~." Ambiance: 4/5, (5/5 against local joints) Food: 4/5, very full and colorful dishes that is both appetizing to your eye as much as your palate. Value: 4/5, you can have a lot worse with same amount of money on the island. just walk down to Ono Hawaiian Food to see how bad it can get. Overall: 4/5, (5/5 against local joints)
(4)RC K.
Ok this review is for Californians. Do not eat here. Locals will tell you about a great fusion restaurant in Kahala called Uncle Bo's. Unfortunately, YOU, as a Californian, have a severely different take on fusion restaurants. You believe fusion enhances the flavors to provide a unique culinary experience. To further the dilemma, you have eaten fusion cuisine in places like San Francisco and Los Angeles. I am not trying to say Uncle Bo's is not a good restaurant in Kahala, Hawaii, I am just saying YOU've had better. Good Luck
(2)Huan V.
Awesome place, the hostess was cute, attentive, and made sure we always had something to drink. I swear she was trying to get me drunk so she could take me home and have her way with me! We ordered a couple plates to share: dynamite shrimp, nachos, ahi poke, hamachi carpacio, spinach and chicken pizza, and seared cajun ahi. The dynamite shrimp was good but not awesome as everyone here seems to rave about. I don't know why I didn't figure it but the dynamite shrimp is basically what you get when you order a dynamite roll at practically any sushi establishment. It's a mixture of shrimp, mayo, panko (i think) and whatever spices to make it a little spicy. It's a bit on the rich side for me without the sushi. I thought my friend was crazy when he ordered the nachos (WHO ORDERS NACHOS AT A NICE RESTAURANT?!) but man these were so awesome. The cheese was ooey gooey and the whole thing was top with loads of shredded pork and smoked ham. Smoked ham! Who would have though! There was nothing elegant about this dish, it was just so good! The ahi poke was just ahi poke. The fish was fresh, cut into the right proportions, and mixed with yummy ponzu and thinly sliced onions. The hamachi carpacio was served with some fried wonton pieces. I thought the fish was good but as a whole was a little plain... Needed something more to it. The spinach & chicken pizza was pretty disappointing. It just didn't have enough flavor and the bread was not cooked well. The seared ahi tuna was actually my dish. I shared a little but not much because it was soooooooooo good. It's just seared ahi but the spices they use is very tasty. Definately, definately try this dish. The whole thing was even more awesome since my friend treated us to it. THANKS JOHN!
(4)Stephen H.
This place is simply awesome. Loved everything my wife and I tried ... Thai-style clams, Spinach & artichoke dip with wonton skins and the Kailua Pig fried rice. If I lived on Oahu I'd have to get an apartment near Uncle Bo's. Portion size large enough for two or three to share and price is right!
(5)David B.
Solid 4. After a failed try at one of Ono's few luxury tables (sarcastic), we headed back down kapahulu st towards Uncle Bo's. - The outside wasn't too impressive, but once inside, the Front sported swanky lounge couches, a sleek bar and chain curtains giving it a nice "chill lounge" vibe. Our table was in the back with a a number of other 2-4 person tables and one large group table against the wall with a projected screen showing clips of the island with light sounds from Jack Johnson. - Our waitress, Christine was friendly and helpful as she pointed out popular Pupus platters--the clams, dynamite shrimp and the kalua nachos. I wanted some beer, so she also recommended a couple of the local flavors which I tried. - Food came out fairly quick and in good portions for two. - Dynamite shrimp had good flavor with an added "kick" that lived up to the "dynamite" in its name. - Clams aren't necessarily my thing, but they also had good flavor and were drenched in the uncle bo's sauce. My brother stated it was his favorite dish of the 3 that we ordered. - Lastly were the Kalua Pork nachos which had a large portion. The pork was ok and maybe a little too salted after the clams and shrimp. I altogether liked the dish, but my brother thought it was a little overkill. Good food, nice decor, fast service. One thing i did note, was that the lighting in the back gave it a "romantic mood," something I could do without with my present company. Dim lighting made menu reading a bit more of a task. If we had been seated in the front section of the restaurant, we may have gotten a better glimpse of the younger crowds and could've enjoyed the softer, glitzier lounge couches, but hey, i was starving after the 1.8mi walk from our hotel-onos-bo's and we didn't have to wait for a table, so I can't fault them for that. Pupus didn't sound great, but Uncle Bo's left a lasting impression. I'm down for more next time in HI, so HOOK ME UP Uncle Bo!
(4)Fer S.
A big Mahalo for all the Uncle Bos team. They made our V Day dinner the best! Excellent service, the food makes my mouth still water just remembering last nights grinds, great drinks and ambiance. It is usually pretty booked but they do accept walk-ins. Dont miss out on the Calamari with a soupy sauce that is to die for. My husband and I could not stop dipping our bread in the sauce. The Uncle Bos Shrimp was great, light and fresh. Prime Rib had a little to much fat for our taste but was nicely cooked and was delicious. The hostess, waitress and bartender where dedicated to make our night perfect. Just loved it. Definitely my favorite place on Oahu.
(5)Ann C.
SOOO FREAKING GOOD! Orgasmic good!!! Why didn't I discover this spot earlier??? Ever since Oceans I've been looking for a good pupus spot. Pearl was disappointing and Mai Tai is just fried-food central. But Uncle Bo's answered my prayer! It's such a cute, small, hip spot tucked away from Waikiki. Great wine and cocktail selection (I'm not a beer drinker so didn't quite check out the beer menu.) The menu was kind of a Hawaiian, Asian fusion style with lots of Thai influence. Came here for a girl's night out and ordered oyster shooters, crab dip with fried wonton chips, cajun Ahi sashimi, and a seafood pasta. Everything was very very very good! Oyster shooter was a pleasant surprise, the sauce is very different than your average Ponzu or cocktail sauce. It had chopped cilantro and sesame oil (i think) which added fantastic flavor. Ahi sashimi was good, crab dip had lots of crab, wonton chips were too greasy but we just ate it with the warm bread. But the pasta, the pasta was so freaking good!! It was a tomato cream sauce with lots and lots of seafood. It was perfectly done, I closed my eyes and savored every single bite, i was in seafood euphoria. 3 glasses of wine, 3 pupus, 1 pasta was $68 excluding tips. Fantastic experience, drooling as I'm typing...
(5)Ivan T.
Came here on my first trip to Hawaii ever. This place was one of the best experiences I've ever had. The service, food, atmosphere, drinks, everything. Absolutely amazing. If you go pupu style, get the clams. As for entries, get anything. Everything we had was good. I tried a bit of everything all of my friends had. This place has their bar as a center piece and for good reason. When the night begins, they turn the music a little louder and it turns into quite a nice lounge. It was really cool to meet Bo and converse with him for awhile. After chatting with our waitress a bit it seems that he completely loves his craft and it really does show through his restaurant. Can't say anything better about this place.
(5)Do J.
Great for dinner, but go on a week night. We had dinner on a Tuesday night - even so, we sat at the bar b/c it was so busy. Food is good, nice portions. I like that main courses come WITH side dishes - not the expensive a la carte thing. Mashed potatoes are delish, the veggies good (and nutritious). Based on this experience, we went back on Friday night for our last evening in Waikiki. Mistake! It was super-busy, crowded, and unpleasantly noisy. Sat at the bar again, which was a mistake this time. Wait-staff busy coming for drinks. Young single women perched on barstools having "girls' night out" - shoving plates to the side (which also shoved ours) to take their own picture (several times), shaking head/ hair (I got sick of the "hair-beating" - and getting her hair in my food), and batting eyelashes at the boyz. If I were 20-something, single, and out to see/ be seen, it would be a perfect Friday night. I'm none of the above, so it was a loud crush for dinner.
(4)Mike W.
Okay, so I've been here about five times and to be honest I've never really enjoyed the experience. The food is really hit-or-miss. There are things on the menu that are absolutely wonderful as well as some really terrible dishes. The good food includes the clams and a pretty awesome warm spinach salad. If the food was consistently this good I would be back every week. The bad (surprisingly) was the poke. Obviously sub-par fish was used, and we left the dish half eaten. Also, you need to be careful since many of the dishes are mayonnaise soaked. Service was functional. Our waiter seemed young and unprofessional. Patrons were a pretty loud mix of young people. This will be a plus for a lot of people but the place was just too trendy and noisy for me. The rooms are mostly cement separated by chain curtains, making an echo chamber effect. Don't come here unless you enjoy yelling over a crowd. At 10pm or so, the music comes on for whatever reason and it is like eating in a night club. Prices at Uncle Bo's are moderate to expensive, which given the atmosphere and service seems out of line. Uncle Bo's is successful and it hard to bemoan Bo's success. When the place first opened, I remember Bo coming around to every table to make sure the meal was good. however the attention to detail seems to have dropped. Still, the bar is well stocked, they have a pretty good selection of wines by the glass, and if you know what you are doing you can get a good meal. But overall do I like eating here? No.
(3)kelly k.
i could seriously gain 30 lbs in one sitting at uncle bo's. their variety of pupu's, entrees, desserts, and alcohol sends me in a frenzy! there's never anything i don't like when i come here. no wonder why this is my girlfriend's favorite place!!! let's get straight to the food... - clams: there's this taste in there that i can't quite put my finger on but it's oh so yummy...sweet salty goodness...and if you dip the bread in there...omg HEAVEN - nachos: all i have to say is "why oh why do the best tasting things make you feel like you gained 5 lbs in 2 minutes???" - open faced spicy tuna roll: well, it's not morio's and it's a little creamy but it does the trick - escargot: if you love cheese like i do, you will LOVE this escargot...cheesiness, buttery-ness, garlicy-ness all rolled into one - blackened ahi: gaaaaaaaah the perfect combination of seared ahi, sweetness, and spicyness - spinach artichoke crab dip: can you say winner??? you could dip anything in here and it would taste good - opah mauna kea/ opakapaka chiang mai/ opakapaka chinese style: don't ask, just eat!!! and get it with mashed potatoes! - fried ice cream and sorbet: yummmmm-o! and when it comes to their alcohol selection, it pretty darn extensive. of their specialty drinks, i tried the li hing mojito and caramel apple. both of which were SUPERB. funny story---i went into uncle bo's recently for a birthday and i guess their thing is that they give you a blowjob shot and ring some kind of cowbell. it was pretty hilarious watching my friend trying to fit the rim of the shot glass in her mouth with no hands! teehee! before this review turns into an essay, i will quickly say that the service is awesome, the parking is usually not that bad (street or parking lot across the street), prices are fair, bathroom is nice but there's only one :(, and the food is great! now what are you waiting for??? go get your grub on at uncle bo's!!! just make sure you go running the next day :)
(5)raechelle v.
Love, love this place! It's our go to girl's night out chill hang out place. Man, those Thai-Style Manila Clams are broke da mouth good. That sauce is finger licking good...so good that we just keep asking for bread and dip it in the sauce. Oh and the real winner is the BOCA-ROTA garlic cheesy-bread made with sliced prime-rib, sautéed mushrooms and mozzarella cheese. Only down side to this place is the acoustics. Gets pretty loud at times and the laughter of neighboring tables tends to echo.
(4)Jason C.
Here are some tips for 1st timers.. Parking sucks so if you can't find street parking, just give up and park across the street for $5. Also, EXPECT to wait a long time to be seated (I waited 1 1/2 hrs last time I went). But there's a reason people wait...their food is GREAT. If you find yourself gazing @ the menu for more than 5 mins cause you can't decide what to get then STOP and just order these items and you'll be satisfied. Dynamite shrimp (tastes like a spicy Chinese honey walnut shrimp), Bocca Rota (cheesy bread with steak and mushrooms), Thai style steamer clams (dip the house bread in the sauce..its delish), seafood trap, and the Poke (kinda spicy). If you want MEAT, their Ribeye is pretty good. Dessert....fried ice cream (hellooo..the words FRIED and ICE CREAM should be enough to get you excited). Now, if your still not satisfied don't worry, it's your 1st time....You'll be back!
(4)Jacqueline H.
their dynamite shrimp is SO GOOD!!! the interior of this place is very pretty but i found too be a little too dim for my taste. the staff are okay....but I can't really say that since I've only encountered one waitress and she was probably just having a bad day, but still, one waiter represents the entire restaurant for a customer who has only went their once. I practically had to search for this girl for a refill on my water or to add another order in. but aside from the not so exemplary service, the food is great. I was not disappointed in any of the pupus that we ordered. good for late nights with friends :)
(4)Hola A.
