4. Restaurants

Kai Market

2255 Kalakaua Ave, Honolulu, HI, 96815
  • (808) 921-4600
  • Store is closed

Kai Market Menu

Sorry, We are updating this restaurant menu details.

Sorry, We are updating this restaurant cholesterol menu details.

  • Joanne A.

    My boyfriend and I both agree that Kai Market is by far the best buffet we've been to and is now one of our favorite places to celebrate special occasions. We recently celebrated his birthday there, and we both felt like we were in food heaven! Everything we ate was sumptuous and delectable...especially the prime rib, steamed snow crab legs, steamed fish, beef short ribs, and bread pudding. Our waiter was really friendly and refilled our drinks fairly quickly. I mentioned to our waiter that we were celebrating a birthday, and before we left, the staff came by with a little cake and sang happy birthday to my boyfriend. We were quite full by this time, so our waiter went to another restaurant to get a to go box for us. Needless to say, our tummies were completely satisfied at the end of our meal. On top of that, there was live music and they offer a 25% kamaaina discount! We'll definitely be back again!

    (5)

  • JJ L.

    I'm not going to repeat what everyone is already saying about this place. I LOVED this buffet. Even though it's not as expansive as other buffets, the food here is awesome, short of orgasmic. The ambience is great if you're sitting outside by the bar/beach and near the live music (Kapena was playing alongside his two talented daughters). Our waiter was attentive and quick. He didn't even complain when I asked for cocktail sauce (to make oyster shooters) and it was RIGHT there on the buffet where I overlooked it. The crab legs are warm. The Korean kochijan (spelling??) roast is amazing. The chowder is to die for. The desserts are plentiful - you have to get the bread pudding. I ate here with the hubs to celebrate our 6 month (awww ... no puking readers!) and it was such a great experience. Again, I don't want to repeat what everyone else's reviews are saying. This place is worth a visit and it's great that there's a local discount. This place is a better alternative to Tsukiji Fish Market and Restaurant (in Ala Moana Shopping Center). Though it's on the pricier side as far as dining out is concerned, it's all-you-can-eat and parking is validated. Plus, after dinner you're right in Waikiki and you can either stroll along the sandy beach and watch the moonlight or go down Kalakaua and get your shopping on!

    (4)

  • Lindsay G.

    This is one of the best buffets in Waikiki. Yes it is a little more experience at $55 a person but there is a kamaaina discount and the food is well worth it. Everything from the poke to chicken to desert tasted good and everything was fresh. The deserts were delicious!!! I recommend trying the Thai Coffee Custard... it was so good I went back for one more! A must try buffet.

    (4)

  • Mae D.

    My family and I came here tonight for the first time to help my father celebrate his birthday. Friendly staff! Our server, Mariano took really great care of us! I love that this place was buffet style with such a great selection of food to choose from! Don't forget the prime rib! Highly recommend this place! Superb quality of food and awesome staff! We will definitely be back during the weekend for the crab leg buffet (that's the only time that they serve crab legs). A bit on the pricey side but well worth it!

    (4)

  • Marjorie C.

    Located in the Sheraton Waikiki (same place as Rum Fire) the view is amazing as well as the food. This buffet pretty much ruined all other buffets that I've been to here. The food was well presented, the area was clean, there are herbs growing in trellises on the wall (sweet basil, lavender and rosemary) and the floor to ceiling glass doors overlook the beach. Came here to take my mother out for her birthday and knew from the Yelp reviews that this place would be awesome. Thanks yelpers you guys were right! Made sure to let the staff know we were kamaaina ($41 instead of the $55). Loooooved the dessert area, went back for coffee jello, mango pudding with li hing pineapple, thai coffee custard...okay, okay, I went back for almost ALL of the desserts. The puddings were amazing and were interestingly mixed, lemongrass panacotta was one of my absolute favorites. From the entree area I absolutely loved the fish and sweet potato...so much so that I'm only now getting off my sweet potato obsession (my mom's birthday was on the 2nd). The food signs let guests know where the ingredients come from and I was pleased to see that most ingredients were locally sourced (Molokai sweet potato pie torched meringue!). Took a star off because although the staff were present and polite, it wasn't 5 star service but the expected 18% or 20% tip makes the assumption that service is of 5 star quality. I understand it may be for foreign guests but the sticker shock of seeing a "recommended" 18% or 20% gratuity at a buffet was a little of a downer. I'm not one to argue especially when the guest of honor sees the "total" with tip and insists we leave that amount...but it does put a damper on the meal when someone walks away with a $40 tip for refilling water and bringing 5 drinks...

    (4)

  • Cameron B.

    *Breakfast - $28.95 per adult, $14.50 per child* Recently came here for breakfast with friends that were staying at the hotel. I listed the price above but apparently if you buy certain packages, breakfast is included with our hotel stay. We came on a Sunday and the line wasn't very long. They give kids these individual food trays, similar to the ones you get as a child. Everyone else gets plates lol. Our server/bus guy was the best worker ever. He was extremely quick and got everything we needed before we even thought we needed it. He pretty much was the best worker I've ever come across on the island. Food - the breakfast was an all you can eat buffet. Each station was different. Starting with the cold section - fruits & yogurts. Dry - cereal, toast station, jams, etc. The toasters sucked so expect to wait. Hot items - bacon, sausauge (varies from what I heard, can be portugese sause can be regular breakfast sausage), individual ramekins filled with either loco moco or some other local treat. The loco moco to me needed more salt - but that's just my opinion. there was also an omlete station where you pick the items that you want and you give it to chef who cooks it on teh spot. lots of things to choose from so everyone will be happy. Price of buffet and food items? not really worth the $30 but if you're there and want to have breakfast try it out. Plus, you can't beat the views. Big open windows, cool breezes and since the restaurant is located right next to the adult pool area - NO Screaming kids ruining the embiance! win win!

    (4)

  • Albert F.

    For our anniverary, we chose to try a new restaurant. Kai Market is highly rated so we booked a reservation via OpenTable. When we got there, it felt like we were tourists (we rarely venture into Waikiki) and so we tried to find our way to the restaurant. It wasnt clearly marked but I suppose you couldnt really get lost either. We found the restaurant and felt over dressed. Many tourists we in line, trying to get a table, many in casual wear. We got a seat at a table that wasnt lit quite right. The overhead light was aimed at some spot on the edge of the table, somehow making the rest of the table (and our food) a little hard to see. Perhaps it was just me. The waitress immediately knew we were locals and made us feel comfortable but was rarely seen after that. On to the food! Perhaps we were expecting alot after reading the reviews here and because of the $55 price tag. We started at the appetizer section. Ahi Poki, Sashimi, Tako Poki, some kind of fiddlehead fern salad, a nice assortment of cheeses and lavosh flatbreads were all I saw in this section. There was also tossed green salad, potato salad, and some other filler but I skipped all that. I did try the Niihau clam chowder which included clams, taro, and shrimp, it was okay. ------------------------------ The Rules of Buffet: WE ARE AT A BUFFET! Buffet rules apply. Do you know them? You eat by the price per pound. Its a challenge to me to get back my monies worth. Did you know I am Chinese? Yup, thats right. No bread/starch/cheap eats for me, I can eat that at home! Crab legs are about $20 per pound right? So to get back my $55 price tag I need to eat ONLY 3 pounds of crab legs! ------------------------------ Next was the entree section. It having been Saturday, the menu included laulau, prime rib, snow crab legs, kambocha mashed potatoes, Hong Kong style steamed fish (I think it was a snapper), braised short ribs (soft and tender but basically pot roast), black bean clams, and some other stuff. It was all done adequately but nothing really wowed me. Well the drawn butter was especially tasty you probably shouldnt eat that as a dish. The main thing we liked was the desserts. I liked the Thai coffee custard thing, the chocolate mousse was chocolatey. Unfortunately we were too stuffed to really eat more, but I did anyway. I tried a dab of portuguese sweet bread pudding with vanlla anglaise - that was okay. There was a mango custard dessert with li hing pineapple that my wife loved. There was so much more but I could not eat another bite.

    (3)

  • Track X.

    I am not sure whether I went to the same place everyone else is praising, so I looked at the receipt again. Yep, it is it Kai Market. Food is mediocre to say the best, and price is $55/person. I decide never to go to any restaurant in Waikiki again. If you have a car, go places like Nico's on pier 38, then you will know what I mean...

    (2)

  • Julie M.

    A little overpriced, but the food was pretty fresh and tasty. The view of the ocean is beautiful. I do not eat enough for a buffet to be worth it, so I ate the eggs benedict. The ham was hearty and the dish was delicious. I would have given 4 stars, however the price was expensive so I knocked one down.

    (3)

  • NinjaDoll I.

    Not worth the money and as noisy as a cafeteria. We were there on a Saturday night and even the crab legs were not worth the bother...skinny and flavorless. The only good thing I can say is it's at the Sheraton (love that hotel). Two stars for the waitress, none for the food.

    (2)

  • Cat K.

    I've been here a total of three times. Once was this past Mother's Day. First off, I like that you can make reservations on Open Table. It's nice to be able to make reservations at 1 AM and get points for it too (2,000 Open Table points = $20 dining check)! Okay, so it's not cheap here even with the Kama'aina discount, which is a nice touch, BTW. As for the food, I think it's pretty darn good for buffet style food. They use fresh, local ingredients and I think that's important. Although I wasn't wild about the Chinese style fish (because I don't particularly like Chinese style fish), I really liked a lot of the other offerings. Mother's Day dinner was $69pp. The carving stations included prime rib, Chinese style fish, macadamia crusted rack of lamb and roasted turkey. Usually they only offer prime rib and fish for their daily buffet menu. They also had honey glazed ham, Korean style spare ribs, whole fried shrimp, stuffing, mashed potatoes, steamed asparagus, oysters, ahi & tako poke, strawberry spinach salad, hearts of romaine Caesar salad, seafood chowder with taro, and so much more... They offer a huge selection for dessert. Save room because some of the desserts are amazing even on their daily buffet menu. There was some kind of Thai coffee dessert that was incredibly good and I always enjoy a good bread pudding. This is a great place for special occasions and if you get an outside table, what a beautiful ocean view! There is also a fire dance show near the pool/bar area during dinner.

    (4)

  • Annie K.

    I was sooo full that my tummy hurt all night. Kai Market had an assortment of entrees, salad, and dessert. I tried some salad and some hot entrees. But what I was saving a small portion of my tummy for the dessert. Like I said, my heart calls for the sweets. Kai Market is a buffet. There was good amount of salad selections, but just a little shy on the entree variety. There were snow crab and prime ribs and noodles, mash potatoes, fried rice, fish, chicken, and beef, but missing flavor. In my opinion, when it comes to buffet, there's at least two chicken dishes or two fish or seafood dishes. And all the entrees seem to be very bland. Now, we talk about the dessert. There was a whole lot of going on this side of the buffet line. Truffles, pudding, tapioca, cake, pies, mochi, tarts, fruits, almond tofu, and bread pudding. OMG! I was in heaven. The rich chocolatey taste of the truffle tingled every body part of mine. The Thai coffee pudding was served in a glass with a delicate piece of white chocolate standing on top of it. Coffee pudding had a burst of caffiene to keep my awake for more dessert tasting. The mashmallow tart was petite and a perfect bite-size of campfire fun. The almond tofu was sweet and texture of the gelatin was perfect. Kai Market offered a great variety of desserts and delicious snow crabs (I really don't like to work for my food. No shells, please.) Overall, it was an OKAY buffet.

    (3)

  • Allen H.

    This is a buffet, and the food is not bad, in fact some of it is pretty good. that being said, a lot of the food was stale, cold, or over cooked. The ambiance is nice, and surprisingly nice for a buffet. Those are the nice things about it. The not so nice is that the service was terrible, the drinks were terrible, and the price is absurd. We went their to celebrate valentines day. Every table was being given roses, we weren't offered to buy some. Our server, while relatively polite, didn't even provide us an explanation about the food or drinks. When we ordered cocktails, he appeared confused as to why we might consider such a thing. The biggest surprise was the price tag! Our bill came, and for two people, and two drinks, the bill came to $201! That's right folks, you're paying for 5 star dining and getting chuck-o-Rama food and service! I will never go again, and will advise others to avoid it as well.

    (2)

  • Samoa Surf Gu Y.

    If you're holidaying in Waikiki and you want to treat yourselves to a Hawaiian dinner experience then go to Kai Market. It overlooks the Pacific Ocean, has dinner entertainment, and the food is not too shabby either. For dinner they have a great little bbq going on outside, and a carvery and seafood going on inside. This is where the wife breaks out the new mumu and all her bling, and the husband in that ridiculous aloha shirt. Make sure you get there early and take in that sunset. Good atmosphere, good food, and good service.

    (4)

  • Janet K.

    I give this place 3 1/2 stars. First off, it was a Monday. I'm sure if it was a weekend, the selections would've been greater. That didn't take away from being fully packed on one of the supposed "slowest days of the week." Maybe because it was storming outside? The tourists were lined up outside... thank goodness we had a reservation. My favorites were the sashimi, poke, seafood chowder, lamb, prime rib and all the vegetable dishes. I usually don't care for lamb, but this lamb was not gamey at all. The seafood chowder, which usually end up tasting and smelling really fishy at other places, was perfect. The vegetables were naturally sweet and cooked perfectly with a nice crisp finish. My least favorites were the miso butterfish and most of the desserts. The miso butterfish had potential for greatness, but it wasn't marinated long enough. A lot of other places make this same mistake. There's nothing more bleh than a piece of fish with no flavor. Oh wait, there is something more bleh than that! A dessert with no flavor. Kai Market desperately needs a new pastry chef STAT! How can the creme brulee, haupia, and all of the desserts in the glass cups have no flavor whatsoever? I mean c'mon... throw some sugar in there and don't be shy with the vanilla in the creme brulee. It was inedible. Stick to the bread pudding and the pies. I think the pies are from Ted's Bakery. Service was spotty. One should NEVER ask for more water, soda, or to take the old plate away at a buffet! You don't even have to take our food order. The least you can do is buss the plate and refill our drinks. I mean, isn't that all you HAVE to do? If they hire a new Pastry Chef, I'd go there again. I guess they don't serve the Satura Cakes anymore. T_T

    (4)

  • Jonathan L.

    I never been this stuffed like this in a long time. Surely eating here is not good for my diet but it was free for me so what the heck! I came here for breakfast and to my surprise it was fairly empty. We were seated right away and served ice tea, coffee, and water. Now that's what you call quick service. One of the items I got a lot of was bacon and ham. I must have gotten at least 15 pieces of bacon and five slices of ham. The bacon and ham were whatever nothing really special it tasted the same as any other place. This is not the only plate I got. I also got another plate of pancakes and french toast with their banana syrup. It made the pancakes and toast taste 10X better compared to regular syrup. My last plate had eggs eggs and more eggs all different style. We had scrambled, poaches, and steamed (i think). Everything was pretty delicious but tasted more bland once I got full. You also can tell the chefs to make you an omelet. I think you can tell them what you want inside. But over all good experience that everyone should try once. Not a lot of places I know have a breakfast buffet in Hawaii. Did I forget to mention that the service is excellent! Note: We parked in the Royal Hawaiian instead of the Sheraton but the manager was nice enough to give us a special ticket so we would get the discounted pricing ($1.00)

    (4)

  • Jamieee D.

    Great local food and it tastes fresh as they say. If you're looking for a place to take your gf or bf, this is the place. Its located at the Sheraton where there is a beautiful view of the ocean, live music, and fireshow on the weekends. Although their buffet menu had a few to select from, food was still great. You must save some room for dessert because their selection is bomb. They taste a lot like Satura Cakes which I used to love eating at during our late study sessions a few years back. Sadly they closed and I think they only have one store in Harbor Court which isn't the ideal place to go to because it's located in the busy downtown area. Service at the Kai Market was excelente. It made up for the lack of selections on their buffet line. Because we spent our 2 year anniversary there, they gave us a beautifully made pallet of chocolate and white chocolate covered strawberries with a nicely done, handwritten Happy Anniversary message (also in chocolate) and a lighted candle as a special touch. Not to happy about the price. Even with Kamaaina discount, the bill turned out to be over $100. I think that's pretty much the con about this place.

    (5)

  • Wendy H.

    Have to go on either Fridays or Saturdays for their seafood buffet. One of our favorite buffet, great quality food! Sashimi melts in your mouth. Seafood chowder thick and full of shrimp, scallops & potatoes. Snow crab legs, black bean clams, salt/pepper shrimp, prime rib, and OMG the deserts are soo Ono my favorite is a Thai coffee custard.. 3rd year in a row birthday request & not disappointed yet.

    (4)

  • Christina Y.

    We came here to celebrate our anniversary. The buffet was enjoyable, but not too memorable. The only thing that really stuck out to me was the mango pudding. It was so fresh and delicious. The other perk that I liked about this place was the kama aina discount. Without it, I don't think it's really worth it.

    (3)

  • Raych D.

    Just got back from eating brunch here for a friends birthday party...First off let me say that there "fresh herb wall" is so smart, original and cool! They got 2 behind the chef who cooks and one outside the restaurant. Those herbs where grown upside down and everything looked so fresh and grew so long! Herbs ranging from mint, thyme, basil, oregano, parsley, sage, chives, and rosemary! It doesn't get more fresh than that on your omelette that's being made right in front of you! For a party of 13 we had the best seats in the house away from the traffic to the buffet and the entrance. Our waiters where so nice and fast in serving us with our coffee, juices, water and mimosa's! The buffet had 2 buffets in the far back with pretty much the same thing on each buffet area. The buffet included a salad bar, a fruit bar with the freshest fruits of pineapple, papaya, watermelon, and bananas. There was also a cheese bar and a toast/bread and yogurt bar in the end corners along with the soups such as miso soup and in the middle where the scrambled eggs, bacon pieces, eggs Benedict, fried rice, roasted red potatoes, stirred of various vegetables and a omelette's section. The line did get a little long because there was only one chef making 2 omelette's at a time. Basically you just choose your ingredients, hand it to the chef and say if you want cheese on it or not...the section for your ingredients was all fresh vegetables and you even had an option of adding more fresh ingredients of herbs from the herb wall in the back of the chef. For the birthday girl they made her a plate of chocolate dipped strawberrys with designs on the plate...super cute and colorful, only thing was they spelt her name wrong but it's okay since her meal and dessert was free! Overall the food was awesome, and even though I'm not a breakfast eater I did eat several times and enjoyed my mimosa. Complimentary of our manager she bought a bottle of champagne for our mimosa which was $30 for the bottle and fed 4 of us....kinda sketchy because usually a champagne bottle with orange juice can feed more than 4 people but whatever. For the breakfast buffet I believe it is $35 per person but because our friend who coordinated the party is the sister of the manager at Kai Market we only got it for $18 with tip and beverages, not bad considering how much food we ate and that it's a buffet in Waikiki! Next time I want to try there dinner buffet because I heard it was a lot better and more selection, but I ain't complaining with how cheap we got our breakfast!

    (4)

  • Lance T.

    Probably the best seafood buffet I've ever eaten. Wait, I think Las Vegas Rio was better...............nah! This place has the atmosphere and ambiance over Vegas. Try to get a seat outside. What better way to eat a seafood buffet than at the beach of Waikiki?! It's a bit on the pricey side, but in the end it was worth every penny since I ate over 3 lbs of fresh crab legs.

    (5)

  • Reid O.

    Celebrated a birthday last night at the seafood dinner buffet and the food was GREAT. The fresh island steamed fish Chinese style was so GOOD!! This is the first buffet that I've ever seen someone serve you the crab legs. It's not sitting in a chafing dish with a pair of tongs where you help yourself, it's behind the glass and the chef plates the snow crab legs for you. I guess that way they can control their food costs. Will definitely be back again!!

    (4)

  • Kalei F.