Ok, hands down, the best nachos I've ever had. Seriously. They didn't use your standard chips, it was deep fried won ton chips and so freaking delicious. I was debating about coming here again just to get the nachos to go but unfortch, didn't have enough time to do so. With that said, we came here on a Monday evening so there wasn't that much peeps. The outside does not look as nice as the inside so it's sort of misleading. A minor gripe was how cold it was inside, I think they were blasting the air conditioner to the max. Onto the food, we just ordered a bunch of appetizers aka pupu's and got our drinks on. The standout appetizers is the Bo's Big Nachos and Thai Style Steamer Clams. The broth/sauce + dunking w/bread = delish. We also got the fried oysters, sweet chili calamari, steamed shrimp shumai, baby back ribs, thai style street grilled chicken wings, an entree of steak and I know I'm missing something else but that's all I can remember for now. Anyways, I would come back again solely for the nachos and the clams. The rest of the stuff we ordered was ok/good but def not thee best. If i could, I would prefer to give this place 3.5 stars overall and the nachos + clams = 5 stars. The specialty cocktails that they offered were well, not that special so I decided to go w/the lychee martini which was alright. The prices were pretty decent for all the stuff we ordered so it wasn't so bad. Right as we were leaving, they dimmed the lights and started playing hip hop music which sorta made me want to stay a lil' while longer but no matter, we left to go to another bar afterwards.
(4)Tricia C.
What can I say, Uncle Bo's does not disappoint!! We make it a point to have dinner everytime we visit Honolulu and have done so the last 3 years. Last night, we had the Thai Style Steamer Clams and they were so fantastic that we were tempted to ask the waitress for a straw. We also had the Oyster Shooters.. so delish just the right amount of seasoning and loved the little sprig of cilantro-- gave that nice bit of freshmess. We also ordered Boca Rota a new one for us-- the prime rib was oh so tender and we loved swabbing up all the gravy that was oozing all over the plate. Bo, thanks for a most excellent night..
(5)Shaun C.
The dynamite shrimp and the calamari were awesome. Very unique flavorful dishes, and this is the only place to get it. The chef needs a pay raise, well deserved. Another must visit for any Hawaii vacation.
(5)Anna p.
YUM !!!! YUM!!!!!!!!!!!! YUMMY!!!!!!! Well I have followed this Chef since he was the head chef at the old Lewers Street Fish Market (R.I.P) :( This being finally his own restaurant really gives him the freedom to light up your taste buds. The selection of different choices is amazing. I had a very large Christmas party recently with alot very picky people. Everyone was so happy to find too many things to choose from. The staff is very friendly and the atmosphere is very hip. Classy enough for the discerning foodie but affordable enough for those on a budget and don't even get me started on the ENORMOUS PORTIONS. I LOVE LOVE THIS RESTAURANT and Uncle Bo is amazing!!!!!! However PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE bring back the """""""""""UNCLE BO'S SEAFOOD TRAP"""""""""
(5)Toshi B.
Had a seafood craving and this place did not dissapoint. Crab cakes, walnut shrimp wraps, seafood dip as appetizers were all excellent...fish tacos and local fish were great too. Service is great too. Would come back.
(5)Tara J.
Was in HI for business, So Happy to have found this local spot. Great atmosphere & great food for a reasonable price. Real drinks! Aloha!
(5)Brad U.
the food was so-so; i definitely think this restaurant skimps when it comes to buying the freshest ingredients. my friend and i sat at the bar (the bartender was really nice and accommodating). we sent back the hamachi which was separated and mushy and didn't taste fresh (we dined on a thursday). the rib-eye was gristley (probably select--not choice). the spicy ahi was decent. probably the only item i'd order again. the shrimp dynamite consisted of small shrimps and was tough. the escargots were buttery and cheesy and lacked garlic and pungence. overall, their menu looks great. but the execution is poor.
(1)Kacy L.
Love the dynamite shrimp and pizza is great too!
(5)J S.
Overall, we like this place and would go back. We just moved here from the east coast and have been trying to find a good place to go out for drinks and this place comes close. I read other reviews from Yelp and a lot of people recommended dynamite shrimp so I ordered that. It was a disappointment. The sauce was too rich that you could not taste shrimp. The other dish that was a bit disappointing is the oyster shooter, too salty! though with the 2 bad dishes, we still think we would go back there because there are so many choices on the menu that we did not get in to and most of them look good. The other 2 dishes we ordered were good. oh.. the female bartender is a much better than a guy for making mix drinks. We went on Fri night.
(4)Rose L.
My boyfriend and I just went to Uncle Bo's for the first time last night and we're definitely going back! The service was great and the decor is cool. I had a delicious lychee-tini and he of course had some kind of beer :p Our appetizer was the dynamite shrimp and trust me when I say it's TO DIE FOR! We loved it so much that we ate everything on the plate (garnishes and all)! I swear, if I could guarantee that no one would see me do it ... I would have licked that plate CLEAN! For our main dish I had the grilled salmon with mashed potatoes and steamed veggies. My boyfriend had his usual fetticine alfredo (if a restaurant has that on it's menu, he'll order it). We both liked my dish, but he wasn't too happy with his. He likes the more traditional Italian alfredo. We didn't have any room for dessert so I can't comment on that, but we definitely can't wait to try more dishes ... along with our dynamite shrimp of course! ;)
(4)Ty D.
I wanted to try this place after reading all the rave reviews from fellow Yelpsters. This place is a hidden gem. The outside of the restaurant doesn't match the hip cool interior. After 3 maitais at Hula's down the street, we decided to go out for pupus. Our waitress was very nice and helpful for our pupu selection. We had the appropriately named Uncle Bo's Dynamite Shrimp, which was highly recommended by our waitress. The sauce was awesome with a bit of a spicy kick, but not overwhelming. I'm drooling over the memory of eating this dish! We also had the baby back ribs, but not the standard version on the menu...our pleasant waitress suggested we get it with the bbq sauce made for the workers of the restaurant. So we went with that. It was great! The pork meat was fall off the bone tender, and the sauce was totally yummo! This place is also known for their steaks. But after these 2 appetizers, we were full! But had enough room for a Leonard's malasada right down the street from Uncle Bo's. If you're lookin for a hip place for pupus, this is the place! The next time I'm in Honolulu, I'll definitely be coming back to Uncle Bo's!
(5)May L.
food: okay. pricey compares to its quality. drinks: just like any other bars... service: very bad. 3 stars are for the calamari and ahi poke. :)
(3)Thuy P.
I am definately coming back here to eat, I love sampling many dishes, and thats exactly that my friends and I were able to do at this restaurant. There were 6 of us, we ordered the escargo (ok), ribs (eh), chicken wings (yummy), shaken beef (delicious), 2 orders of oyster shooters (yummy), nachoes ( good) , thai style clams (delicious), calamari (good), 2 bottles of wine and beer, and probable a few more dishes. Overall between the 6 of us, it came out to be $30 each included tax n tip. I seriously awesome deal when all u want is to try everything and enjoy a great night with friends.
(4)Christine M.
This was a suggestion for our valet guy. We asked for a place that was more local and less touristy. This place for sure fits the bill. Looked like mostly locals new about this place. Its a nice hip lil restaurant. I remember they have a great bar area. The ambiance is geared to the younger hipster crowd. Unfortunately I didnt get a chance to really try out the menu but I did order the nachos cuz i was just too full from eating all day. They Kahlua pork nachos were pretty good. Its mostly street parking and if your not looking for this place you can easily drive by it.
(4)Cecilia D.
I think our expectations were through the roof after checking out most yelpers thoughts on this place... while it was a pleasant experience, I don't think we would rush back to dine there anytime soon. We had over 7 pupu menu items and at best, three of them were memorable (the nachos, thai spiced chicken wings and shrimp dynamite). One missed step, which is my own way of judging on how much care is put into a restaurant, was the bread and butter. I was so BUMMED that the first batch was day old bread - it was stale :( And I'm not particularly fond of butter in a packet. However, they totally redeemed themselves because after we asked for fresh bread, we got it! Fresh baked from the oven. Yay! All in all, the service was fine, the food quality was relative to the prices, the drinks were FAB (I enjoyed my "vanilla ice cream" -tini), and the ambiance was cool and hip.
(3)Lucy F.
Service was good. Thai style steamer clams were excellent. Poke- creamy and delicious. Escargot was too heavy on the cheese but not overcooked
(4)Brian O.
The pupu here is great! highly recommended.
(4)Shell C.
great atmosphere. great prices. the appetizers are the best menu items. drinks are consistent and well poured.
(5)Bill P.
Hands down.. The best food in Hawaii.. If u miss this.. I feel bad for you.. The clams are awesome.. The dynamite shrimp,,. Winner.. Don't miss this,,,, the best in town. Hands down. And uncle Bo lives crown.. He will have a drinks or two w you... Don't miss it .
(5)Hannah Q.
Every time we come, we have not-so-great customer service. Yet, we always come back so that should tell you something about this place. First of all, the ambiance is great--chains hanging from the ceiling giving that edgy modern look, dimly lit rooms, semi-loud music in the background, and a lounge area as well as dining tables. Great for large groups and parties. They have a pretty well-equipped bar as well. This place tends to attract the young adults who are looking for good drinks, small plates, social hour, and a good time. They also have dining tables in the back where it's less noisy. The food here is really good but can be greasy depending on what you order. Great food if you're looking for pupu's to accommodate your drinks. Every dish we've tried thus far has had very bold/unique flavors. I usually end up with the tummy ache though because of all the grease that comes with it. Here's what we ordered: Hamachi/Yellowtail Sashimi: My absolute FAVORITE. You can't really go wrong with yellowtails. It'll be good no matter how it's served. But Uncle Bo adds an interesting twist. It comes with rice, slices of raw yellowtail drizzled with ponzu sauce and a tooth pick with dried seaweed (nori) on top. Take a piece of nori, a spoonful of rice, top it with the yellowtail and omg...heaven. Highly recommend. Plus it's on the lighter side. Six Little Piggies: This is delicious! There are 6 thickly-sliced crispy pork pieces (bacon but without all the salt) topped with some kind of red sauce. A bed of salad in the middle. Each bite overwhelms your taste buds. Highly recommend. Nachos: Really good nachos. Definitely on the heavier side...if you don't want a tummy ache...stay away from these! Came with a load of Kalua pork and chunks of veggies/cream/guacamole. I think you have to pay extra for guacamole though. S.O.S.: AH. Just thinking about it makes me drool. So delicious...it's a pan roasted crustacean dish (shrimp, lobster, scallops, shrimp) soaked in thick tomato/butter base. I recommend ordering it with a side of rice. $2.00 extra for brown rice. Don't miss out! Overall, great place to hang out with friends, great cocktails and delicious food. As long as you don't expect great service, everything is good here
(4)Jen P.
WARNING!!! Watch your parking time if you park across the street! We had to stop the tow truck driver from taking our vehicle! Our PAID ticket time was only MINUTES past the expiration time! This bald haole guy was checking all the cars and watching the clock! He was just looking for a quick paycheck! Thank goodness the local guy was cool. Frickin' UNREAL! Come on! We saw these tow guys eating in the restaurant!!! And it took us forever to pay and collect our things, say our good byes, and cross the street! Omg! Is Uncle Bo's getting a cut from these guys? Are they towing their own customers?!?!?! Gotta be right?! They had dinner at the restaurant! Anyways, this tow company is ruining business for the area! So dumb! Street parking from now on.... IF WE EVER GO BACK! Lots of other new awesome places in the surrounding area anyways! And ......he told us to "f-Ing pay our bill!" Are you serious? Uncle Bo's menu was awesome by the way. Bold flavors.... Delish! So the star is for Uncle Bo's food.
(5)Tiffany R.
This place is really weird. It's hiding in the corner in town. When They use anykind chairs that don't really match but, they try to pull off this whole fine dining thing but, they use paper to cover the tables. The waitress was wearing a tank top and booty shorts not sure if that's safe if she drops something hot on herself. All of the waitresses were dressed a little skimpy, booty shorts, body con skirts, tank tops and crop tops.The name of the foods were weird. I got "the greasy noodles" which I think you can get a way better noodles from the manapua man. I also got a hapa potato roll and it was a lumpia with mozzarella sticks stuffed inside with a mashed potatoes under and bacon and sour cream topped over, talk about every stoners dream. It was okay. The big portions of the appetizer makes up for the un tasteful food. I don't think I'll be coming back anytime soon.
(1)Lex J.
Make note: No Happy Hour. Drinks aren't too badly priced though; Domestic $5/import $6 We always try to make a stop here for a meal when in town. Everything is delicious and very reasonably priced. The service is great here too. Everyone is so nice. The seating is kind of limited so I suggest calling ahead to reserve a table. They have this pretty cool rock wall filled w/ wine bottles We didn't get to try the Boca Rota b/c we weren't introduced to it until we were stuffed and our neighbor table order this delicious smelling goodness. This plate looked so delicious we had to bother them to get more details. We'll be trying that next time around.
(4)C J.
If you're looking for great food and excellent service, this is the place to go! I've been to uncle Bo's a few times and have always had a great experience. The only complaints that I can make is the consistency of portions and the overwhelming wait time. Most times, the wait is 45 mins-90mins to be seated. I've noticed that when it's busy, the food portions will be significantly SMALLER. Maybe it's because they're in a rush. Who knows? Other than that, uncle Bo's is definitely one of my favorites! Must try these: Boca Rota, loaded nachos, and prime rib! So good! I recommend getting a reservation before coming.
(4)Felipe S.