    Ahhh Kai Market :) Let me tell you why I gave it a 4: I LOVE that we finally have a decent restaurant that only uses local ingredients, adopted the whole "farm to table" concept, and is actually good!! Even the fish and the prime rib is from Hawaii!! They have a living herb wall and around the partition that separates the inside from the outside, they also have a bunch of fresh herbs planted all around!! Where do you ever see this! Some of the dishes change regularly, though they definitely have regulars. I LOVE LOVE LOVE their Ni'ihau clam chowder!! You must try this!! The flavor is just really creamy and good! The prime rib tends to be pretty rare, so don't say you weren't warned!! And the fish rotates between three different fishes but they're generally pretty moist and flavorless (as most of the chefs are Chinese and like a simple flavor) , however, the lobster sauce that comes with it is a definite MUST!! Their appetizers are good and their ahi is fresh and melts in your mouth!! Now to their desserts!! Probably the best part of the meal!!! Their desserts rotate frequently as well (I've been here 3 times so far and it's always been a variation). You should definitely try the bread pudding!!! My favorite for sure!! With the sauce of course :) I also love their flan, chi chi dango, and their chocolate haupia pie!! I'm so full from all this delicious food! Kama'aina is 25% off all the time and sit as close to the outside as you can. They have an amazing fire knife dancer that comes on usually twice a night, and they have really good Hawaiian music every night. It's a perfect place to really relax in Waikiki and to have a fresh, natural meal experience. The main dishes aren't anything to write home about, but understanding their philosophy makes you want to come back again and again!!! Bread pudding...I Love you!!.....until next time :)

    (4)

  • Doris D.

    This is a great buffet with a view. It's sort of an "upscale" buffet and it's actually good quality food. I mainly ate the raw oysters on a half shell and crab legs, which are actually a warm item as opposed to the usual chilled variety. The raw oysters aren't anything bombshell but very good quality for what it is: buffet raw oysters. There's also some good black bean clams for another seafood fix. My husband also really liked the prime rib. I really dug the dessert buffet, lots of nice options like mac nut and haupia pies (suspiciously of the Ted's kind), cupped desserts, bars, mochi, sweet potato meringue pie, green tea haupia, mini tarts, etc. I think what makes this place a good family option is the view and breeze of the semi-outdoor restaurant. We got the Kama Aina price which is about $40, but check with Kai Market to be sure. Service was also good.

    (4)

  • Jody S.

    Soooo I was definitely lucky to have received a gc for two to Kai Market. I had heard about Kai Market but had never gone there, not since it was the original Sheraton buffet many moons ago. And considering that the price is quite costly for a buffet (about $58/person), it was truly never on my radar. However, this past weekend the family decided to make a trek over to Waikiki and enjoy time spent at Kai Market. I had heard about the buffet from several friends, but as somewhat of a food skeptic, I wanted to make my own decision on the cuisine. I am also not your typical buffet-goer so truth be told, even when people tell me how ono the food is, it really doesn't matter. And because the price seemed so high, I was definitely going to be an even harsher critic. So when we arrived, I was pleasantly surprised by how friendly and awesome the staff was. The rug rat was sleeping so they ended up helping us create a "mock" bed out of two chairs so she could lay down on it and we could actually eat! They even brought her a towel to keep her warm! On to the buffet, I admit I was pleased with how fresh and savory many of the food items were. The steamed onaga was moist, delicious and mouth-wateringly good! The crab legs were soft and easy to break, making it easy to get to the meat without having to struggle through a wild session of crab shells flying in your hair! The seafood chowder was however, my all time fave. The flavor was divine and I had to have two bowls AND no extra salt or pepper needed. The flavor was spot on! The hubby devoured the shrimp, the chicken and the seafood cake noodle...all favorites of his. We were quite grateful for the treat and amazing dining experience. I am hopeful we will be back someday, despite the high price range, for a special occasion or two!

    (4)

  • Sandy N.

    I'm giving this place 3 1/2 stars. It wasn't the best but it wasn't bad. Service was great and you couldn't beat the beautiful scenery. My girlfriends and I went here for our little Xmas get together on Friday's Plantation Seafood night. My favorite items were: - kahuku prawns (so big and fresh) - steamed onaga (once again very fresh) - cake noodles (pretty good) - taro lavosh - prime rib wasn't bad either - crab legs were perfectly cooked, according to my friend she said if the meat comes off easily they cooked it perfectly! - clams in black bean sauce - wide selection of desserts, I liked the many different types of desserts in the small glasses. The gingerbread house was so creative. It had kakimochi and hee haw flakes roofs, and li hing mui and honey ball walls. This is a good place to take out of town guests!!!

    (4)

  • Shandis C.

    Ever since I heard about this place I've been wanting to try it, but YOWZER! $50 bucks for a buffet? (Hey, I'm a stay at home mom = great satisfaction in life but not so much $$). So you can imagine my delight when I read the reviews right here on yelp and discovered that they give a kama'aina discount! Hooray! It was exciting to me that there was finally a buffet that existed with a healthy, FRESH quality to it and to top it off mostly LOCALLY sustained. The hot entrees were fresh and not too greasy, and served in small serving dishes which I liked because that means that they are replenishing the food often = fresh, hot food that has not been sitting for a long time. I actually really liked the cold items more than entrees though, and not because the entrees were bad, but because the cold dishes were SO tasty. AND, a big bonus was that they serve PLANTATION iced tea for drinks...unlimited! Bottomless plantation iced tea gets a thumbs up in my book. One thing that made me appreciate the meal even more was reading the descriptions of each dish. That's what is so special about this buffet - that the ingredients are fresh and local. I don't know about you, but somehow, knowing that I'm eating Ma'o greens from our very own land, vs. bulk Costco greens from who knows where is much more satisfying. Then only negative thing about our experience was that upon arrival, the hostess seemed irritated because we had made reservations through an offsite location and apparently "We don't have any tables available tonight, I told them not to book anymore parties". Made us feel like we were not wanted there. She then informed us "well, luckily people are showing up late tonight so we can seat you." Strange, because as she walked us through the restaurant, there more MANY open tables. But it's ok, that did not prevent me from fully enjoying my meal!

    (4)

  • Tricia K.

    For the price it was fresh and decent but nothing really life changing.

    (3)

  • Corinne W.

    Would give them 6 stars if I could! Seafood chowder, braised short ribs, black bean Manila clams, salt & pepper Kahuku shrimp, and prime rib. The list goes on and on. Didn't want to stop eating!!! Also excellent service! We can't wait to come back!

    (5)

  • Winnie H.

    all you can eat buffet catering to the japanese tourists in the sheraton. Most of the food has an asian flair, it was good. just not $58 dollars a plate good. Thinking back, we could have gotten a great dinner at Roys, or Top of Waikiki for the same price. Oh well, lesson learned.

    (3)

  • Seth H.

    My brother's girlfriend took the whole family for his birthday, thanks again Tanya, well must say that this buffet rates right up there with the Prince, and I also think you get a discount for being local, just show your drivers license, think at the Prince you get a discount with a Marukai card? What was really ono was the deep fried prawns and the ayce snow crab was also very good. They also had a nice prime rib at the carving station, the deserts were all very good with a wide variety of choices. Do recommend this place, be sure to park at the Sheraton Hotel for full validation, shopping center parking you pay full price.

    (4)

  • Cici T.

    During our five hour layover in Honolulu, we decided to venture to the beach and refuel for our five and a half hour flight home. Waikiki Beach seemed the place to be, and so off we went! We stumbled upon Kai Market and decided to have a leisurely (buffet, I might add) brunch. Ohh was that brunch satisfying! The food seemed Japanese influenced with an East meets West kind of flair. Omlettes, waffles, edamame salad, pineapple and melon salad, croissants, muffins, cheeses and deli meats, sausage, coffee and tea, juices, fried rice, and more. The presentation, plating, and setting of the buffet was very Japanese inspired - clean and dainty, which only made the dining experience that much more enjoyable. What I love? Most of the food was prepared with local Hawaiian meats and produce. I'm a bit embarrassed to say this, but I loaded up on their toast, which was paired with the freshest, purest butter! I have a love affair with butter, and boy was their butter legit!

    (4)

  • Shayna K.

    It's a clever marketing ploy. Looks exactly like the old Sheraton buffet--even the prime rib and soup stations are in the same place--but redone to be more current. I came for a finer dining experience and even though I don't prefer buffets, I was willing to check out this one because of the fresh local theme. Farm to table idea=a gimmick. Tell me what farm grew the fried rice and portuguese sausage, "da kine" mac salad and the Costco seaweed salad? And I swear the greens looked like they came straight out of the Costco spring mix box. Maybe my expectations were too high. I was told it's not your typical buffet and that there are just a few selections but they are high quality. To me it was completely typical from the way they usher you in like lemmings to the retarded waitstaff. I was told there were king crab legs and clams. No such thing the night I was there. Paniolo night sucks. I figured for $49 there we wouldn't be sitting in a cafeteria. More gripes: 1. the wine glasses are PLASTIC! OMG, somebody just shoot me now. 2. the waiter took 15 minutes just to greet us, then get us the drink menu, another 20 minutes to bring our drinks. 3. He didn't check on us once except to bring us our late drinks and waaay later, the bill. Oh but he did ask us if we wanted coffee--TWICE. NO! We don't want coffee!! 4. He stiffed us the Kamaaina discount. We had to remind him "Hel-lo, lolo..." 5. It was our anniversary, so I made sure to tell the host when I made the reservation that we were celebrating our anniversary. The most we got was at the very end of the night, the waiter brought us our corrected bill and said, "Oh, it's your anniversary, yea?" 6. Oh, yea, and don't even bother making reservations. You have to stand in line with everyone else anyway! It was like that Seinfeld episode at the Chinese restaurant. What is the point of having a reservation when there is only one line? To be fair, I loved the tiramisu from Satura cakes. I do like cocktail shrimp and the baby bok choy / acorn squash dish was pretty fresh. But the next time I'm craving paniolo cuisine, I think I'll make a trip to MAkai market and save a hundred bucks of hard earned $. In sum, we walked out of there shaking our heads and saying, "Shoulda gone Alan Wong's."

    (2)

  • J A.

    "Celebrate good times, come on! (Let's celebrate) Celebrate good times, come on! (Let's celebrate) There's a party goin' on right here A celebration to last throughout the years So bring your good times, and your laughter too We gonna celebrate your party with you" Kool and the Gang Came here to celebrate a major life achievement for my beloved husband along with his parents and the kiddo. I was very excited to eat here because for one, it's a buffet and most importantly, they support local farmers. I sampled just about everything there and I wasn't dazzled by the food. I think the greatest spotlight of the night was the dessert. I loved the flan custard but was greatly disappointed with the sakura cakes. The kahuku shrimp was difficult to eat because I had to peel it and it was literally stuck to the shrimp. Makana was playing live that night at the bar right next to the restaurant and we were able to watch him from where we were sitting. My MIL mentioned twice that the music was too loud and it was difficult to talk over. Aaah, this place was just okay for me.

    (3)

  • J Z.

    We came here on last Sunday during the Honolulu Festival. It was not very crowded when we arrived but the place filled up quickly around our first round. The food selection was good, not much seafood though. We enjoyed the ocean view seating very much. The service was great even after we took our server that we going to hang around until the fireworks begin. This is definitely one of the better buffet places on the island. Would recommend.

    (5)

  • Dean H.

    Yeah, it seems like I like every single place I eat at but really, this week was a 4 time hit week I guess! Lots said about this place but really it was a delight. --Wait help was very attentive even with a packed house. --Seated right away at the first seating. --Entertainment consisted of a fire knife performance, and it rocked, my daughter and I were super impressed. Food: --Cold section was really good, spent most of my stomach space there with the sashimi, raw oysters, and poke. All were very cold and very presentable and tasty!!! --Hot section was good with many things to choose from....wife liked the cake noodle and clams, daughter enjoyed the shrimp and crab legs, and I had 2 slices of the prime rib (gotta eat that protein!!). --Deserts had good choices, not many, but all of them were good according to my table. I had the bread pudding and crem brulee. Good choices! Ambiance: --Nice to be right on the water, high ceilings, and lots of space to just move around and not feel like you were PACKED in like sardines like most buffet places out there. Bathrooms were shared by the pool so that was the only thing that was a downfall but it was a very slight downfall at that. For $35 bucks (kamaaina rate) it was a steal. It was really a nice night for my father in laws bday celebration! RECOMMENDED FOR SURE!

    (4)

  • Sissi X.

    Great food and service! It just that nobody told us the snow crabs and lobsters are only serve on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday! We went there on Thursday and found no lobsters or crabs at all! Other food are amazing though. You can tell each types food are cooked by serious chef. Just a little disappointing that no one told us the special timing before. I didnt think Kai has much variety at first, but Compare to the other buffet: Hakone, this place is actually not that bad!

    (4)

  • John D.

    Quality was ok.... Selection was below avg

    (2)

  • Joshua J.

    Came here for the start of fine dining week, one of my friend's was leaving in two weeks so we decided to go to every place that someone works at. Kai Market for those of you who don't know is in the Sheraton Waikiki, instead of going straight into Rum Fire hang a right. We went there for dinner which I was told was 55 a person. They have your typical buffet items, poke, salads, two soups, action stations with prime rib as well as a fish dish (on this night it was onaga). To start I will say the poke was extremely fresh and well seasoned which I enjoyed. I also liked the potatoe salad because to my surprise there was bacon in there. The prime rib was good too, and enjoyed the fact that the horse radish had a little kick to it. We lucked out too because although there was no crab featured today we got hooked up with a basket per table so that was great. The only thing I would knit pick on was that the desserts were a little lacking. The only one I found myself going back for was this coffee parfait and chocolate mousse cake. All in all though it was a great experience with good food.

    (4)

  • Greg Y.

    Second visit was better than the first. A little on the pricey side but kids eat free to offset the cost. The food is tasty but deceptively laid out. Dishes repeat every few stations, making the menu seem smaller. The desserts are plentiful and features a few items from Satura Cakes. Changing the presentation and layout of the main food items would go a long way in improving the cost/value appeal.

    (3)

  • Eila S.

    Okay, the location here is AMAZING. Even if I didn't eat that much, the proximity of the restaurant to the ocean is totally worth it. There was a live band playing on the patio next to the bar making a nice touch to the aesthetics. Although the music was a little loud making it hard to have a descent conversation. The food itself was really good. The variety was huge. The desert buffet, in my opinion, was significantly better than the actual dinner buffet. The food was slightly above average. A little disappointing that they served things that typical buffets in the continental US serve like chow mein and fried rice. I was hoping for slightly more exotic food like they had at Five Star Buffet but it was still good nonetheless.

    (4)

  • Rueben B.

    took my cuz. out for dinner one evening here with family in tow. it was alright not a fan thou. especially when u gotta pay 50$ /head, luckly i got half off..had better like halekulani its way better, food, service, etc. worth the price

    (2)

  • Yuko A.

    Go to Kai Market on Friday/Saturday night. It's seafood night and who doesn't love all you can eat crab legs, raw oysters, shrimp, poke, snapper, and more seafood. My bf and I skipped out on lunch and went early (5:45) since we didn't want to wait in line. It wasn't crowded at all, but by the time we left at 7:30 the place was packed. My bf and I split ways as soon as we hit the buffet line. I personally like to start off with appetizers and light/cold dishes and then move on to the entrees, and then dessert. He was there for the crab, crab, and more crab. I had the ahi poke, tako poke, caesar wedges, and the oysters. The ahi poke was good although I liked the tako better. It was so soft, not chewy at all like tako sometimes can be. The caesar wedges were fresh, maybe a little too much dressing but thats just my preference. Onto the oysters. I love raw oysters so I was psyched when I saw a long plate of them waiting to be eaten. They were fairly big for a buffet, could have been a little sweeter but they shucked them pretty well and I didn't find too many shells while eating them...I had six, would have eaten more but I wanted to eat the entrees as well. There were a number of chinese dishes in the entree section. Bok-choy, steamed mussels with black bean sauce which was delicious, cute single servings of pan-fried noodles with shrimp, squid (so tender), and scallop sauce. There was also kim-chee fried rice, fried head-on shrimp, and marinated chicken. At the carving station they had snapper cooked hong-kong style, salt-crusted prime rib, and steamed snow crab legs. I enjoyed everything I ate and was pretty stuffed by my 3rd plate but I wanted to have some of their famous bread pudding. I actually overheard one of the waiter's telling a young boy to try it. It was like custard, it tasted like the bread had been soaked in the batter for hours. I was so full yet my hand kept grabbing the fork and feeding me the delicious bread pudding. For those who may not love bread pudding like me, don't worry there is a number of other dessert offerings. Haupia, banana, and choco/peanut butter pie. Cute s'more tartlets, fruit, mochi, chocolate tartlets, and key lime pie. The service was great. Our waitress was attentive and came by often to see how we were doing. Its $58/person on seafood nights, $55 on other nights..I'm not positive but I'm pretty sure they have a special kamaaina rate so make sure to ask when making a reservation! Yelp365: 001/365

    (5)

  • Scott H.

    Wife had her work Christmas party here. Place was PACKED! Food was delicious! Prime rib was great. They had laulau the night I went. Standard small buffet laulau, but was good. Steamed fish was great. Plenty of sashimi to keep me happy. Was glad the quality hadn't suffered like every where else.

    (5)

  • Thomas W.

    Go early on a Friday or Saturday night for the seafood buffet and a great show. Quality over quantity for this buffet after you get over the shock of the prices! Their raw bar of oysters, shrimp, and various sushi, and Hawaiian New England Clam Chowder is a a meal all unto itself. The prime rib, and stone crab legs are truly wonderful. The butterfish, seafood paella, and Thai long life noodles are wonderful. Of course the grilled fish, rice, and fresh fruit are also not to be missed. Make sure you bring your appetite. THis is a great place for a special family event or a great highlight to a Hawaiian vacation!

    (5)

  • Omar V.

    Review is based on dinner on a Sunday night. Decided to make a reservation based on all the ratings and comments. Let me start off by saying, I should've read ALL the comments. I don't know if most of the reviews are based on Seafood Night but there wasn't a variety of food to choose. Ratings below based on location, food selection/quality, service and price. LOCATION: 4 stars, located in the Sheraton right by the beach is a big plus assuming you're seated in a good location. It's tucked in the back of the hotel, kind of hard to find SERVICE: 3 stars, the staff are attentive considering it's a buffet. Only quarrel I have is that it took 15 minutes for them to grab the check FOOD: 2 stars, the food itself consisted of only a few selection. Quality is pretty much comparable to Golden Corral. The main courses were either covered in gravy or cream (no real flavor). The dessert selection is what really gave it 2 stars. PRICE: 1 star, the food doesn't justify the price of $55/person OVERALL SATISFACTION: 2.5 stars, if given the opportunity again; I would recommend eating at one of the many actual restaurants within the same area. The big setback from my experience would be the food selection and taste.

    (2)

  • Stephanie N.

    Meh. I was expecting a lot more from Kai Market based on word-of-mouth, and online and printed reviews. It was alright, but not great. For the price you pay, I guess it's for the number of offerings, not the caliber of the offerings. We went on a Friday, which is seafood night. From the pupu/salad/starter area, the best things were the sashimi (really basic, no cooking needed, but the quality of the ahi was great), Moloka'i sweet potato salad, and the seafood chowder. The first thing that comes to mind is "uninspired." It is what it is. Nothing outstanding. Everything seemed to be bland. It's the usual food at pretty much any moderate hotel buffet in Hawai'i. There are no "Wow!" dishes. For dessert the bread pudding was okay, key lime tart was good, as was the coconut tapioca. However, the venue is nice and relaxing with the beach just beyond, the breeze blowing in, and the live music from the bar next door. Thank goodness for the kama'aina discount because there's no way I'd pay full price.

    (2)

  • Chelle S.

    Let me start off by saying that I am not a buffet fan. However, Kai Market just gained another return-customer. The clam chowder was definitely something to have and enjoy. They offer different types of breads and I think I had a bite of most of them and enjoyed them with the clam chowder. Like previous reviewers mentioned, their poke is melt-in-your mouth good. A friend of mine went back for 3rds and I still cannot fathom why he didn't get sick after consuming that much raw fish. Lol! The prime rib was also a hit with my mom, who isn't a big steak fan. The sea salt and other seasonings used in the prime rib were spot on. The crab legs were so-so. My parents made comments that they enjoyed the crab legs at another buffet. They also serve you the crab legs at Kai Market which is more or less rationing the food. It wasn't that big of a deal to me but I can see how that's an inconvenience for the die-hard crab eaters. I also enjoyed the desserts Kai Market offered, contrary to a few reviews I had read prior. They had a pretty good selection the evening we went (a Saturday) and the ones that stood out the most were the Thai Coffee mousse and the kalamansi chocolate tarts. The biggest downside IMO is the price. It came out to over $50+ per person so that's definitely a set back for some. The mixed drinks were also priced high at $10+ for a small cup. Other than that, looking forward to my next visit!

    (4)

  • Kelsey T.