The dynamite shrimp were great! That was the only reason I gave them three stars. Other than that, my experience was pretty lame. First, I sat at the bar, and I'm pretty sure the bartender only talked to me twice (order + check time). I'm sitting right in front of the guy and he never asked me if I needed anything. The boca rota was basically garlic cheesy bread, and while the mushrooms and beef were a nice touch, they did not seal the deal with me on this dish. On a side note, what is up with the beer selections in this (and most other) HNL restaurants? Expect either pale lagers or pale ales, no or limited selections of Belgian, IPAs or bocks. Beer snobs beware!!
(3)Traci T.
01.17.15 - Located across the street from Side Street Inn in Kapahulu, you will find a delicious gem known as Uncle Bo's. You can park on the street for free or there is paid parking across the street or in a small little lot next to the restaurant. Make sure you made reservations before coming or you will be waiting a while. This place is always packed! One thing to note is to make sure you bring your A game appetite when coming here. The portions are big, so definitely come with a group if you want to try different things on the menu. If you can round up a party of at least 10 people, give the chef's special a try. Each person pay $25 and you get eight (or some amount close to that) different dishes. It's all you can eat! The only down side is that you don't get to choose the dishes and it changes each time you go. But if you want lots of one item you can keep asking for more. However, if you have any leftovers you aren't allowed to take them home. My favorites on the menu are the kalua pig nachos and the Boca Rotta. However, on this visit we noticed that the Boca Rotta is very spicy now. Not a fan of that...really liked the original. It's cheesy bread with a special steak and mushroom cream sauce to go on top. The nachos however are still superb. They use won ton chips instead of the usual tortilla chips most places use. You can also add avocado on for a small charge. It comes with a side of salsa and sour cream. Although, on this visit, the waitress put horse radish instead of sour cream! The look on my friend's face when she tasted it was classic! We asked the waitress if it was supposed to be horse radish and she quickly apologized and changed it up for sour cream. My friends bought some drinks. I'm not a drinker, but I did have a sip just to taste. Man do they water down their drinks. What should have been a fruity drink tasted like a watery fruit drink. Yuck! At about 7:00, a homeless man entered the establishment and approached a nearby party asking for money. He was very demanding. I was surprised that no employees reacted quickly to this situation. One of the men from the party told the guy he would give him a dollar if they went outside. Luckily, the man went with him. I heard that the guy offered the man a coupon for free food at Burger King, but the man refused it. I guess free food wasn't in his plan for the money he was collecting. The party later moved to a back room. I swear it must have been everyone's birthday that night. We constantly heard the clanging of a cow bell and singing by the employees. Since we were celebrating my birthday, of course my friend made sure that the employees didn't leave me out...haha! They gave me a free brownie with vanilla I've cream. Not bad...at least it was a soft brownie this time. In previous years, the brownie was rock hard! The place got really dark as the night went on. We arrived there at about 6 pm and it was well lit. By 8:00, it was dark and loud like a club. One cool thing we noticed is that the menus light up as it gets dark. That was really neat! Despite the minor drawbacks, we still left with our tummies full and happy from a great night out with friends. This place doesn't rush you out so it's a great place to just hang with friends.
(3)Paul C.
I learned on this vacation on Oahu that many of the great restaurants are not along the Waikiki strip. Experiencing the diverse cuisine in this amazing city, whether it be $$ or $$$$ signs, requires a little investigative work on Yelp or asking the locals you meet along the way. Uncle Bo's Pupu Bar & Grill was definitely one of those great finds after learning about it from a member of the Hilton staff where I was staying. From the Pupu Menu, you must definitely order the Boca-Rota! The Boca-Rota is garlicky, cheesy, and meaty slices of awesomeness! Another item off the Pupu Menu you must order is the Kalua Pig Fried Rice. There was a generous portion of juicy kalua pig mixed in this great fried rice. For the main course, I ordered the Braised Beef. This was dish was DELICIOUS! The meat was so tender and the sauce so rich in flavor! Another must order dish is the S.O.S seafood platter! This dish was full of fresh lobster, crab meat, clams, scallops, and shrimps in a creamy stew. Rice is definitely needed for this dish on the side, but dipping the pieces of Boca-Rota in there was also a great combination! My brother ordered the Misoyaki Sea Bass and he loved that dish. Our server was amazing! She was super sweet and gave the best recommendations on dishes to order. In fact, all the employees we encountered at this restaurant provided that whole ALOHA spirit thing you kind of expect on vacation in Hawaii. With the dim lighting and compact space, you kind of get that lounge-esque vibe in this restaurant. There seems to be nice mix of locals and tourists that frequent this restaurant. The place was packed during our visit but we managed to get a table in a reasonable 15 minutes. Prices are quite reasonable, considering the large food portions and quality of the dishes. There is a parking lot next to the restaurant with a flat rate of $5. Bring cash because it doesn't accept cards. Otherwise, parking is not plentiful around this restaurant. This is definitely a place I will check out on my next trip to Honolulu!
(5)Diana L.
This place has never let me down. Came here to celebrate two of my friend's birthday. Reservations are highly recommended! I discovered that you can do an all-you-can-eat pupu deal. It will cost you $27.99 per person, with a minimum of 10 people. You will get 7-8 dishes off of the pupu menu, however, it's all the chef's choice. You don't get to decide which dishes you want to eat. Luckily, all of their pupus are good! Of the 7-8 dishes that you are given, you can order as much of it as you want. That is a sweet deal! You can bet I ordered those clams all night long! That price doesn't include drink or tip. Everything that was brought out tonight was delicious. My favorite was the clams. It is just so tasty! Our wait staff was wonderful and very attentive to our party of 10. There is paid parking across the street. In the evening, it comes out to roughly a dollar an hour. Having cash on hand will make the process go by faster. The credit card reader on the machine is very slow. I would definitely come back for another gathering, big or small. They know how to keep their customers happy... And full!
(4)Muranda F.
The meal we had here was easily one of the best meals we have ever had. Yes, it was THAT good. Luckily, we ate here on our very last night in Hawaii because it would have been hard to eat anywhere else after. Coming from NYC, my husband and I treat dining like a sport it was well beyond our expectations. As I first stated : This was easily one of THE BEST MEALS WE HAVE EVER HAD. Pupus : 6 little piggies : EXCELLENCE!!! This is a MUST order item. This was better than good. Boca Rota : Excellent! Delicious and savory. Crabcakes : Really good. Entree : S.O.S : This was one of the best dishes that I have ever had! My husband and I shared this and did not want the meal to end. It is a tad bit spicy, (but not uncomfortably spicy) so I would highly recommend having white wine as opposed to red wine. I cannot rave about this dish enough. My 2 highest recommendations here are the 6 little piggies and the S.O.S. Well done Chef! I can only imagine what the rest of the menu has to offer. The outside of the establishment is very unassuming. The inside is very elegant and clean. I came dressed up and felt perfectly comfortable. Coming casualISH would be okay as well. The service was excellent. From the hostesses to our very friendly waitress, we had a great experience here. Uncle Bo's get 5 stars all around. This place is an absolute must try while in Honolulu.
(5)Alex P.
This place is over priced and the food is tasteless. Not sure who is giving this place such good reviews as the food is so boring. Dont go here, save your money and time, and go to a better returaunt. My wife got the fish tacos, the meat was over cooked, and the sauce was bitter. I got the seafood SOS, the scallops were boiled and the lobster was undercooked. Could not even taste the lobster flavor. A friend got the marinara and meatballs and she said the meatballs tasted like a meatloaf. The ribeye looked like it was a boiled steak. Overall just a wasted dinner experience that costed me $75 for two people. Again save your money and go somewhere else.
(1)Jeanie A.
Uncle Bo's Pupu Bar & Grill is the BEST!!!Love love love S.O.S. But you'll love ALL of the rest of the menu and the desert sooooo YUMMY! This is the place to be, ONO kine grindz!!! Also, most of all the staff is AWESOME and service is fast. They have a GREAT selection of alcohol too and bartender knows how to make it right, just the way you want um. They just opened up another one at "The Haleiwa Town Center".
(5)Vern L.
Service was very slow and food wasn't great. Very disappointed in the overall experience.
(1)Chris C.
The clams were delicious! This is a must try for all you seafood fans. Uncle Bo's is a cool place for pupu and drinks.
(5)Daniel C.
Parking: There is parking across the street and street parking on Kapahulu Ave. If you park on the street after 6pm then it's free which is nice. The parking lot across the street is monitored and you pay before you park. Just remember to put your receipt on your dashboard if you park across the street. Food: The food here is really good and we have eaten various items from their menu. If you have a large group, they have an all you can eat menu of the appetizers. We didn't know it but they do limit you on the items you can choose to eat. Basically there is no seafood in the all you can eat deal. It's a nice way to try all the other appetizers though. After doing it once, we will not be opting for this again in the future. All the items were tasty but not very healthy. Prime rib here is about average. I ordered mines medium rare but it came out medium well which was very disappointing. There wasn't much taste to it but it was a good portion of meat. CLAMS is a MUST! It's definitely my favorite item here. The broth is amazing! I don't really eat bread but for this dish, I make the exception! After eating all the clams, I can't but help soak bread in the broth it's cooked in and inhaling it after. Service and Ambiance: They are 4 out of 5 stars in service here, especially when they are busy. A couple of times our server forgot items we asked for but it's understandable because they are so busy during dinner. I've noticed that the servers are very focused after they take your order. They go from point A to point B without making much eye contact to anyone. Noise here is loud, it's really hard to carry a conversation without repeating yourself at least once. The decor is very contemporary and trendy. When you walk in, you'll first be greeted by the hostesses and notice the bar on the left with the pink neon lights behind their display of alcohol. Noy, bartender at the bar is great and very friendly. He made conversation and always kept checking on us when we just want pupu's and drinks at the bar. In the main dining area, there are a lot of tables just spaced enough between each other to give you your own space when dining. There is also a back room with tables and where we went when we had a large party. It's casual here so you don't have to dress up if you don't want to.
(4)Trish P.
my overall consensus of Uncle's is - the most worth it thing to do here is get the unlimited Chef's special. all day long (not literally of course)! this time around, the server we had was very attentive and super super nice. our dishes this round were: thai style clams - #1 winner!, much better than last time beef and tomato (shaken beef) - winner! artichoke crab dip - last place :( too "chunky" and not dip-like enough fried calamari - standard and tasty dynamite shrimp - winner! nachos - ok, but not a favorite among everyone at the table boca rota - winner! Crab cakes - winner! seriously - grab a group of your friends, and get ready for a feast.... if you need more details, see my first review.
(4)Nancy V.
Their food here was GREAT! Even better, the prices were GREAT! I got the Malaysian Mule (it was really good and gingery), Boca Rota is a MUST, Dynamite Shrimp, Seafood trap, ahi poke. I will have to say the service was great! Food came out faster than I've ever experienced. All the reviews on here about the dynamite shrimp and boca rota are spot on! Definitely a place you have to eat at when you're on the island.
(5)Kristen M.
We recently went here on our vacation. Overall the experience was great. We walked almost two miles because we had heard amazing reviews. This was our "fancy" meal, the last evening before we were leaving. They said the wait would be around fifteen minutes but we were seated almost immediately under three minutes. I loved the atmosphere, dimmed lights and the chain rope enclosing the bar area. Service was great although it was fairly busy. My fiancé and I ordered the garlic ribeye with lobster tail, pasta of the day and vegetables. Our other friend ordered filet and shrimp scampi. She told the waitress she did not like the shrimp scampi and when we received our bill, she had taken it off without us even saying anything, I consider that great customer service. We also ordered the dynamite shrimp for an appetizer and this was amazing as well. My fiancé that rarely eats shrimp tried it and liked it. I would recommend going here if you are in the area, it is worth the wait/walk if not close to your hotel in Waikiki. Mahalo!
(4)Susanne M.
If you are a treasure hunter then the wait is over. Uncle Bo has a culinary adventure that awaits you. You will be setting next to chefs from other restaurants that will fight you for a seat. High energy wait staff and high end eats with outstanding prices. It looks like a dive from the street but OMG it is a secret that only locals share. Urban classic artsy decor. The place is not the canvas. It is the plate that is the canvas. Uncle Bo is the artist. If you love seafood stop and grab the SOS ask for white rice to go with. I will dream of this creation. My husband had the fresh fish which he thought came out of the ocean moments ago. My daughter has the prime rib and it was flopping over the plate huge. Everything was fresh and exiting. The PuPu is a list that Santa would be proud of. I had a lichee nut martini and I fell in love with the fruity nutty flavor and savored ever sip. Thank you Bo I will be back again and again.
(5)Lauren C.
My husband and I were visiting Oahu for the first time and were looking for local favorites. A bartender near our resort recommended Uncle Bo's and it did not disappoint! It was the best meal we had our whole trip. It was even better to escape resort food prices. We were able to purchase four items and two glasses of wine for $65 - not too shabby! We had the Seafood Trap, which was basically a seafood soup, as well as the Dynamite Shrimp and Kahlua Pork Sliders. All three items were beyond excellent. We also ordered the Boca Rota, which is a signature item of the restaurant, but it was too rich for my taste. One note - this place is very popular so make reservations! We did not and were faced with an hour long wait. Fortunately, a spot opened up at the bar and we had our meal there - which is first come, first serve. Enjoy!