    I'm not much for buffets, but I really liked Kai Market's brunch buffet. Normally, I would be all over the omelet-to-order station, but there were lots of other good things so I skipped it. Really love that they use a lot of local products - from the produce to the bread and jams. There's even an herb garden on one wall, where they get their herbs! They have a great variety of food, and even offer ethnic foods from the countries where they get a lot of tours. I even saw sealed containers of natto on hand (not that I would ever eat that). Our server (I think his name was Henry) was exceptionally polite and made it his mission to keep my glasses full of juice and water. Things I loved: Crustless quiche w/ maui goat cheese and local farm fresh vegetables: Presentation was really cute, it looked like a musubi - but made with egg. It was just the right ratio of cheese: egg. Loco Moco Benedict: Okay, so it's pretty much just a small portion loco moco served w/ a poached egg instead of the more traditional sunny side up or easy over egg. And it's served in a cute egg-like container. I liked it so much, I had two! Portugese sausage fried rice: Portugese sausage is always a winner, and I really liked that this one wasn't overly salty. Daily short toast with local breads: Very cute, tasty french toast strips. They're soft, but not chewy and the smaller strips mean you can try to pick out one of each type of bread. The only problem is telling the different types of bread apart. There's a slight difference in taste when you eat them, but they all look similar in the tray. Old Hawaii Recipes Jams: Seriously, really good jam. I put almost everything in the tiny jar onto one piece of bread.

    (4)

  • Mason N.

    While the Dinner buffet was good, it wasn't $55/person good. I guess im just bitter because I spent almost $150 for 2 people and then found a $10 off/per person coupon in one of those magazines later that night. Highlight was the prime rib, salt/pepper shrimp with the head on, and the specialty Hong Kong style fish. The Poke tasted ok and everything else was what you expect Buffet food tasted like. The big highlight was the dessert section, do make room for dessert after the main course. Service was what you would expect from a buffet, servers take away your plates when you leave the table and for the most part, stay away unless you hunt them down.

    (3)

  • Daniel C.

    I have to say that I was disappointed when I dined here. The food wasn't that good and selection wasn't vast. It was over priced for the food you get and I didn't care for the decor and ambiance. Will definitely give it a try again if someone really wanted to take me there but not going to just go and eat there.

    (3)

  • mINCe I.

    "Kai Market offers discerning palates Hawaii's freshest, locally-grown products masterfully prepared by Executive Chef Darren Demaya. Kai Market's cuisine was inspired by the "food fair" of plantation tables of Hawaii over 100 years ago that brought on an influx of ethnic cuisine to the islands. Kai Market will serve both the traditional Hawaiian meal of fresh seafood and exotic fruits, and the many dishes that were inspired by the multi-ethnic generations of Hawaii's people and their roots to the plantations." My friends and I recently went to Kai Market for a friends birthday. According to the staff, the menu changes daily depending on what is fresh. Everything we had was fresh and tasty. The high light of the night was the Niihau Island Chowder which included taro, the alae salt and herb crusted prime rib was also ono and the crispy hawaiian sea bass. The buffet is expensive but if your kamaaina, you get a 25% discount with a valid Hawaii State identification. There's also free parking validation.

    (4)

  • Matthew L.

    It was our last night here and we wanted to have a memorable dinner. The Kai Market restaurant is right by the pool side inside of the Sheraton looking out to the ocean. It was truly amazing view. We came there right during sunset which just made the views spectacular. The food was fantastic with the normal buffet items shrimp, prime rib etc steam whole fish. They even had fresh red bean mochi! The restaurant is pricey in my opinion but I think it was well worth it because of the view. Would I came back? Probably or stay at this hotel just because the pool is right in the ocean.

    (5)

  • Lily B.

    The Kai Market buffet is located on the first floor of the Sheraton Hotel in Waikiki. After Yelping 'buffets', it seemed as if the Prince Court and the Kai Market were top 2 contenders. I finally got to have dinner at the Kai Market on Saturday. Parking: Private garage for the Sheraton Waikiki shared with the Royal Hawaiian Hotel. Lots of stalls on the night we went. Validated parking for up to 4 hours if you dine in the hotel. Otherwise, valet parking available for a fee. (not sure what the fee is) Ambiance: Very 'chill' and 'touristy'. There is indoor and outdoor seating. We opted to sit outside on the lanai. They was live music for the first hour of our dinner, and then pre recorded music afterwards. We were literally right next to the ocean; you could hear the waves and smell the ocean; it was gorgeous. We were also next to the infamous "Infinity Pool" which is beautiful in and of itself. There was also a clear view of Diamond Head which only aided to the gorgeous all around view. We had a late dinner, but I would think that they are quite busy around sunset because the view would be that much more beautiful. An actual 5 stars for the view/ambiance. Service: 2 males were working the host station. Both were friendly and courteous. Our server (forget her name) was very nice. She was 'local' and I guess beause she knew we were local, she used some 'slang'/'local talk. We didn't mind at all. Our dishes were cleared away promptly, our drinks were refilled when needed, and she was pleasant and friendly. There are certain items on the buffet line where you need a chef to serve you. The chefs were very friendly as well. Food: As I did with my other review, I will try to 'visualize' the buffet and list the items that I remember. The names of the items are VERY 'fancy', so I will just get the basics. Cold section: -nalo greens w/ assorted dressings -cucumbers -lima beans? I dunno some kinda beans for your salad -baby romaine caesar salad [not bad] -potato salad [yuck] -tomatoes (some kinda tomato salad something or other) -papaya salad [yuck] -california roll and one other sushi roll [BF said not bad] -sashimi [THICK slices, BF liked it] -ahi poke [BF said not bad] -tako poke [BF said this was EXCELLENT] -seafood chowder [DELICIOUS!] -assorted cheeses w/ lovosh [did not try] Hot line: -white rice -molokai honey potatoes [TOO sweet] -chinese style cake noodle [overdone] -mashed potatoes which turned out to be mashed pumpkin [it was DELISH!!!] -kim chee fried rice w/ portuguese sausage [BF said it was okay] -deep fried prawns [large but once you peel off the shell the shrimp had no taste] -chinese style seafood mix (shrimp/scallops/squid/baby corn/other veggies) [not bad, but either the seafood was overcooked or sitting too long in the warmer] -seafood paella [BF tried it, didn't like it] -clams in an oyster sauce [BF said it was okay] -shoyu chicken [nothing special, same as from any chinese take out place] -braised short ribs in a ko choo jang sauce [the tender pieces of short ribs were delicious, the overcooked pieces were rubbery and tough] -island style fish (did not specify the fish) [DELICIOUS; some kind of ginger/shoyu/garlic sauce; whole fish that they portioned out for you, YUM!] -asparagus [nothing fancy] -bok choy in a shoyu sauce [BF liked it] -snow crab legs [I'm NOT a fan of snow crab and LOVE king crab, but I will say, these snow crab legs were JUICY and SO FLAVORFUL (without butter), definitely impressed w/ the crab legs!] -prime rib [I know many reviews raved about the prime rib, but I actually found it to be 'okay' and lacking flavor'. We actually only took a couple bites and did not eat the rest of the slice] Dessert: -chocolate haupia pie [okay] -macadamia nut pie [okay] -strawberry pie [okay] -blueberry cheesecake -mango cheesecake -chocolate walnut cake -red velvet cake -chocolate tart -lime tart -chi chi dango [same from Longs Drugs] -peanut butter mochi -azuki bean mochi -tapioca [not bad] -almond float [weird after taste!] -fresh fruits (watermelon, pineapple, and something else) -assortment of 'puddings/gelatos' -chocolate -pineapple w/ li hi mui -mango -espresso [the BEST out of the 4] -bread pudding [THE BEST BREAD PUDDING; just as good as the bread pudding we had at a wedding at the Kahala Hotel] -there were other desserts but I can't remember Cost: We went for the weekend 'seafood buffet' which is $58/per adult. I did NOT think that the buffet was worth this price. We DID receive a kama'aina discount of 25% off ($14.50). So the total per person was $43.50. Soft drinks are $4. Verdict: A beautiful location to dine at, especially if you eat early and are able to enjoy the sunset. The quality of the food is okay. Given the choice, I would much prefer the Prince Court buffet at the Hawaii Prince Hotel. The quality and selection is MUCH better. Still, I'm glad we gave them a try, and everyone has their own preferences, so I would recommend you giving both places a try as well.

    (3)

  • Jenel O.

    I couldn't decide whether I wanted to give this place 3 stars or 4 so I went with 3... but it's more like 3 1/2. I think I went here with high hopes. I was kind of let down. Food was pretty decent, service was awesome... but nothing like the high quality I imagined (for the food) and it's pricey to boot! I'd go again for a discounted price but I'd never pay full price for that.

    (3)

  • Dustin E.

    Wow, great ambience... great food... great entertainment... great company. I took my family there for my parent's 50th wedding anniversary. Let me tell you, I was overwhelmed by the appreciative satisfaction of everyone! It was a seafood Friday buffet, and selections were outstanding. Chef Daniel even came out personally to congratulate the Happy Couple with a custom decorated chocolate cake! Oh so special! I had reservations go to see the Hilton fireworks, but my family was too engrossed in the dessert bar. Haupia delights, and mousses, and taste treats that were unusual, yet spectacular. I would definitely recommend reservations and ask for a special table if it is a special occasion. 5 stars, baby! Whoo hoo!

    (5)

  • Casey H.

    Overpriced for a very limited selection. Most buffets that I've been to, you get as many crab legs as you want. A plate full at a time if you want. They have someone serving the crab legs here, so you get pieces (not clusters). The food was okay. With the limited selection, I expected spectacular food. Anyway, $58 per person for a buffet that left us feeling ripped off for days.

    (1)

  • Krys Y.

    This place is not only nice with its hardwood tables and chairs, but it's also well stocked in terms of food. It is definitely a pricey at about $60 bucks a head, but if you're a big eater, they have a lot of good things to eat. There's crab, prime rib, sashimi, clams, poke, soups, salads, rice dishes, and a WHOLE SECTION of desserts, including, chocolate haupia pie, peanut butter pie, tarts, fruits, and whipped desserts in cups. I LOVED it here. If you're Kama'aina, DON'T forget to mention that because it brings the price down from about $60 to $45. Definitely a good place for an anniversary or for a special dinner with the family. Edit: Ate here for dinner again this past weekend. We were Saturday night walk-ins, it wasn't busy, and the people were really nice (and also pointed out the Kama' aina discount for the locals. I wanted to mention that we parked in the Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center parking structure (because we didn't know where we were eating) and ended up at Kai Market at the Sheraton. The waiter asked if we needed parking validation at the end of the meal, and we told him we were parked in the Royal Hawaiian parking. He responded with "OOOOHHHH NOOOOOOOO....", paused, and said, "wait, let me try check with my manager." (They don't validate for Royal Hawaiian parking)... But the manager in the back CALLED the Royal Hawaiian parking people, and our waiter gave us back our ticket with a validation sticker on it! Parking came was FREE! I was thoroughly impressed with that unexpected service. +1 for Kai Market!

    (5)

  • Stephanie C.

    I've been to a lot of buffets in Hawaii and I have to say Kai Market is my favorite by far. It's located in right next to the beach with a gorgeous view of the ocean. The food is all extremely fresh and tasty and each dish is delicious enough to stand on it's own. There's a large selection so the most difficult thing is not to get too full before I can try everything I like, which is everything. Yummy!!!

    (5)

  • Mary D.

    the food is soooo ono! The butterfish, the crab, the poke, everything is awesome. My favorite was the sweet potato mash they had last year. We're having another dinner her for Xmas and i can't wait to see what they have for us this year. The view is spectacular if you go right before sunset. It gets somewhat crowded as the evening progresses but there are so many choices, you have a lot of different areas to go to if the main line is a bit long. It's definitely worth the price you pay for. GO HUNGRY!

    (5)

  • Brent K.

    I was very surprised, The food was really good. from the sushi, fish, the variety of veggies and meat done in different styles, deserts were delish ! cappachino machine. Poke was good. Good service. The place looks the same as before. But the food is way better now.

    (4)

  • Chris O.

    They need more selection for $60/person. No noodles, 1 Chicken selection, no salmon, 1 kind of sushi roll etc. All else was fine. Come hungry.

    (2)

  • Kristine M.

    Bufei, boofet, boofay, however you pronounce it... Kai Market is winnahs! First of all the renovations done for the Sheraton Waikiki are fantastic! Who did that? Good job you! Love the ambiance and overall feel of the place. I especially dig the vertical herb gardens located in the restaurant entrance and along the buffet lines. Both times I've eaten here I've been quite pleased. The dishes are made with locally grown ingredients and change depending on what's "fresh". The salad bar was awesome. Enjoyed me some ahi poke, sesame tako, and local greens. There were also fresh oysters, but I was distracted by the fantastically flavorful misoyaki butterfish, "Ohhh misoyaki..." and crab legs! "Ohhh misocrabby!!!" The dessert is, like, "OMG". There is this chocolate mousse cup thingie that is FAAABUULOOUUSSSS!!! I actually got upset when another person took the last cup, knowing full well that they would be bringing another round out. I was ready to clothesline an old Japanese tourist for a cup of mousse. When the servers brought out another round, I felt my eyes brimming with tears. -OK, exaggeration nation. But seriously, the desserts :) Eat here. It's great. Just watch out for all the sand that some tourist leave on the tile floors leading up to the restaurant (sue job!!!)

    (5)

  • Leona Y.

    My parents love the breakfast buffet here since there is a wide selection of Japanese breakfast items (rice, miso soup, natto, etc). They have all the essential breakfast dishes such as bacon, eggs, omelets, etc. The juice they serve here is the POG juice which I LOVEEEEE and I had at least three servings :D I recommend coming here EARLY since a line starts forming by around 8am. We got here at 7am and we had a choice of sitting outside or inside (we chose outside of course!) and got seated right away. This place is great if you're looking for an affordable breakfast buffet and are staying in Waikiki. Adults pay around $30 per person for breakfast which is about average at nice hotels like the Sheraton. If you sit outside you can also enjoy the view of Diamond Head in the distance!

    (5)

  • Hiep N.

    This place is a bit of a splurge but well worth it. We went on a Friday night, which was seafood night. It had endless amounts of oysters, poke, crablegs, prime rib, and amazing desserts. It's located in the Sheraton Waikiki Resort and has amazing views, live music, and indoor/outdoor seating. The employees are super friendly and cordial. You wouldn't expect such great service during a buffet, but my waiter went above and beyond all my expectations. If you want a variety of Hawaiian foods and don't want to go to a chain restaurant like Roy's or Ruth Chris's I definitely recommend this place.

    (4)

  • Hazel G.

    Now I typically do not eat at hotel buffets but had to try it as day in and day out there was a line out the door. Kai Market actually was very impressive. The price is steep at $50/person unless you are a local and it drops to $38/person so Kai Market is a place to go if you are hungry. We ate at Kai Market on a weekend so it was packed and there was still quite a line to get it. This buffet has quite an assortment of food ranging from miso butterfish, sashimi, ahi poke, prime rib, salads, soups, variety of desserts, etc...all beautifully arranged. Although Kai Market is busy, service is very attentive. Would recommend to both tourists and locals alike.

    (4)

  • Glenn S.

    Most buffets are like your typical sports team...you have 2 star athletes (prime rib & crab legs) surrounded by a bunch of middle of the road players (AKA buffet fillers). The buffet at Kai Market is like a All Star game. From your salad/soup and appetizer section to the hot entrees and desserts...WOW I kid you not....they have such a good spread of dishes it is hard to eat everything as you can get filled up eating one thing or the other. *sigh* The food at KM is always fresh and filled which is a big + in my book. I hate buffets with food that looks old and are not kept filled as it is so unappealing! My only complaint is that everything is so good that I can't eat enough of what they have. I usually go one the weekend for seafood night and if you are non-kamaaina it will run you $58. Kamaaina's get a 25% discount, just need to mention to your server. Parking is in the Sheraton Waikiki garage and free with validation.

    (4)

  • Chris W.

    Went to Kai Market for my friend's birthday this past Saturday. The food was great!!! Prime rib was awesome, as was the fresh oysters! The had a great variety of foods, so there is definitely something for everyone! I also liked the way the food was grouped in the room. There is also enough room between the tables to walk without bumping chairs. The service was lacking. I know this is a buffet, but it is supposed to be a premiere buffet! We were seated quickly, and everything was explained to us. After we got our first plate, the waitress came by to see how everything was going. After that, we are lucky if we saw our waitress twice more... during the next hour and a half! There was no anticipation by the staff to see if we needed more water, soda, etc. I will be going back for those oysters and prime rib! The food was great (I don't think I tasted one thing that was not good), but will not anticipate anything in the way of customer service.

    (4)

  • Adam P.

    5 words to get your mouth watering interest, "Sea Bass with Lobster Sauce" Friday is when you want to go for this awesome delight, but what's even better that this fish is the price you can get for the meal. Sure it's expensive to experience this dinner meal, but it's sure better when you get a discount! that's right. if you patiently wait around the check-in/lobby there will a demo stand with a sample of whatever they have for a selection, I got a sample of Clam Chowder, someone would be there informing you about the buffet and hand you a card that will give you a discount for you dinner. DONT FORGET TO GRAB A COUPON!!!!

    (4)

  • Kate A.

    I recently stayed at the Waikiki Sheraton while on a business trip and ended up eating a breakfast and a dinner here because of the convenience factor. The views are MAGNIFICENT. If you dine outside, the water is literally right in front of you....it's stunning. I had a delightful waiter in the morning who brought me a newspaper and chatted pleasantly with me. The food was alright. It's incredibly overpriced for what it is, but they DO have some unique local fare that makes the experience fun. I was excited to see guava taro bread, coconut pancakes, a large assortment of mochi desserts, great fresh/local fruit, etc. Just don't think I would ever come back on my own dime at nearly $70 a pop. For breakfast though, the $35 is well worth the view and serenity.

    (3)

  • Andee L.

    I should have read more reviews before choosing this place to eat for my birthday. (Which no one asked if we were celebrating anything when I made the reservation by the way.) I stood there in line wondering why I'm waiting with the rest of the people who don't have reservations. They have a sign that says reservations on the right and walk-ins on the left but no one paid attention to it. After reading other reviews I realize I'm not alone... My expectation were WAAAY to high for this place. My opinion is that it is highly overrated. I don't know what the old Sheraton buffet was like as mentioned in previous reviews but I've definitely had similar experiences. Don't get me wrong, the food is good. The decor a little weird for me with the plants on the wall but the rest of it had a modern, natural feel to it. The one thing that impressed me was how fresh the poke and sashimi was although I've had similar grades at other restaurants. I was warned that the buffet selection was small (which it was) but the quality of the food superseded the quantity. Hmm...the selection was small, yes. Quality...the dishes were definitely fresh but nothing was especially impressive. The fresh catch of the day (hawaiian seabass) was flavorful, the snow crab legs were good (nothing special)...and that's all I can really remember from almost a week ago. I would think if it left a better impression on me I would remember more... The one thing I was REALLY disappointed about was that they ran out of creme brulee. And it wasn't even close to closing time!! Would we go back?? Maybe...but not by ourselves...maybe if our group of friends wanted to eat there for some reason we may tag along. If not for anything else but to try the creme brulee...

    (2)

  • Claire B.

    Modernized Hawaiian Buffet, I loved it! Located in the beautifully redone Sheraton Waikiki Resort. Though it is heavily packed (always) since who can blame them, it's floor to ceiling cascading doors open to the Pacific Ocean!!!! Eat inside or out for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Yes, it is very pricey for Honolulu standards but worth the price, it's all you can eat buffet. Attire is casual but respectful. Remember, the Hawaiian culture demands respect around food, so please wear a cover up over your bathing suit and men please wear shirts. Guests tend to forget that even though you're in paradise and next to an amazing infinity pool, please cover up :)

    (5)

  • Kuuipo D.

    Unbelievable!!!! I took my hubby there for our 15 year anniversary. The food variety was phenomenal. There was so much food to choose from that we actually skipped the salad & poke area to fill up on the main entree & dessert areas. I specifically took him on Saturday for the crab legs (this is an additional charge on seafood nights). The crab legs were always stocked and they kept it coming. My hubby said it was ok. There was mini laulau, prime rib, saki marinated roast beef, shoyu chicken, & so much more!!!! The dessert tables were stocked - bread pudding (awesome), tapioca pearls, mochi, tarts, pies, and more. The wait staff were wonderful, but they did get busy after an hour & half, so it was hard to get refills on our drinks and to pay. My one big complaint was that the bathroom was outside of the restaurant. It had to be shared with people coming from the pool. That means wet seats and wet floors. So if you are dressed nicely, be careful! Other than that, the food was great and plentiful. Choices were many and just a really nice time. PS - Although the reservationist called me back to confirm that I was celebrating an anniversary, we didn't get any "special" treatment or goodies like other reviewers mentioned.