(5)Michelle M.
First Visit here and YES I will give it 5STARS for their food! It was around 6pm on a Thursday night where traffic and crowds go through Kapahulu Avenue. We had a reserved table in the back for 28people and their service was amazing when we took our chair. Out came the pupu's one by one on our tables and the first was Uncle Bo's Thai Style Steamer Clams OMG! yes do dunk your bread in the broth and savor the flavor YUMMM. Next Bo Big Nachos with Kalua pig ONO specially with the won ton chips. Then Boca-Rota, Calamari and dynamite shrimp. The flavors I will remember and return on my next trip to Honolulu. Thank you for the amazing service. ** get there early cause it's crowded in the evenings ** MAHALO Uncle Bo's
(5)Daisy R.
1,000th review!! Uncle Bo's is an amazing find in Honolulu,'the food is great, the staff is friendly and the food is fresh every time.
(5)Rica A.
Omg I love this place! Hands down best place ever in hawaii! I was in hawaii for a layover and arrived pretty late and thank goodness this was open. The ambiance is pretty cool. It's a perfect spot to hang with friends and enjoy delicious pupus to share and drinks. Their food is mouthwatering! My favorite was the Boca Rota omg I can't even explain how delicious it was you just gotta go there yourself and try it. I really wanna come back for my Boca rota!!!!!!
(5)Nat W.
I definitely recommend you to make a reservation and come with at least 4 people to Uncle Bo's. Because we didn't have reservation, we were stuck in the back room with cheap chairs and table, along with a huge loud group. Everything is great but huge portioned. I would say order two plates for three people and three plates for four people. You will get plenty of food. So far I have been here twice and ordered dynamite shrimp, Thai clams and Boca Rota. There are so many things I wanna try off the menu.
(4)Nea A.
Creative,clean, flavorful and a joy to share with my family. Uncle Bo's pupus were delicious. We ordered the Yobo Korean chicken wings the hot hapa potato roll, tiger salad, kalua nachos, three little piggies, boca-rota. All very satisfying enough food for five adults. Oh yeah we ordered the fried ice cream and the hobo basket for dessert. Next time we will order the entrées. Mahalo Uncle Bo for the tasteful experience!!! Aloha
(5)Harold R.
We had the Pork fried rice and it was fantastic. It is a great atmosphere. Nifty menus that light up and contemporary music blasting. Loved the place. Parking is limited.
(4)Maria Shea A.
Omg this place is incredibly loud! Food was good...about 3.5/5 and the service was the same. Parking is across the street in a paid lot and we paid a dollar an hour. Do not come here for a romantic night or for conversation, you will not be able to hear each other without yelling! I really expected it to have more of a 'restaurant' volume because of the types of food they serve but there is no restaurant that I know of which is this loud. The moment we walked in the door I was reluctant because of the sound blast. Oh my gosh, wow! LOUD LOUD LOUD! On the way out I saw some very old people walking in who looked genuinely scared. Oh, and also the paper laid across the table cloth is annoying, every time I reach down for my napkin to wipe my mouth I had paper coming up lol. I ripped it and it was much more tolerable after that. My guess is that they are saving on laundry costs by covering it with paper instead of changing table cloth and intending to preserve ambiance by having the table cloths period. And what in the heck is up with those dangling chains in the walkway? Are they steel curtains? I'm not sure but you'll definitely be walking zig zags around them. There will most always be a line for the bathroom because they have one toilet for the ladies and according to my friend; only a toilet and urinal with no dividerin the men's. So I guess men can go as a team of they aren't shy. This is not the place to come for a date or romantic experience. This is the place to come if your friends suggested it because they want to get together and be loud. I personally will not be back unless of course my friends have planned some event here.
(3)Yoselyn F.
When a friend asked what do you want to have for your born day? I knew I wanted a good drink and some meat. My brain blanked out but finally remembered that my favorite steak is Uncles garlic rib eye! I can't believe I had forgotten how amazing and consistent this place is. We got the boca rota appetizer and each had steak. I left 3/4 of mine for a take out bag because mommy was determined to do dessert. I ordered the new beignets. She ordered the brownies. OMG they were huge. Like family style huge! Needless to say we could barely function after having the sweets. Then they hit me with the birthday drink. Unlike lame birthday song set ups at other places Uncles' is accompanied by a smooth shot of something awesome. All around great experience, food and ambiance.
(5)Jenjin N.
I only say a lot when I'm complaining. The food was awesome here. Two words... Boca Rota
(5)Nichole Q.
I LOVE Uncle Bos! Been many times! The only issue is PARKING! The meter was broken so we called the number and paid using the app but our car was still towed. So if you plan on going to uncle Bo's I would suggest street parking or don't bother it's not worth the hassle!
(1)Julia S.
The hype was not there for me. So many places have opened up where you can get better everything. Service, food, DRINKS (they suck here), vibe, etc. The food is greasy and pricey. The calamari I had was over fried and tasted like it was cooked in old oil, the thai clams tasted nothing of garlic and were way too oily, their talked about boca-rota came with two small pieces of prime rib strips in total on the sticks we got... Their drinks? Mediocre. With such an extensive food menu you would think they would have a good drink/beer selection. You'll find your simple martinis mixed with bar syrups, etc here but nothing crafted. Service is scarce and not the friendliest. Music can be too loud. Overall, good place for late night eats, big parties, oily food and decent drinks. But the hype? Yeah not here. Don't fall for it. Parking is street.
(3)Lucia K.
If you haven't ever been to Uncle Bo's just stop reading the reviews right now and just GO! Everything about this place is amazing. The food, ALWAYS delicious. The ambiance, super fun and perfect for groups or even couples! I have never been disappointed by Uncle Bo's Pupu Bar & Grill. The service is amazing, all the waitresses and hosts are really kind and check up on you as needed! Parking is located across the street in the paid parking lot which is like $2 for up to 2 hours in the evening. I had the Chicken Alfredo because there's nothing I love more than carbs, carbs, and I almost forgot, carbs. It was hot and delicious, flavoring was perfect, not too salty like a lot of other restaurants prepare their pasta. I have to tell you, ORDER THE BOCA ROTA, do NOT forget to order the BOCA ROTA! You will thank me, its heavenly. I will definitely be back, no doubt about it.
(5)Toni R.
Hip bar, they have a refreshing menu, looks like this is a hangout place for young locals, very casual laid back vibe. You have to try their Cajun mahi tuna it's phenomenal
(4)Tasha H.
Wow this place was delicious! I highly recommend having dinner here next time you are in Waikiki! Must order: Bo's Nachos- big enough to split for 4 Boca Rota Ahi poke Fun vibe, loud music, stocked bar!
(5)Jin M.
-How to Restaurant- First, the night starts off with a round of fresh Oyster Shooters. Then you wash it down with a cold glass of beer like a champ or sip on one of their delicious martinis like a classy human being. (What's that like? Hahaha, just kiddin
(4)Patty O.
My boyfriend and I agreed that this was our favorite dining place to eat at in Honolulu. Why? Because, two of their entrees were extremely outstanding. 1. Boca de rata - Bread with cheese , and garlic with steak and sauce to eat with the bite sized pieces of bread - 10/10 2. Thai style steamed clams - 1 lb of clams with thai soup, also served with bread. Very tasty, and slightly sweet 8/10 This place gets busy, so either make a reservation, or get lucky and find a seat at the bar (to avoid the wait,..approx 1 hr on a Friday night).
(5)Denyse D.
Cannot express how delicious the food was here!!!!! It was the first time my boyfriend and I visited a pupu bar and we assumed it was going to be tiny tapa-style share plates so we ordered four. We messed up, the servings were absolutely huge BUT it was worth trying everything, it was all delicious!!! We ordered the boca rota, hot hapa potato rolls, kalua pig sliders and uncle Bo's dynamite shrimp. My favourite was easily the boca rota, the mixture of that cheese + that prime rib and mushrooms = heaven!!!! In all honesty all the meals were great, there wasn't one I didn't like. For dessert my boyfriend ordered the fried ice cream and I ordered the Hobos: taro beignets with icecream. The fried ice cream was okay, too much dough for his liking. The hobos are easily one of the highlights food-wise from my Hawaii trip. No idea what they put in it, but the beignets and the dipping sauce, oh my god. MUST TRY!!!! I would definitely come back here when I return to Honolulu, soooooo good!!!
(5)Jessica R.
I love it here! although its kind of pricy the food makes up for it i got the shrimp pasta and it was one of the best pastas i ever tasted!!!! the setting is also cute in their and if you wanna chill and drink theres a bar outside to hang out. our waitress was really nice tonight
(5)Christine N.
This establishment was recommended by bf's cousin before we set off on a foodie adventure for the evening. Our first stop was here to Uncle Bo's. On the outside, you would not expect that the interior has contemporary decor. Parking system $5 flat rate and is on an honor system. You'll hear a clicking sound when you push in the money. Upon entering, you'll be greeted by 2-3 employees at the front. We were expecting a long wait, but we must have lucked out! Literally in and out without any problems. Ordered two waters, Thai style steamed clams $14.95, and the famous Boca Rota $14.95. Complimentary bread also came out, which went well with the clams. Make sure you squeeze several drops of lemon onto each clam bite! mmMmMMMm :) This dish reminded us of a linguini type dish back at home, but did not come with pasta. Everything was DELICIOUS and the winning entree of the night was the Boca Rota yelp.com/biz_photos/uncl… . You definitely will not go wrong if you enjoy meat and cheesy bread! The key ingredient to the dish was their special sauce... *DROOL* We were literally savoring each bite with a smile! That's how delectable it was. These two choices quickly filled our appetite and required us time to digest before our next foodie location. Definitely looking forward to hitting this place up the next time we visit Hawaii :)
(5)Abby S.
I've been here a few times before and the food never disappoints! The atmosphere is cool and later at night they have dance/club music, dim lights, definitely a cool spot to lounge at. The wait can be pretty bad sometimes because EVERYONE just loves coming here, so reservations can definitely save you, especially if your party is going to be a big one! Try the Boca Rota, it's pretty bomb!
(4)Alaysa T.
Excellent food and service. Been here 4-5 times. I am never disappointed with the food. Get the dynamite shrimp pupu. Ask for the bread, its always nice and warm. The nightly specials are always delicious. The place gets crazy busy, so make a reservation. It is a small restaurant with a bar so it can be very loud. Not a good place for kids.
(5)Mei Mei J.
great ambiance/atmosphere! we had the calamari, fried rice & walnut shrimp - highly recommend them!! we went during happy hour - the drinks were good too! looking forward to trying the other items on the menu - ie TONGUE THAI'D SKEWERS beef tongue brined in our special marinade & grilled to perfection
(4)Andrea L.
Came here on a recommendation and was super impressed by the quality and taste of the pupus. It was our first time trying it and they're basically like appetizer dishes. Our favorite was the Spicy Korean Chicken Wings. That sauce was out of this world.
(5)Tim F.
A whole lot of YUMMY is served up in this place. A great spot where the locals dine. This place is very popular so make sure you call in reservations in advance. The place was still packed and had a line out the door at 9:30 pm, on a Wednesday, when we left after our meal. The menu is diverse from, pizzas, pastas, steak, Asian fusion and lots of sea food options. I had the SOS which was a seafood medley in a tomato cream sauce similar to a lobster bisque. There were scallops, shrimp, clams and some sort of white fish. Incredibly awesome. The wife is not adventurous so she stuck with a spaghetti and meat ball plate. She like it and it looked really good too.
(5)Anita L.
This was by far my favorite restaurant that I visited while in Hawaii! A local recommended we go there, and I wasn't disappointed. The food is a pretty awesome fusion of modern Hawaiian mixed with typical restaurant fare, and I loved everything that we ordered. We had the calamari, the taro pulled pork sliders and the Korean fried chicken. All of it was totally delectable but the Korean style chicken stuck out the most to me. It was super crispy, perfectly seasoned and all around just very mouth-watering. I would definitely go here again next time I'm in Waikiki!
(5)Gesina P.
Wtf?!? How did I not know about this place! Love it. One of the last places serving real ceviche in Waikiki! We also had fried rice and the six little piggies. Plus a glass of la crema Pinot noir and a Bacardi diet our bill was only $58 for dinner. Spend a couple of days I waikiki and learn that 40$ barely covers lunch with no drinks. More respect for the head chef who was out bussing tables and enjoyed engaging guests with convo! We actually enjoyed the food here more than Roy's this year and for a fraction of the price. The ambiance was definitely lower key and trendier. We reserved again for tomorrow with our 10 yr old! Come here and not the tourist traps! I'm a foodie from ny and the Bay Area. Have some fun with the whole in the wall joints. The five little piggies was innovative. Bathroom and back room situation a little iffy but still loving the food! Bathrooms definitely need some updating! If your are staying on the diamond head side, it's a very short walk. Overall, good drinks, service and definitely above average pupu's for the 2015 season
(5)JoAnna G.