    (4)

  • Ken E.

    First if you can get a end table outside and if you get there early before sunset, its all worth the eats and view. After a long day of exploring the island and not really eatting that much during the day, this place was a wonderful treat! My gf and I first explored the goodies and once we got back with a full plate of food, we sat down and pointed our heads down lifted out forks to out mouth and didn't say a single word. After almost chewing off our fingers thinking they are lady fingers, we looked up and realized we were really hungry. Great selection of all kinds of cultural foods, we went back many times to try at least one of everything. Remember to share everything with your gf, I was munching a wonderful coconut pie with little macs on it. After a few bites and we finished our chat, I noticed there was nothing left and gf was waiting to finally taste the yummiest pie. But I ate it up and had to run off to find if there was more pie for her.... whew. Take the time to explore all the foods, its important because you may miss something.

    (5)

  • d s.

    Hmmm...wanted to come here today for breakfast and guess what? There is no kids deal BUT the website doesn't reflect this. The worst thing is I think they charge kids the same price as adults! WTF?! I would tell folks to come here to because the food is good even though the selection is not what you'd expect for nearly $30. No more... Sheraton's lost my business and I'm guessing a lot of other local folks too.

    (1)

  • Alohilani K.

    Great, great, great customer service! We got there late; our reservation was at 8:30, and we didn't get there 'till 9:10. I called while we were on the way to let them know that we were running late, but when we got there no one was at the front desk and they had a "Closed" sign posted. After waiting around for a few minutes, a man came up and asked if I needed help. Turns out, he was the guy who took my "We're running late" call. He said he had been trying to call me to let me know that we had to be there by 9:00, but the call wouldn't go through. I explained to him that it was a Hilo number, so he should have dialed "808." He said he would check to see if they could take us in. Fortunately, he was able to seat us and a waiter came shortly after to let us know that the food was going to be put away at 9:30, and to see if we wanted anything to drink. We felt bad for being late, so we just drank water, but he came back again to make sure we didn't want anything else to drink. We piled our plates and got to eating. The food was good. I'm sure it would have been better had we not been feeling rushed, but everything tasted great and there was so much to choose from. Before the 9:30 mark, the waiter came back to our table to ask if we wanted to get more food before everything got put away. Very considerate, but we declined. To top it all off, he came back with our check, saying he charged us the "senior" price since we hardly had time to eat! (A total savings of $40.) We couldn't have been more pleased with the service. It was totally our fault for showing up late, but they still accommodated us with a smile!

    (4)

  • Miki H.

    Love! The Kai Market buffet is a welcome addition to the buffet scene in Hawaii. I think I would still head over to the Halekulani for a special occasion like Easter or Christmas but Kai Market would be my choice for almost any other day. The buffet line is well maintained and while the selections are fewer, the quality is there. Dinner: Prime rib is excellent. I appreciate that the crab legs are kept in a steamer basket over a water bath so that they meat doesn't dry out. I also like that they're served to you so you know grimy little paws haven't been all over them. They have the standard salad bar and cold station as well as a dessert section. The desserts are all gorgeous but they're not all tasty and some are a little weird. You should try them all though--why not? There is a thai coffee dessert that's out of this world...and I don't drink coffee or usually eat coffee anything. Also, they have a selection of Satura Cake's "cupcakes" for you junkies out there...I'm not but I know you exist! Breakfast: The breakfast buffet's last seating is 10:30 am and the buffet closes at 11 am so if you're going for an early morning meal it really does have to be early. The same standard applies for breakfast where the buffet line is kept clean and the selections are more than enough to choose from. There's cheese, yogurt with fruit compote, miso soup, salad, create your own omelette and more. They have egg whites :) There's also a toast your own Punalu'u sweet bread selection and I swear they have all the colors/flavors... I hadn't heard about a kama'aina discount but after reading other yelp reviews on this place, I'll try asking about it next time. Also, they validate for 4 hours so after your meal, you can wander around Waikiki for a couple of hours!

    (4)

  • Nikki R.

    Kai Market was a HUGE disappointment service wise. For $55 per person, the restruant half empty, and the wait staff not having to serve food, I expected excellent service, but the service was lacking. The waiter had no manners, he removed wine glasses without asking, he did not clear plates promptly, he insisted that he did not forget to bring a drink that was ordered when he did forget, he had no clue about the wines that the resturant was serving, he was argumentative at times and not attentive to any customers at all, it was just overall bad tableside manner. The bill inlcuded at 17% gratuity which I had the manager remove. The manager was very nice and said that they were in the process of revamping their wait staff and re-evaluating their service standard. He apologized profusely and provided his card in case we wished to make new reservations. The food was great and the ambiance was awesome, but the great food and the great amibance was overshadowed by really bad service.

    (2)

  • Dave F.

    Went for the seafood buffet recently and it was really good! If you enjoy things like steamed fish Chinese style, sashimi, prawns, prime rib, then you're going to enjoy it here. The selection of food that is served is enough to satisfy even the pickiest eaters! I especially enjoyed their clam chowder which was rich and so creamy, the fresh salad bar, the prime rib carving station of course, the dessert bar, it was a fabulous meal to partake in and the service is very attentive. They will make sure your table is clear by the time you get back from your trip to the buffet line, but will ask you courteously if you are done if you are sitting at your seat. Parking is plentiful, but if you're like me, you'll opt for the valet as you will be glad you used their service after your meal!! The Sheraton has really done itself good by opening up Kai Market. That was my second visit there this year and I'll return again next year!

    (4)

  • Jason P.

    Prime rib...Excellent! Sea bass with lobster sauce...choice! Kai Market at the Sheraton Waikiki is an overall great buffet. Great selection of local foods prepared with local ingredient. They have a wonderful open air ocean side ambiance and live entertainment. My expectations were pretty high for this buffet, because of all the great reviews and suggestions as well as their spendy price. About half the buffet was spectacular and the other half just ok. They need some improvement on their fresh appetizers, such as their sushi, and definitely their desserts. The selections change daily, so perhaps Mondays are not their strong nights. It wasn't particular busy, so the food will tend to sit out under the lights. Get it while its fresh! With their generous kaimaaina discount there is no need to complain.

    (3)

  • Norm D.

    Based on logic, if I love food; therefore, I must love buffets. That may be the case; however, not all buffets are created equally. It's typical that when I go to a buffet, I'll only like a few select food items as the majority looks like it was put together as an after thought. The main draw for me when I go to buffets isn't the prime rib or omelet station; but, it's the endless crab legs that induce me into a buttery food coma. So I heard good things about this buffet place called Kai Market that is located in the Sheraton Waikiki Hotel and I wanted to give it a try. All my friends know that I'm a big fan of the buffet and that my "if I was a teddy bear with a pull-string" phrase would be "I'm Hungry!" So it was no surprise to a couple of my buddies when I called and asked them to participate in this binge-fest of food. However, they weren't too keen on the $50 price tag that came along with it. Luckily, Kai Market offers a 25% discount Kamaaina rate to draw in the local crowd. Lucky you live Hawaii! Thinking that it'd be best to make reservations, I go onto the Sheraton website and look for a phone number to call (921-4600). BIG MISTAKE. I wait and wait and wait for over 10 minutes with no pick up. I then 'googled' Kai Market and find its Facebook page and it has a different number to call (922-4422). Yay! Within a couple of minutes, I made reservations for dinner within the hour. FYI - YELP has the 921-4600 number listed. If you call and have to wait, try the second one. If you go to their website ( sheraton-waikiki.com/kai… ), you can view the menus for every day of the week. In this particular experience, it was Saturday, and they had CRAB LEGS! Anyway, let's get to the important stuff - the food. Here is the skinny on this binge-fest experience. Food (just the highlights): * Alae salt crusted slow roasted prime rib - ONO. This usually doesn't draw me in, but this was good. * Miso marinated Hawaiian sea bass - Delicious! This practically melted in my mouth. * Chinese salt and pepper head on Kahuku shrimp - OMG. Talk about flavor! * Chesapeake Bay crab cakes - I couldn't get enough of it. I was eating one while in line. * Hawaiian style Ni'ihau seafood chowder - BROKE DA MOUTH good. I'm telling you, I would go back just for this chowder. I was pretty amazed. * Steamed snow crab legs - slightly disappointed. I've had better and bigger at other places; however, the other food items made up for it. * Chocolate haupia - WOW. I've never had that before and it was good. * Haupia cream pie - My favorite dessert. Even though I was super-duper full, I kept thinking I had to finish it. Service: * Helpful hostess who already reassured us of the Kamaaina rate without me asking for it. I must look local because my two friends don't. * Awesome server who kept our drinks filled and cleared the table of empty plates and crab shell debris. * Buffet staff was helpful and loaded our plate with crab legs. Ambiance: * Nicely decorated and brightly lit. You have the option of having an indoor or outdoor experience. Preferably, outside would be nice during the day or at sunset; however, if it's way past that point, sit on the inside as it is closer to the food. * The live band playing Hawaiian music is great. It makes you feel like a tourist, even though you already live here. * Bathrooms are clean. Anyway, at the end of the meal the bill came out to $115.45 (including tax and net of the $36.75 discount) for the three of us, which is essentially $38.48 per person. Unfortunately, I was only able to make one trip to the buffet line (GASP!) as they had these HUGE dinner plates. We were informed by our helpful server that the sizeable plates are not the usual case; but, that wouldn't have mattered as I probably would have gone up for seconds. Overall, I thought it was well worth the experience for the price and I wouldn't mind coming back again. This was the first time that I actually enjoyed everything I tried and I'm looking forward to it again. One thing I did find amusing was that the suggested tip started at 18%. WTF happened to 15%? Lastly, parking is free with validation in the Sheraton Waikiki parking structure. Unlike me, don't get it confused with the Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center parking structure.

    (4)

  • Mike F.

    The food was great. The selection was amazing. We were celebrating our anniversary and they gave us 20% off our bill. The desert options tasted as good as they looked. Delicious

    (4)

  • Alyssa K.