5 delicious very cool stars!! I fell sort of in love with this place. Awesome atmosphere, rockstar food.. what more could a girl want? Seared ahi was hands down my favorite thing on the menu!!! Woah, perfect texture, melt in your mouth incredible! Boca rota was pretty great too.. Cheese bread and steak, Eh can't really hate that. Also, the brownie dessert was heavenly and if I had been wearing socks, they would have been completely knocked off. Chewy, chocolately, warm brownie with a scoop of perfect smooth simple vanilla ice cream.. Mmmm.. Makes my tummy crazy happy. Love Uncle Bo's!
(5)Rita L.
so we came back from a big party we had reserved the room in the back and it was great! i really was happy with the service! we had a prom theme and decorated the area up! it was fun! i love, love the clams! i love to dip my bread in the clam juice! oh, soo good! the pizza was yummy as well, we had a meat lovers with added mushrooms! this place is really happening, lots of people waiting to get in! love it!!! can't wait to come back and eat my clams!
(4)Jess A.
Sadly, I found this place overpriced for such average food. Uncle Bo's boasts a hip and cool atmosphere but the pricey food is too much for college kids and young adults who would enjoy this place the most. A friend and I went for dinner and could only afford the pupus; we had the Island Style Fried Noodle, the Sweet Chile Calamari, and Uncle Bo's Dynamite Shrimp. Like I said the food was average and my disdain only increased when an hour later I rushed to the ER due to a huge allergic reaction to the cooking oil they used :/ I normally don't get sick from food so that definitely raised a red flag for me. I won't be back!
(1)Brig T.
I am in love. Need I say more?
(5)Ramy I.
Chic Hawaiian tapas and beer. That sums this up in a nice little posh nutshell. Walking into this place, you sorta feel like you're walking into a New York-esque bar-slash-restaurant that's trying a little bit but you don't care. It's Hawaii and it's all good! Anyways, so our group of three friends walk in, and we order from the extensive tapas, aka pupus, menu. We tried the dynamite shrimp which were fried and dressed in a light mayo dressing. Quite good, not too lathered in the white stuff. We also got the tuna carpaccio which were fresh and a bit zingy - in a very good way. You must try that - very refreshing. We weren't too hungry so we ordered beers on top of the two pupu dishes. 5 buck beers - very good, very fair. We all got Widmer Hefeweisens and Blue Moons. Lots of them. We'll go back for sure. And it's open late too which is a big plus! Restaurants close early here in this little 'lulu town!
(4)Jade P.
Just got back from Uncle Bo with my bf and friend....my friend has been telling me abt this place for months ...I was really excited to go and tonight was the night....we came there around 7 and got a table right away...really lucky for a Saturday night...prior of coming , I yelped the place of course for items recommendation.....based on overall recommendations, I think steam clam is a must....my friend who is not a seafood fan ordered calamari....bf and I loooooove seafood ..so we ordered steam clams and nachos...when the calamari came out...my friend gave a stare as if she thought the waitress brought out a wrong order...but it was the right order.....there was a bowl f soup which I have never seen before..I always used to see aoli or cocktail sauce...the calamari had a lot of batter...can't taste calamari..in some pieces it had fish and tons of batter....I don't think the sauce is a good complement ...even my friend said it wasn't like that before...and she goes there a lot before....next came clams and nachos.....nachos was big...we were going to order more food but after seeing nachos it was enough....the clams like most people commented on here..was good ..dipping bread was good too but I felt like a wow factor was missing.....the sauce on the clams taste like the sauce from calamari....other than big portion, the nachos was ok. Overall, I gave it three star cos two of three dishes were average. But I would consider coming back here again since I still want to try other dishes such as shrimp dynamite and BBQ ribs....hopefully it will not be disappointed.
(3)Erin K.
This restaurant is away from the tourist crowd and has a great vibe to it. The food was excellent. My husband had the seafood trap and I got the spicy tofu dip as pupus and the portions were so big that they ended up being our meals! My lychee cocktail was not very good but I am not a big drinker. The seating is very limited so get there early.
(4)Derek N.
The outside doesn't look like much, but the inside is very trendy and clean. The food is amazing (raw oysters are highly recommended). The calamari wasn't such a hit with my table so maybe you should avoid it. I came on a night when the back room was for a private party and there was a ~20 person party in the main room but they let us order food and drinks at the lounge seating right behind the hostess. It worked out to be the best because we got to check out all the eye candy as it came in.
(5)Melissa O.
This is one of our neighborhood dining places where we drop by at least three times a month. The food is hit or miss. Usually miss when too much of one ingredient is used, like mayo, garlic, cream or salt. (Yes, too much garlic can ocassionally be bad.) I absolutely hated the oyster shooters w/the soy sauce mixture vs. tomato/cocktail sauce. The poke has a 50/50 chance of being a miss due to it being too salty, mediocre fish being used or too much non-Maui onion. The one good thing about the poke is the cucumbers in it! The escargo wasn't too bad but the snails were too small for my liking. The spinach salad is excellent as is the steamed clams, clam chowder and the clams linguine. The bar keep is always attentive and we never wait for drinks. As a regular, you just find what you like and keep to that menu and you'll leave stuffed and happy.
(3)George R.
Place a little deceiving at first but once you actually get inside it is a pretty nice place. Didnt eat much food but what we did have was incredible. Dynamite Shrimp was our favorite and probably one of the best shrimp dishes i have had in a long time. Escargot second ( a little overboard on the cheese but would still order it again) Crabcakes another great dish but personal taste would have gone lighter on the thai chili sauce nonetheless still a great dish. We did happen to go a little later in the evening and the crowd was a little rowdy however the bartenders said it is a little calmer earlier in the evening. Definitely going to go back to try the rest of the menu.
(4)Cat S.
My favorite restaurant/bar in all of Hawaii. Great ambiance, amazing food and drinks, fast service and great music. I used to come here quite often with my then boyfriend and we both enjoyed this place a lot.
(5)Teresa C.
Staff was great and very friendly. Food was not that impressive. We expected a lot more quality food for the price. Skip it and head to Roy's instead.
(2)Jesse M.
The wifey and I came to Uncle Bo's after reading up on yelp reviews. You guys did not steer us wrong and we were not disappointed. The bad: The parking is a bit difficult since the restaurant is on Kapahulu, a main thoroughfare of traffic. There is a pay parking lot located across the street but it is poorly lit and somewhat secluded. Not exactly a place you'd want to leave valuables in your car. We pulled into the lot, but luckily a street parking opened up and we parked there. The environment is a bit loud inside the restaurant. From the pictures online I thought it was going to be more of an intimate atmosphere, but when we went the restaurant was packed with people and the noise really built up. On the way to the restroom I noticed there was a more private side room that I suppose is used for large groups and private functions. Either way, after I had a drink or two the noise wasn't even an issue. Now for the good: The restaurant looks great. The decorum is very chique' which is quite surprising compared to the very modest apperance of the exterior. There are low cushioned couches and lounge style seating, in addition to regular chair and table seating. The servers are very attentive. They stopped by frequently to check up on us. The restaurant has a massive bar and drink selection. I didn't venture very far into their drink menu and only had beer for the night but what I saw looked quite promising. Most importantly, the food is excellent! We got the thai-style steamer clams as our appetizer. It came out in a giant steaming dish brimming with clams and vegetables. The sauce was delicious; my mouth is salivating as we speak just thinking about it. The wife got the Baked Opah, which was savory and delicious. I got the Chicken Alfredo which was equally good. The overall quality of the food was great. Dining here made for an excellent evening, and we will be sure to come back again.
(5)todd r.
I had a much different experience than most of the reviewers for this restaurant. We ordered 4 dishes and they were all forgettable or were sent back. 1. Warm spinach salad, The garlic dressing was so thick, intense and bizarre that we had to send this back to the kitchen. Only having a few bites, I still feel the garlic oozing out of my pores. 2. Calamari, this should have been sent back. We received a soggy pile of creamy greasy breaded food. If you scraped off all of the breading and mayo sauce it was edible, but not very good. 3. Scallops, while tasting a little fishy, these were the best of the bunch. They were also subjected to a pool of cream sauce, but that was easily avoided on this dish. 4. Crispy potstickers. Tolerable, but again too greasy and nothing to warrant them costing much more than a cheaper take-out restaurant. Did not taste fresh and was too heavy. The addition of a dipping bowl with only a teaspoon of spicy mustard was just strange. The service was, however, quite good. The bar looked very well stocked, and I would recommend it for a fun place for drinks.
(2)Kalani C.
Visited Uncle Bo's for dinner last night. We were a party of four and seated promptly. We brought our own wine ($10/bottle corkage), but decided to have spicy Bloody Marys (4 stars) to start things off. We ordered their Thai style steamer clams (5 stars), steamed pork dumplings (5 stars), dry rubbed baby back ribs (3 stars) & shaken beef stir fry (4 stars). They brought over a complimentary dish of sautéed sirloin and mushrooms with cheese toast, delicious! (5 stars); this should be permanently on the menu. Service was very friendly, efficient & excellent (4 stars). What can I say, I love this place. Casual, unpretentious; a restaurant dedicated to pupus, how sweet is that?
(4)Denise V.
Go for the Pupu's! It *is* a "Pupu Bar"! Entree's were not that great compared to the Bocca Rota. Heaven!
(3)Stephen R.
Opah Maunakea is the best fish dish ever! Wow. That and a good glass of red wine is what dinner is about. If you love shrimp, they have a dynamite shrimp appetizer prepared the same way. Spinach dip is also good. So many good things. It's reasonably priced, portions are great, love this place.
(5)Megan G.
I really had a great time here. I had family in town and we took them here for some pupus to share. We shared the ceviche, poke, kalua pork fried rice, seafood dip and the cheesy beefy sandwichy dish whose name I cannot remember. It was fun! Good food good wine good service... look forward to a repeat visit!
(4)Rachel L.
I've been here before, for a party. I remembered the food as being tasty and exciting. This visit the food was also good... But I think I am a victim of my own t.v habits. Damn you Top Chef!!!! I ordered the Chilean Sea Bass(aren't they always making sea bass with crispy skin?). It was good, but a bit overpowered by the dill lobster sauce that was too rich with not enough acidity. The portion was huge. And it was an ok dish but I wouldn't order it again. My boyfriend ordered the crispy potstickers with Asian chili sauce, the BBQ ribs and rock shrimp. Now the rock shrimp originally comes with a mayonnaise sauce..(which my bf won't eat). The waitress very accommodatingly suggested we get the shrimp tossed with garlic...uhm...yum!! Little deep fried shrimp with just the right amount of garlic! The ribs were ok. And I didn't get a bite of the potstickers so I guess they were awesome! We did order the boca rota... Prime rib bits mixed with mushroom, bell pepper, and served with cheesy garlic bread!!! Double yum! We finished with the fried ice cream, which was good. Kinda like sweet bread wrapped around ice cream. Not truly fried. It was still good. Overall the portions were huge. The service was friendly and efficient. The food was tasty.
(4)Janice S.
i first thought this place was a tavern off of kapahulu from the looks of it outside. do not judge a book by its cover!! i met up with some friends here and felt underdressed because it was the cutest little lounge inside with all the swanky cool peeps getting their happy hour grub on. i felt like i was rockin the hobo chic look with my slippahs and raggedy beachwear. the food was delicious and the prices weren't bad but we didn't make it in time for happy hour rates so had to pay full-price. i'll definitely come back during happy hour tho! and i probably try to make myself look more presentable ;P
(4)Christina S.
Just went here with my BFF for some pupus and cocktails. Food is delish....definitely coming back for the clams and hamachi sashimi. Didn't like their lycheetini or fried ice cream. It's like an undagi with ice cream inside. It's pretty loud in here so if you're trying to have a convo...or girl chat like me then it may not be the best place to do it.
(4)Nissa G.
Pretty good, portions are large on the pupus! Try the fried rice! Yum
(3)Shay F.
I've been here a few times...and I enjoy their food, but nothing really sticks out in my mind.
(3)Cyndi C.
Soooooooooo happy we found this place last year. It's where the locals go for excellent food and fun. The Dynamite Shrimp is to die for as well as the Calamari & fried rice. Portions are huge so be hungry when you get there or else you'll find yourself wishing you could take the left overs home to you hotel room but you only have a tiny fridge :-(
(5)Dav S.
Maybe I didn't get the right stuff. Already, when I entered this place, I thought they were trying too hard. Of course, it was a Sunday night so the place was a bit empty. We came here because friends suggested this place, although it wasn't on my original itinerary (perhaps there was a reason why). We ordered what was suggested by our waitress. The dynamite shrimp was drowned in the aioli and the steamed opakapaka chinese style fish was a bit dried and bland. There was no wow factor except for the price. I was definitely disappointed. Do come back for the drinks and have some pupus elsewhere.
(2)Dan R.
Good pupu!
(5)Valentina A.
A-okay place that I personally didn't find too impressive. Super crowded and the decor reminded me of some night club/bar. The tables are small and close to each other thus creating a cramped feel. Food was also just okay...a bit greasy. Garlic shrimp was good though, but nothing spectacular. Pupu plates are the way to go there.
(3)C O.
My wife and I have been here a few times now and I think its time to provide Bo (and my dearest yelpers) with a bit of feedback. This restaurant is trying to do way too much with a kitchen that doesn't seem to be up to the challenge and with a budget that doesn't allow for the best ingredients to make it happen. I'm incredibly cautious when I see a "fusion" bar and grill that does pizza, pasta, fish, steak, asian, and dessert. Each time we've visited Uncle Bo's we've confirmed where that trepidation comes from. They cannot seem to do anything great---everything we've had is just, eh, alright. Something is inevitably undercooked, overcooked, soggy, burned, full of fat and gristle, or season to the point of being inedible. They are sooooo close to good---just not there yet. They have an impressive bar and the barkeeps have a strong hand. Sometimes that translates to quality drinks and other times it translates to a martini that tastes only like vermouth. Come early---or make a reservation. You can park across the street. It's always bumping inside and the staff is helpful and full of good energy. I cannot say I'd recommend anything on the menu but at least their top shelf vodka is good:)
(3)Aya T.
I didn't eat any food so this review is for the bar only. PROS: Modern space, nice martini menu (my faves were the Pomegranate and Sunday Afternoon Delight), full bar (nice selection of vodka), drink prices were great, chill atmosphere. Good place to hang out with friends. CONS: Our first waitress was terrible, seemed to only take a few orders at a time while ignoring others at our table. We were a big party so you would think the waitress would have paid extra special attention to us but she didn't seem to care. Only 2 bathroom stalls so there is a line to use the restroom. Some of the people at my table ordered the nachos which came with Kalua pork and wonton chips that looked pretty tasty. The portions on the food looked pretty big as well. I will come back for drinks since it was affordable but I think there are better bar options here in Honolulu.
(3)Kristen C.
Came here for dinner w/o reservation for a group of 6 and we were lucky enough to get a table in the back but had to leave before 930 because there was a party with reservations. It was only ~7:30 so we had plenty of time. From the looks of the outside you would be surprised when you walk in because it is actually bigger and way nicer than it looks from the outside so just step right in and give it a try. However, they have 2 different rooms, the front of the dining area is more chic like a lounge and bar area with oddly metal chains hanging right in the middle of the walk way between the bar and tables. In the back area, which is were we sat seems more intimate with white paper table clothes and lit up candles. There was also a projector and screen playing television shows, on this night nbc, so that was kinda of odd too. Anyway, we were seated and our drinks were taken. Since half of our party wasnt there, it give us time to look over their menu and they have a lot of pupus along with some steaks, seafood, pizza and pasta. When the rest of our party came they looked over the menu and we were ready to order. Most just got pupus to share while I shared this seafood bake with shrimp and opah encrusted in a panko parmesan crust with mash potatoes. Other things that were ordered were the manilla clams which comes w/ bread, kalua pizzza with ham, pineapple, mushrooms and onions, the ribs, chicken wings, kalua pig nachos w/ wonton chips, and some kind of seared ahi. After waiting a few mins or so the food came out pretty fast. As for my dish I was kind of dissapointed because it only came with 2 pieces of shrimp when the description of it made it sound like it would have more. Nevertheless it was good, and the fish was well flavored and moist. The potatoes were also pretty good. As for the other dishes, I sampled the clam broth dipped w/ the bread and that was really good and the pizza was also good, the crust is thin and crispy with big chunks of ham and pineapple. I also tried the "nachos" and those were really good, they replace tortilla chips with wonton chips which adds a really unique and local twist to the usual nachos. Throughout the meal our dirty dishes were taken away and but our waters werent really filled in a timely manner so I was left with an empty cup till we ordered dessert. Even though I was really full I couldnt pass up dessert, especially since they had fried ice cream! So we got two of those, one for each half. Awhile after, the waitress brings a soup cup of ice with the spoons in it so that was odd...i guess we need cold spoons to eat w/ your dessert? haha...Anyway, awhile after our ball of fried ice cream comes and the first thing i notice is that its fried in an andagi ball!!! YUM! At first it was a bit hard to break into it because the middle of the ice cream was still a bit hard but the shell was still a bit hot and nice and crispy...mmm...Overall the food was pretty good but beware of the temperature because its cold, at least in the back it was and it even got colder when the night progressed so bring a jacket if you're sensitive to the cold as I am =P
(4)Kevin R.
DELICIOUS margaritas! It helped that I was with people who "knew people". We got a table fast on a Saturday night. The service was great. The servers are all "easy on the eyes". Uncle Bo created something off the menu for our party. It was so ono! I will be returning soon.
(4)Sierra F.
EXCELLENT service , AMAZING food
(5)Peggy L.
My friends and I stopped here on the way to a concert. The service was fast and friendly and the food was AWESOME! I loved the seared ahi and the shrimp appetizer was great, too. Can't wait to go back! They are busy so go early or be patient...
(4)Elaine Y.
My friends and I were hungry and didn't know where to go. We asked the bell desk at our hotel and the guy said to go to, "aco'po's." I was thinking, "Aculpocos? A Mexican restaurant"? We asked him again the name and he said, "Aco'Pos." Coming from LA the day before we were still not used to the local acent, so we had to ask him to write it down. He wrote the magical restaurant's name, "Uncle Bo's." I have to admit, I was first very suspicous of a place called, "uncle" anything. We parked across the street at the little lot for $5.00. We later discovered you can probably find street parking for free. The food is kind of asian fusion (which I usually dislike) but they made it work at Uncle Bo's. We walked in and there was a swanky bar and restaurant. We were taken to our table passed this bar and restaurant area, to an exended portion of their restaurant. This part had a huge projection screen TV and had more of a casual feel to it. It was a bit cold in this extended area and I actually felt like if the restaurant/bar in the front was someone's house, we were sitting in someone's garage with a big projector tv. If you are going with friends, I don't think it matters where you sit, since the food is the same. If you want to have a "nicer" feel to your meal, maybe reserve a seat in the front of the restaurant, near the bar. We ended up ordering Manila clams, chinese chicken salad, a steamed opakapaka fish and dynamite shrimp. Hands down, the manila clams were amazing. We used the bread to sop up all the sauce. The fish was also ridiculously flavorful and fresh. I would skip the salad and the shrimp. The salad didn't have anything special to it, and the shrimp was over sauced and breaded for my taste. I like seafood to be simple and flavorful and not oversauced or breaded. I am glad my friends and I ordered a bunch of food and shared it so we can try out different things. I would definitely come to this restaurant again when I visit Honolulu.
(4)Erin M.
Definitely one of my favorite spots to go for drinks, pupus or dinner. Great atmosphere. Cool artwork, unique drink list, good wine selection, and great food. I love the Ginger Bliss cocktail...it's whiskey (and i'm no whiskey drinker) but it's excellent. Their dynamite shrimp, calamari and spicy tofu dip are my favorite pupus. Their food comes in good portions. I like their warm spinach salad and seafood curry dish
(5)Julie C.
Uncle Bo's is PHENOMINAL!!! Every time we come to Hawaii (about once a month) we go to Bo's 2-3 times and every single thing we have had there is unbelievably great! Staff is friendly and Bo makes you feel like you are a welcome guest in his home! We have had Boka Rota, Dynamite shrimp, Calamari, Ceviche, Potstickers on the Pupu menu and all are to die for! Baked Opah Mauna Kea, all the steaks are fantastic and I recently had a daily special of Opah topped with scallops and shrimp with a lobster dill sauce that was delicious. Best of all, prices are reasonable-not a rip off like alot of other Waikiki restaurants. I'm torn writing this review because now it will be more difficult to get in as Bo's popularity increases!
(5)James B.
The food at Uncle Bo's is ok, but too expensive. They have some good dishes but you are mainly paying for atmosphere. This place has gotten very trendy and I think people rate this place so highly based on the scene rather than the food. If you want good food go next door to Irifune.
(3)Manuel Labor J.
Drinks and Ho Suk Lee were great.
(4)Alicia L.
We made a decision to come here based on other yelpers. It is definitely a 4 star-er. As an appetizer, my hubby and I had the dynamite shrimp. Although it looked very good and tasted very good, it's definitely not something you could eat a whole lot of. It was extraordinarily heavy and creamy. It might have been better with some rice...or a little less of their sauce. I had the seafood pasta dish without clams and it was very good. It had a distinct taste to it that I haven't tasted with any other pasta dishes. I would have it again if i had a chance. My hubs got their steak. He seemed to like it. The place is a very casual place. We had dinner there around 6, so it was just starting to get busy. There is a full bar there, so it appears that this place turns into a hang out place later on at night.
(4)Sue W.
Uncle Bo's has been recommended to me by all my local friends as a great bar lounge feel restaurant with great pupus! We tried the recommended, dynamite shrimp, huge portions a little too much mayo, which seems to be a Hawaiian thing but still really good. The seared Cajun ahi was so good, my favorite. The poke was good, a little more time in the marinade would have helped, but really fresh simple poke. Kalua pig nachos was huge and gotta love the bacon and nachos thing! I would stick to pupus and make a meal out of them with a bunch of friends and lots of drinks!
(4)Chad K.
I wasnt expecting the menu to be as diverse as it was nor was i expecting such a crowd on a wed night. Im not sure if it was just a few large parties or if thats the norm for Uncle Bo's on a weekday. I would describe the decor in the front room as a mixture of contemporary and industrial, a very hip look to it. They have a metal chains? bound together like drapes hanging through the length of the room which is a bit obtrusive when trying to navigate to the rear room. It does provide quite the look though but doesnt seem very practical being that you have to weave between them while everyone stares at you as you enter. The rear room where we were seated was more of an addition for extra seating and serves that purpose, its not really decorated as intensely. The appetizer list was very long and everything sounded good. We tried the spinach artichoke dip, it had a good amount of artichoke and spinach but it lacked seasoning, I dont hold this against them at all however because I prefer "not enough" over "too much". We both ordered the fillet minon which for $19 for which I was skeptical but it turned out to be very very tender! It did lack a bit of seasoning(again) but I tend to like my steaks on the simple side, though a dash of salt was missing. The fillet was also a little larger than normal file ts and again it was so tender, i would easily get it again. I appreciated the fact that the fillet wasnt marinaded in butter like other steak houses do, the steak is flavorful enough in my opinion. Aside from the lack of seasoning on the appetizer and the steak, which doesnt bother me, my only criticism would be the noise. It gets really loud in the back room so if your dining for two you may feel as if youre having to yell at your date. The food and the drinks I would highly recommend, the only drawbacks are the parking, having to cross a 6 lane street at night on kapahulu ave can be challenging and the noise level. I would easily go there again. 3.5 stars!
(4)Harry D.
Awesome! cool vibe, the food was pretty good! Good deal for the small plates, and good drinks. I'll definitely go back next time in HNL, maybe late night it would be real fun
(5)Matt M.
This place is dope! We left from Side Street and shuffled on over to Uncle Bo's. I didn't have food because we had just eaten but the beers were great. I had myself a nice Sierra Nevada and was damn happy to have it. The service was great. The crowd was a nice hip group. The place is clean and spacy. I will be back for sure. Definitely a great place to spend an evening.
(4)Coco H.
Best Pupus on the island! The dynamite shrimp is just that. Great service and cool local vibe. We came back twice in one week because it's "the spot". Shout out to Ross!...Super waiter. I would have given 5 stars but they need to improve the martini recipes and clean up the woman's rest room.
(4)Y C.
Ok, more like 3.5 stars because 1) decor is cool 2) vibe is loungy 3) pupus are good 4) drinks are way decent. But the dinner, except for the huge portions, are lukewarm and inconsistent in quality. And not sure if they redid the back room? I think this is where all the larger parties are relegated to (or was it the ultra-cool, or the exact opposite people, go? :). The back room was kinda ghetto and didn't fit in with the overall vibe of the place. Parking is across the street in an unpaved, semi-lit lot where sometimes homeless people hang out. Or there is street parking along Kapahulu if you can find it.
(3)Peter M.
The food was very delicious. I'm European and stay on the island for 4 month. Since i arrived in march, this was the best food we had until now. I really like the style of the Restaurant, something between a bar and a restaurant.
(5)Izzy B.
Absolutely terrible food and way overpriced for the garbage they served. Pizza tasted like Tombstone. Sauteed vegetables were soggy and clearly not fresh. How could they charge over $20/plate for such truly awful food?
(1)Gina L.
Hawaiian fusion cuisine in a hip restaurant in Kapahulu, a nice break from Waikiki. A good place to meet friends for drinks and pupus. Street parking only.
(4)Dana F.
I LOVE this Bar/ Restaurant, I am recently 21 and ever since I turned 21 five of my friends have had a birthday dinner here, we have never left unhappy with service, drinks, or food! Parking wasn't free, but it was convenient, right across the street, 3.00 for the night; not that bad. When you look at the restaurant from the street you wonder if this is really IT, but when you walk it the atmosphere is very chill and hip always filled with a young/outgoing crowd! I recommend that you make a reservation and go with around ten people, they will either give you the room in the back or in the front where all the action is! I had a blast in both sections! For food I strongly recommend the Sauteed Sea Scallops, Spicy Tuna Wraps, and the Dynamite Shrimp as appetizers! As for drinks, Uncle Bo's has awesome Martinis! All different flavors, I personally like the Pomegranate flavor. A full bar with a wide selection of beer and wine is also a PLUS! Although haven't eaten a full meal here, I have heard the main meal food was okay/good. Pupus and drinks along with good atmosphere and company is all I need to make me happy.... See you there! :)
(5)Jason D.
Went here on a recommendation from a friend and was quite suprised when we walked in. We were expecting a bit of a dive, but inside, the place is beautiful, hip and sleek, while still being inviting. We enjoyed our meal so much we went back the next night as well. We were told to stick to the pupu's, and there were so many options that it was easy to do! The Seared Cajun Ahi with Honey Glaze was probably some of the best ahi I have EVER had, in fact we ordered it both nights! The scallops were big and juicy and cooked to perfection The Dynamite Shrimp was just that, Dynamite!! (Had it both nights as well) The only somewhat dissapointment was the Crab and Artichoke Dip. This dish anywhere else would have been good, but it did pale compared to the other dishes on our table. I also wanted to share that the two of us ate 4 plates and had 2 cocktails each and were pleasantly full and our bill was only $60.
(5)kesha t.
Ive been there twice and each time i wasnt disappointed! I wasnt absolutely wowed but it is still good eats. Fun atmosphere with lots of space for larger parties. I like the shaken chicken and their pastas.
(3)Hideki K.
I went to Uncle Bo's on Valentine's Day with some friends. I was only able to order the firecracker shrimp and the oyster shooters, but both the dishes were delish, especially the oyster shooters ! I'm definitely coming back here on my next visit to HNL.
(5)D J.
Aww Yea this place is the goods. Get some Pupu's with yo friends. Seafood ceviche was awesome, parm crusted shimp was awesome, seared ahi was delicious.
(5)alejandro m.
This will be my fav hangout from now on... great atmosphere, great food, great drinks and great service. We got a table right away and we had drinks on our hands within 5 minutes of sitting down. I recommend ordering from their pupu menu and have a tapas style dinner. We order the walnut shrimp wraps- superb and their fish tacos have to be tops in the island.
(5)Brad F.
This was my third time to Uncle Bo's and i took my girlfriend there for the good drinks, and excellent food. My close friend and his buddy went there a week earlier and hated the food! But i knew that good ol Uncle Bo wouldnt let me down so i had to make sure they were still great. I order the Seafood trap apetizer (the best broth i have ever had) and of course their prime rib fire seared.... AMAZING! I sat their the whole night raving about how it was the best steak i had ever had. Will always go back to this place and most likely bring my family when they are in town.
(5)Michael B.
"ORGASMIC" is the word. This place does deliver a Decliious delectible treat to your tastebuds. The pesto pasta is so filling yet tastey enough to compliment say....a Mai Tai. Speaking of Mai Tais, have the bartender serve you what they call a Hawaiian Iced Tea like you're not certain it will give the kick it would. They will definitely pour the 4+ liquors with a heavy hand then. Don't get the escargot, the true taste is masked by the butter and cheese. DEFINITELY get the Thai-Style Steamer Clams and lap that muthalovin sauce up with some nachos or bread. Yea, I said it... BREAD. =P.
(4)Mari C.
great food and lots of tasty cocktails to choose from. :) went with my husband, my cousin, and my cousin's girlfriend. there was a bit of a wait (saturday night), but that was to be expected. the only thing about this place is that it's LOUD. it was tough to hear from time to time, but it IS a bar, so....again, that's to be expected. other than the noise level, it was a great experience and we will be going back again!
(4)Maria B.
The boca rota is awesome, I also enjoy the clam appetizer and the prime rib. Its a great place for large parties or just hanging out with the hubby.Very modern and cool vibe. And theyre open late so perfect for a bite afterwork or partying
(4)JJ G.
The wife and I loved the place! Pupu's were outstanding. Need to have one in Reno / Sparks Nevada.
(5)Kristine T.
My bf and I ate dinner here our last night in paradise *sniff, sniff It's in a cutty little area, would have never discovered it if it wasn't referred by fellow yelpers. We stuck with the pupu menu. Everything was pretty delicious - oyster shooters, (couldn't really find these anywhere else in HI !) fried oysters (my fav.), potstickers were good, a little plain though, dynamite shrimp was good but very, very, VERY rich, and the spicy tuna dish was a little strange to me. The seaweed seemed to be flavored oddly so when you ate it you couldn't really taste anything aside from the salty seaweed. I had the Crossings Pinot which was good, my bf enjoyed his Tempranillo but the pours were a little small. Service was pretty good. Dinner ( 6 small plates) and 3 glass of wine only came out to $60 ! The only bad thing, and I almost gave a 3 star rating was the very loud, slightly obnoxious club and techno music that was playing during dinner. Not really my thing so that was my least fav. but if you like this or it doesn't bother you then definitely try Bo's !
(4)John L.
If there were pupu's heaven, this is it! The quality of food is as good as 5 stars restaurant. Our server, Regan, was very helpful and friendly. The service was fast and attentive. Our tour guide, Kieko from the ATV tour recommeded this place to us. It is away from Waikiki but totally worth the trip and away from all the tourist. We had the dynamite shrimp, fried calamari, ahi poke & dynamite tuna roll. I highly recommend the dynamite shrimp & fried calamari. They were amazing & delicious! One thing tho, they serve big portion. So make sure you either go there hungry or with group of people. We would definitely go back & recommend this place to everyone!
(5)Lili G.
food was good but service was a bit rushed. our waitress and busser kept on asking us if we were finished with our plates not long after it was served. warning: do not park in the prepaid lot across the street. in my rush to go eat, i inadvertently left my ticket upside down on the dash board only to find a boot on my car and had to pay $160. no leniency whatsoever from hawaii boot removal. obviously trying to make a quick buck!
(3)Hillary J.
not bad, great service, good atomsphere - a little too much sweet ness in their food for my liking, but i will be back for sure..
(4)David E.
Three stars for the food. Five stars for the scenery. Four overall. This place is totally like Hooters in terms of the service. Tight shirts, tight shorts, and tight bodies. :-D The food was decent. Nothing to write home about. Our party had the nachos with kalua pork, warm spinach salad, kids corn dog, and the maumakea. The nachos were ok. They were a bit wet, which made the chips soggy. There was a bit too much ham and not enough kalua pork but the mix was great and gave it a nice salty flavor. The chips were GREAT! I just wish it had not gotten so wet with the toppings. The fries were better than the corn dog. The corn dog tasted like one you would make at home out of the box. (per the 10 year old who had the pleasure of this meal.) The wilted spinach salad was fairly good. It was nothing to write home about though. Decent choice if you want a salad. The best by far was the maumakea. The sauce on the fish was perfect. It made me wish I had skipped the nachos and just had this instead. So yeah, the food was ok. But like I said, the servers were cute and the service was good, so four stars.
(4)Justin S.
Food is pretty good here and reasonably priced. This place gets crowded at the beginning of the night so my advice is to make a reservation. Don't order an entree, that kinda kills the whole point of coming here. Order 4-5 different pupus and kick back with some drinks. The waitresses are cute here as well guys. Not the reason to go but its always a plus. Also great place for a date. It's fun and the place has a great ambience.
(4)Melissa L.
This restaurant is amazing. The first time I came, I had a great experience eating dinner and having drinks with friends. I had the shrimp dynamite and the opakapaka which were both very flavorful dishes. the cocktails were yummy too. I loved the atmosphere, a great place for friends to get together and just hang out. Tonight I went there again because my friend decided to have her birthday here. Another amazing experience!! We tried the chef special (10 people or more) which consists of limitless appetizers all night for 25 dollars per person. She would keep bringing in food until everyone is full. This place has a very extensive appetizer menu with lots to choose from so there were lots of variety. Unfortunately no take out is allowed but there's always a catch to these things but it didn't really bother us at all seeing as what a great deal it was This was a great idea for large gatherings because then everyone could share family style and eat a variety of different foods. The waitress was really nice, food was fast without sacrificing taste or freshness, very reasonable price, and great drinks. I had the blueberry lemon drop which was good, and my friend ordered the honeydew melon martini which was also awesome. The only drawback from me giving this place five stars was the atmosphere Luckily we were placed in the back area where the larger parties sat because in the main dining room the music was pretty loud which may make it difficult to hear one another, but other than that, I would definitely come back and get the chef special because it really was worth every penny!!
(4)Jerrel C.
cool atmosphere, good food and reasonalbe prices for drinks....the clams are my favorite.
(4)Reiko S.
This place is really good but you need to know what to order. The boca rota is great and the ribs. Salads are just alright. Pastas are ok too heavy for me. Dynamite shrimp is really good too. Shrimp lettuce wraps are just alright. Stick with apps and you can't go wrong. It gets four stars because service can be slow.
(4)jacko l.
Expect a wait. We waited 30 min. on a Friday night, but its well worth it. Seemed like a locals hangout. Great Italian/Asian fusion. Pretty hip vibe. Dark, red, a little loud, and great food. Loved the cheesy bread with chicken and mushroom. Nice crunch and texture contrast. By far the best dish we had there. Steamed clams were ok. Too sweet. Tasted like it had MSG in it. Seafood pasta was on point with huge scallops, good sauce and al dente pasta. Would go back again.
(5)Micha C.
This is a hole in the wall that's got it right! Friendly staff and HUGE plates! Prices were just right for the amount of food and the quality. It's a fun place to go with your girl friends to just chat and catch up. It can get really crowded here on weekends.
(5)Namahana S.
My favorite place for my pau hana I absolutely love the atmosphere there and the customer service always kicks ass I almost never have to ask for a another drink and my favorite severs always make sure im taken care of even if there already off uncle bo's is my cheers and have nothing but praises for them I'll see u guys for my weekly fix
(5)Anne M.
My last night in Hawaii was a few nights ago and my friends and I, we decided to go eat somewhere a little more local than the restaurants found on Kuhio or Kalakaua. The restaurants on those streets are pretty much the restaurants that we can find in San Francisco. So Cheryl's friend Lauren directed us to Uncle Bo's a restuarant on Kapahulu, just a 5-10 minute drive from the main strip. From the outside, the restaurant looked a little questionable but as we walked through the doors, the place was pretty swanky. The front are is more of a bar/lounge where you can sit and have pupus or dinner along with your drinks. Since there was no room in the lounge for a party of 3 we opted to eat in the back. We were kind of scared that we would be by the bathroom but when we entered the backroom it was very clean and very inviting. Later on in the night, we met Uncle Bo, the chef who informed us that ther person who designed the restaurant is actually from San Francisco. It explained the the semi-chic atmosphere. The three starving girls that we were (it was already 10:30pm and the last meal we ate was at around 2:00pm.) we decided to order pupus and a main course. I, of course, ordered th ahi poke, Marj ordered the calamari, and Cheryl ordered a beef pupu. Then we each ordered a pasta dish. When the pupus came out -- ohhhh MAN! They were HUGE. We didn't expect them to be soo big. They were pretty much meal-sized. The prices, however,were sooo reasonable and that we didn't expect the ffod to be so abundant. reluctantly, I began to eat the Poke, afraid that I was eating what I was paying for. I was a little scared that the fish would be old and icky but as soon as I took the first bite, it was HEAVEN. Absolutely delicious! Needless to say, we canceled our main course items and stuck with the pupus. We ordered three more dishes to share with each other and dessert as well. This place was definitely worth going to and next time I go to Honolulu, this will FOR SURE be a must go place before departing back to the mainland.
(5)Justin S.
Tried Uncle Bo's for the first after driving by it 100's of times. We had dinner and it had potential, but it was just OK. My wife and I might give it another shot, but it might just be for a cocktail and pupu's, not dinner.
(3)marc a.
We took a four night vacation to Honolulu in late March and ended up starting off our night at Uncle Bo's two of those nights. Just that fact alone is a testament to this place's replay value. The bartender at our hotel, obviously a local, recommended this place to us because of its ability to host large groups of people who enjoy good food and good drinks over good conversation. If you're looking for classically trained French cuisine and white tablecloths, this isn't your spot. What impressed me about this place wasn't its extravagance, but rather its contemporary setting that makes even the most touristy or tourists feel a hint of their own local watering hole, a six hour flight from home. Ho Suk and Bo, partners in this venture, immediately establish this foundation with their welcoming and friendly attitude. The servers obviously have a healthy working environment and are eager to please. We actually ended up hitting the bars with our server on the second time around! Hawaiian hospitality was exceptional. Personally, the more enjoyable experience was sharing a plethora of appetizers over beer and shots of whatever your heart desires from their fully stocked bar. There was also an impressive wine selection for those of you with more refined palettes. Memorable dishes included steamed clams in an amazing broth, dynamite shrimp, and oyster shooters. The entire menu was comprised of dishes I would love to eat when drunk: heavy use of mayonnaise and definitely not afraid to use the deep frier. However, these aren't pupus you'll find at your local TGI Friday's. At the point of presentation, you can tell that these selections were thoughtfully created by a trained chef combining years of experience in the restaurant business into cuisine that fits the venue. The dishes were far from simple, but combined familiar flavors and ingredients in ways that were frustratingly logical. The menu had me thinking "Why didn't I think of that?" for the majority of the night. Then I remembered that the extent of my culinary knowledge could be summed up in a two page essay. At the end of the night, it was all about the hospitality. Bo and Ho Suk are definitely hands-on restauranteurs, and it definitely upgrades the value of the dining experience they're selling here. If you enjoy great company over drinks with cuisine to match, you must check out Uncle Bo's if you're ever in this neck of the woods. These two definitely have something special going on here.
(5)Beauty C.
Food was so awesome! Eat the tofu mushroom dip.... To die for! Their drinks are good too! Kept getting the blue martini.. Can't remember the name... But yummy!
(5)Cheryl D.
Hi Anne!!! I loved Uncle Bo's too! It was pretty inside - and open late! The food was SO good. Outside did not match inside - but it's part of the charm... it made me feel like I was really finding a local secret. Thanks Lauren! Uncle Bo came by to say hi and ask us how we were enjoying our food - nice touch for any restaurant. At our request he open one in San Francisco - he said the designer was SF based.San Francisco designer indeed - it had the metallic ball strand curtains like Sake Lab - with better lighting and furniture- very see and be seen but not frou frou. I wore flip flops =) Why else did those two guys find their way back to our table? If you want to try everything - like we did - go for the pupus - which are generous. The oyster shooters were so fresh we didn't use the hot sauce. Uncle Bo's shrimp was tasty and perfectly cooked. I finished with a lychee sorbet. Very refreshing. Anne - YES!!! We will have to go again next time.
(5)Damon K.
Omg! Everything is unique and original. The good is supreme. Perfectly cooked with sauces that wake up dormant taste buds. The combination of ingredients is genius. The food comes out super fast. The staff help one another so that your service is fast. Amazing atmosphere but very noisy. The art work is awesome from a local. Place is very busy on weekends with long waits. Make reservations
(5)Clarissa M.
Five stars for the service and taste and quality of the various pupus our table shared. We completely devoured the Thai Style Steamer Clams (not spicy at all and broth so tasty especially when you soak the house bread in it), Bo's Big Nachos (something about crispy won tip chips makes your mouth salivate even more), Cajun Seared Ahi (not spicy at all and fresh fish seared just right), Boca-Rota (totally unique pupu that is worth a try. Barely could taste the garlic though and I love garlic), mini prime rib sandwiches on taro bread with sides of horseradish and au jus sauce (I'm not a fan of taro bread so this dish was my least favorite and the meat was colder than I would have preferred), fried ice cream (ice cream was so frozen had to let it sit to defrost before eating. Patience is rewarding though so tasty), and warmed fudge brownie ala mode (definitely a just try for chocolate lovers). We left around 10:30 pm and by that time the restaurant turned into a club - dimmed lights and pumpin music. Regardless of the chaos and noise that typically comes with this environment the service was dead on attentive, efficient, and friendly!
(5)Amy L.
A night of good food, good friends, good conversation, laughter and of course and abundance of alchoholic beverages started off at Uncle Bo's. My friend last night said he loves the atmosphere here at Uncle Bo's and he can loudly say so beause he is an "Atmosphere Whore"...and with a claim like that you can believe him. Ceilings draped with light fabric and ever changing colors of mood lighting gives off a touch of modern flair. We ordered a variety of tapas to share (see pics). I loved the Cajun Seared Ahi, definitely one of my favs of the night. Fresh fish, seared perfectly with the crust on the outside and rare on the inside. Flavored great with a little afterkick of the Cajun spices. The calamari is a must. It's not the calamari that I loved but the sauce that accompanied it. Wok-fried w/ choy-sum & fresh tomatoes in sweet chili sauce...so different and it worked great as a dipping sauce for the calamari that was crispy and the squid was fluffy, not chewy and rubbery at all. The escargot and boca-rota was good...at first. After a while, it just tastes heavy. Must be the overwhelming toppings of the cheese and butter. I wasn't impressed with the Rib Eye steak...too much fat, lack of flavor, and definitely not the best cut of meat. It was a bit chewy, tough, and not tender. But do you know what I absolutely thought was really really really good here? BREAD BASKET! Yes, the bread that you have to request for them to bring out was amazing. Fresh baked bread, a slight crisp crust on the outside, soft soft soft on the inside. I loved it and dipped it in the sauce that came with the calamari. I'm trying to cut down on white carbs but I wanted to order another basket. I would definitely come back to try the other items on the menu. This place does a great job of a fusion of the local flavors of Hawaii and offers a great place to hang out with friends for a night of drunken fun. MUST GET THE BREAD! BTW...did you know that chicks dig guys with a farmer's tan?
(3)Misty P.
Holy crap this place rocks. I love their creative menu and pupus. Great food, atmosphere and drinks. I love that they have a wide selection of beers including Newcastle *and* Tiger beer! I think it's the only establishment on the island that I have seen that sells Tiger beer. Totally reminds me of Thailand and Vietnam. Anyways, the food here comes out fast and it is delicious. The Thai steamer clams are yummers as well as the dynamite shirmp, roasted pork with jalapeno salsa, boca rota - which is cheese and prime rib dip with flat bread (holy cow!), and the Asian inspired oyster shooters are out of this world. The only downside is that the place is tiny and if you don't get here early, good luck getting a seat. They don't take reservations either. Parking also is not available so, you either have to park in the pre paid lot across the street or just find street parking. Nevertheless, the negatives are totally minor compared to the service, food and drinks.
(5)Blake T.
The night I moved to Oahu from the mainland I got settled into my new place and Google searched a restaurant nearby. Twenty minutes towards Waikiki later I ended up at Uncle Bo's. This restaurant was not much to look at from the outside and I started to question the good reviews I read on Google. When I walked inside I was immediately relieved at the ambiance of the restaurant and all the beautiful girls there. I took a seat at the bar and the bartender took my drink order right away. I perused the menu and decided on a few pupu's. It seemed pretty pricey but I was hungry and ordered the calamari and pot stickers. When I got my food I realized that the price was pretty reasonable for the portions. The calamari was cooked to perfection and the pot stickers weren't too bad either. I was starving and ate as much calamari as I could but the pile of squid didn't seem to dwindle. After looking around I realized that this place was perfect for a group of people to order four or five appetizers and be completely satisfied. My roommate took me there a week later and we had the Boca-Rota... WOW! The garlic bread used as the base for the delicious and tender prime rib, mozzarella and soft, sauteed mushrooms was just what this ha'ole needed, especially washing it down with a nice Black and Tan. I've been there several times since and still ate the Boca-Rota... in case you haven't gotten the hint, order the Boca-Rota. It's fun to say too. They had just put the hummus on the menu and I don't think it will be taken off any time soon. I'm not a big hummus fan but it was certainly tasty and seasoned with aloha. It's in a nice location near Waikiki and good walk or cheap cab ride to experience a nice Hawaiian pupu experience.
(4)Camie K.
Trendy & hipster. Cool interior - a lot more spacious upon entering. Had the deconstructed hamachi sushi and spinach/artichoke dip with fried wonton chips. Also had the cucumber drink. All very delicious. All around great service.
(4)Nadine F.
Let me clarify, I'm giving Uncle Bo's one star for food and drink, and five stars for service, but the food was so bad that I can't in good conscience give it more than one star. I wanted to like this place, I really did. I loved it when I walked in, the atmosphere was kind of fun and hip, but still casual, and EVERYONE working there was extremely nice, from the hostess to the waitress to the bartender. It actually pains me to have to give the restaurant such a low rating, because I don't want to hurt their feelings in case they read this. We ordered one drink, one entree, and a bunch of pupus, and nothing impressed: The lemongrass martini tasted so much like medicine that my dining companion and I couldn't drink more than one sip each, and the glass remained full throughout our meal. The Boca Rota was your basic cheesy garlic bread that you can get at any pizza place, but with a scoop of chopped beef and mushrooms in the middle. It was nothing special, but definitely the least bad of the four things we ordered. The spinach artichoke dip was kind of dry and hard to scoop. We ate it more out of hunger than enjoyment. Every type of seafood in the seafood pasta was overcooked, dry, and chewy, though the sauce was OK. It's annoying to have to pick the seafood out of a seafood pasta. The wings were so bad that my dining companion couldn't eat more than one bite. They looked soggy, and based on his reaction, I had no desire to try them. They were so bad that we actually had a long argument at the end of the meal over whether they were too terrible to pack up and give to a homeless man outside (I said we should no matter how bad they were, but he said that they were so bad that it would be insulting to the homeless man.) We did end up giving all the leftovers to him, and there were a LOT of leftovers. In the end, the server and hostess either overheard our complaints or sensed our unhappiness and full plates and asked us if anything was wrong. We asked to have the drink taken off our bill, because we felt like we would have been terrible people to ask to have the majority of our meal taken off. It was all unenjoyable, but so much so that we didn't want to send it back and ask for anything different, because we didn't feel like they had anything better.
(1)Jennifer A.
This place is a must go to with friends when they come to visit... The Boca Rota which is beef with mushrooms in a cream sauce served with slices of cheesy garlic bread- AMAZING!! The Dynamite Shrimp are unbeatable... If you go with a large group (not specifically sure how many but def 10+) they offer an unlimited pupus! They start at the top of the pupu menu and go all the way down (minus the raw items) and keep it coming... WHOA!! It was amazing- and a great way to try all the different items
(5)Maxine G.
Oahu was just a stop on my way to Kaua'i for a long weekend, but I'm so glad that I was able to spend at least one night in Honolulu to try this gem. Rather than ordering an entrée for dinner we decided to order several appetizers. Everything was delicious! My favorite was the six little piggies, a lovely dish of tender pork belly. I do not eat much pork, but I am so glad we ordered that dish and have become a pork belly fan. Highly recommend this place if you are looking for a place hidden away from the over crowded, touristy Waikiki beach with delicious food.
(5)Jenny L.
Love love love this cute little joint. Ace it in all categories: Food, environment, settings, service. Some friends of mine that are locals brought me here and hands down must be one of the top places to have visit. The pupu's were all we ordered and it was FAR more than enough. Everything is so flavorful. I wish i recalled everything we ordered. Oyster shots Poki salad Pork belly? beef & mushroom stir fry? served with sliced Cheesey bread Shrimp with Parmesan Hummus warmed taro beignet Anyways, when in Honolulu, GO HERE with friends!!!!!! Get reservations first.
(5)Travis S.
My parents came to visit, and I had some great leftovers from Uncle Bo's in the past, so thought I'd take them here when my dad asked if there was any place we'd like him to take us for dinner. The first thing to say was, upon entrance, the music was piercing, loud and annoying. It was awful music that teenagers/ravers like to listen to, not suitable for dinner at all. The settings were cool, and the layout was okay, a little strange. The main entrees were as expensive as my restaurant in Waikiki. The waitress was real nice and went over the menu and drinks, and explained the special. It was all good. They had 3 IPAs, my girlfriend got a good cocktail...golden. Now we're gonna get down to why this goes from a 3-3.5 star (music) dinner to a one star night. My dad asks if there's an end cut to the $28 prime rib, and the waitress makes sure to go and ask the chef. She comes back and ensures us there is. Pop is stoked, and orders the prime rib, and asks if the cook will cook it up a little extra and make sure it's well done throughout. Strange, but it's how he likes it. He likes beef, can't stand blood. But he got a fatty end cut that was medium rare at best. Meanwhile, I ordered the filet, medium, which came pressed, about 3/4" thick, overcooked on the edges and good in the middle. I kept giving my dad the well done edges while he poked around his fatty prime rib that tasted more like an undercooked pot roast. My girlfriends kalua pork rice was amazing, and the nightly special knocked my mamas socks off. But when the patriarch, the most important man at the table who is paying the bill, and is VERY specific in what he asked for, gets a cut exactly what he didn't ask for...1 star indeed. It seems purposely neglectful and rude. We didn't complain, but now that I thought about it laying in my bed, I'm angry. My dad took us out to a $145 dinner and didn't even enjoy his meal. I feel like an ass for taking him here. My advice: stick to the seafood and pupus...the meat dishes were garbage. Pure garbage. And turn down for what? Your guests at a wine bar at 6pm.
(1)Jason M.
Looks old and dingy from the outside, but the inside is actually pretty nice. We got there around 5:30 and it opens at 5, and as soon as we got seated the place began to fill up instantly. So either go early or make a reservation. We only had Pupus and it was more than enough. Based off other suggestions, we had the boca rota and dynamite shrimp. Dynamite shrimp was good, but not spectacular. Boca rota on the other hand, DELICIOUS! It's a pretty heavy dish but well worth it! Only negative in my book was parking (paid across the street)
(4)Emerald G.
This place was recommended by a local during our honeymoon. Fun atmosphere and best fish tacos I've had! Our waitress was friendly and helpful concerning how the food was prepared (due to my shellfish allergies.) highly recommended!
(5)