    We went here for Christmas Buffet. I asked my fiance, "how many stars out of 5 would you give Kai Market?" and he said, "5" The food is very yummy here, and we both loved the fact that they use fresh, locally owned ingredients in their cooking. Fiance's notes: - prime rib - it was great. they had 2 stations. 1 was medium rare, and the other was medium to medium well. - kahuku shrimp scampi was really good. wasn't oily, more like a cream sauce. plump shrimp - niihau fisherman's soup (like a chowder) was good - omelet station was great. made to order station. My notes: The fish was great. loved the niihau fisherman's soup. staff always made sure to replace our used plates. we'll definitely come here for brunch again!

    (5)

  • Adam C.

    High quality dinner buffet, everything on the menu was super fresh and delicious. The living walls added even more freshness. Tonight's special was prime rib, snow crab legs and onaga, done to perfection. I even got some fresh picked rosemary right from the living wall behind the carving station. We really enjoyed the kama'aina discount and the "all you can eat" deal but as usual at buffets, ate too much too fast and wasn't able to fully enjoy dessert, which was very luxurious too. The bread pudding was my favorite, followed closely by the Satura carrot cake. This buffet ranks among the highest quality of the Waikiki buffets. I'd say better than the Hawaii Prince, but probably right on par with Hakone. Sheraton had a very nice makeover too, the infinity pool at sunset was amazing.

    (4)

  • Keith A.

    We stayed at the Sheraton Waikiki and got the "breakfast included" deal....which was at Kai Market. That being said, I was astounded to learn what the going rate for this buffet was....and my advice to anyone paying for it is....so not worth the $25 per person for breakfast. However, since it was "free" for us....it was actually pretty good. If I had to pay for the buffet, I'd say it's worth about $10 to $15 for breakfast. I noticed one reviewer dissing the omelet makers and we noticed quite the opposite. This one elderly gentlemen was so nice and polite he truly seemed to enjoy making everyone's omelet made to your specifications. He was cooking three at time and he was "poetry in motion". I always enjoy watching someone skilled in their craft! The best part is that the omelet's were delicious! As for the other items, we were amazed at the variety and how they catered to so many different cultures. Who eats salad, goat cheese or salami and crackers for breakfast? But if that is your speed...they have it. Yogurt, granola, fruit, cold cereal....that too. For the five days we stayed at the Sheraton, it was awfully nice to go down and eat as much or as little as you wanted. We always got a patio seat and enjoyed the outdoor atmosphere.....even the shooing of the pigeons got entertaining when some little kids got into it. Service was always prompt and friendly. We never did the dinner buffet, as we couldn't stomach the price at $50 per person. However, we did walk thru and check it out a couple times and it looked alright....albeit pretty standard buffet items. The one time I was so tempted to succumb was when they were cooking kalbi ribs one night and the smell of the meat grilling on the BBQ was wafting up to our ocean front room. Standing on the patio taking in the sunset and smelling those ribs just about did me in. But we ended up going elsewhere that night. We did talk to a couple one day at the pool who said they had eaten at the buffet for dinner the night before and said it was "so not worth it" and to spend the $100 elsewhere.

    (3)

  • Kaili N.

    i just got home from the sheraton waikiki and it's the first time i've been there in over a year. i was invited to try the new "paniolo" night buffet at kai market and brought my bff mel to come with me. all i kept saying from the moment i entered the sheraton's lobby was..."wow!" as we walked to the table, the hostess asked whether we would like to sit inside or out. we chose inside to be closer to the buffet ;) and we still had a nice view of the ocean and diamond head. "wow!" the salad bar was super duper fresh and i was ooohing and aaahing over the little enoki mushrooms and cucumbers cut to perfection (like snowflakes without the holes in them). "wow!" they pay attention to all the little details and it shows. dressings were good, too! as we walked through the buffet line, i grabbed a little of everything...swordfish, ribs, chicken, baked potatoes, prime rib...omg, they had a bowl of finely chopped chives for the baked potatoes which was oddly and impressively cut to perfection (again!) which got another "wow!" out of me. yeah, i'm a dork that's easily impressed...but hey, so was the lady standing behind me! anyway, everything tasted just as good as it looked. of course, the highlight for me was dessert. wow, what a spread! the bread pudding was SO good. they also had haupia, fresh fruits (i passed, too healthy for me), a huge assortment of cakes - the chantilly cake was pretty good (but can't beat liliha), coconut butter mochi might actually be better than my mom's but don't tell her i said so (yum!), and 4 different types SATURA cupcakes. "WOOOW!!!" i LOVE satura cupcakes! i bet i could eat the price of the buffet in just satura cupcakes. "wowowowow!" oh, they also had a live band playing that started at around 6pm at "the edge" poolside bar. there was a fire-knife dancer and then a hula dancer as well. the music was soft enough that we could carry on a conversation without straining, but loud enough that we still paid attention. "wow!" soft drinks are included with the meal and we also got hot coffee and tea. oh, there is also NO TIME LIMIT on the buffet. "wow!" parking is validated for 4 hours and is totally free. our server was cool and took the time to talk to us after dinner. he asked what we liked about the buffet and told us to come on fridays and saturdays if we like seafood - there's crab legs! damn, i love crab legs. the price of the buffet is $49 but if you are kamaaina then you get 25% off. yup, sounds good to me. after dinner i took a look around rum fire. "wow!" i can't believe i haven't been there yet. which rock have i been living under? looks like an awesome place for a romantic date. i can't wait to go back! i was impressed with kai market and the sheraton as a whole. definitely a good sign when you can't wait to go back as you are leaving. :) i will definitely recommend everyone checking it out!

    (5)

  • The Next Time O.

    Located in the Sheraton Waikiki. The best buffet in Hawaii that we have tried. Better than Plumeria House at Kahala Hotel and Orchids. While there might be fewer choices than the comparables, the items they do have on the menu are done right. On the night our family went, the Poke, Onaga(snapper), prime rib, salt and pepper shrimp, noodle, and fried rice were excellent. The salad and dessert were bonus. The atmosphere is relaxed with the seating connected to outdoor bar with live music. The Next Time: The buffet menu changes daily so check the site for 7day menu and go on the day that we prefer.

    (4)

  • Eric L.

    Great buffet. Love the seafood chowder.

    (4)

  • Valerie F.

    I'm so glad we read the reviews and waited for the seafood buffet on Saturday night. It costs a wee bit more, $58. I think, total for 2 with tip was about $150. Well worth the price for me, but not for a teenager that believes pepperoni pizza is food of the Gods. The sashimi was sooo good, poke, perfection. Everything was amazingly perfect and fresh. I had never before had any raw fish or any mussels. Crab and shrimp were about as exotic as it gets for my tastes. But since we were on this heavenly trip, we decided to eat local fresh cuisine. This isn't your typical buffet by any means. It is making me a little sad, to be home writing a review, instead of being there to enjoy this amazing experience right now. Hopefully we can go back next year and do it again. However, if my boy hasn't learned to appreciate fine dining by then, he can call room service for a pizza! Don't forget to make reservations! You may be out of luck, we saw a few people turned away and others were waiting in line. Also, the location is on the beach awesome. Have fun and enjoy every moment. Reservations are not required, but are highly recommended.

    (5)

  • Amanda Z.

    This review is for the breakfast buffet only. After a horrible check-in experience at the Sheraton (review forthcoming), the hotel comp'ed us 2 free breakfasts at Kai Market. I guess it was worth it, as I would never normally pay $30/person for breakfast (it's the Chinese in me). It was Saturday morning ~930am and we were seated promptly (restaurant was less than half full). View of the beach was gorgeous. Also, the outdoor ambiance was nice, but the birds walking/flying around was so unsanitary! The service started out just fine, water and juice was poured and plates were cleared on a regular basis. The buffet was pretty big, but there were some duplications. Some of the highlights: kalua pig eggs benedict (no english muffin, this was really good!), crustless quiche w/sundried tomatoes and local goat cheese (decent), fried rice, breakfast mac and cheese (super cheesy, penne pasta, ham, GOOD but a bit heavy for breakfast), made-to-order omelet station, tons of breads/pastries and delicious lilikoi jelly in mini-jars and whipped strawberry guava butter, fresh fruits, all kinds of yogurt. At first I was really excited and tried a bit of everything b/c it all looked so good. The second time back to the buffet I felt baffled b/c I wasn't sure what I wanted to eat more of. I'm interpreting that to be that the food was good, but not great...and at $30 a head, it better be great! Back to the service, halfway through the meal, our server became unattentive (empty water glasses, hello?!?) and almost seemed to want to rush us out. It made me leave w/mixed feelings. Sad face.

    (3)

  • Christine N.

    I think I came on a good night, since every item out was great. I liked the prime rib, short ribs, baby back ribs, honey glazed sweet potatoes, bacon baked mac n' cheese, and seafood chowder. Had multiple helpings of prime rib. We skipped the salad section entirely and focused on the big players. The dessert spread was extensive, with many variations of pies, mochi, mouses, tarts and asian inspired desserts. I don't mind paying the price for food, ocean view, and live entertainment and fire dancing during sunset. We took our sweet ass time for seconds and tried every dessert.

    (5)

  • Eddie P.

    Quite disappointed. For the $51 price tag, it is not worth it. The kamaaina rate of $38 makes it a two star. I won't be back. The buffet was a bit sparse. But I was expecting a "less is more" experience. If you have a few good things to eat, then it should be prepared well. The Niihau clam chowder was the best thing. Very tasty with chunks of seafood. The prime rib was good but not outstanding. Similar to what you would get in any Las Vegas buffet. Certainly not a Lawry's. I don't understand why it can't be. Must be the quality of meat. The second entree was a chilean sea bass. Not bad, but not great. The other hot entrees included a short rib braised dish (nothing special) and some type of chicken. But who really eats chicken at a buffet. That's just poor eating strategy. There were some clams which were tasty and shrimp dish (bland). The sashimi was a bit brown so I didn't touch it. The poke was standard. Dessert was nothing special with some pies and fruit. I didn't get to taste anything else. Two stars for ambience and the mini hula show. If you only have stomach space for one buffet in Hawaii, don't go here. Halekulani's brunch was better.

    (2)

  • Jason L.

    I came here for a joint birthday between me and my sister. We came with a party of 7 for a Saturday night (seafood night) buffet. The Saturday night buffet comes at a hefty $58 : / which is a lot.... I liked the: crab legs, fresh oysters ( had about 16 of them), sashimi, prime rib, lemongrass panacotta dessert, mocha coffe mousse dessert, fresh opakapaka or onaga steamed chinese style with green onions ginger and shoyu, seafood chowder, cheese plate there were many more other dishes in the buffet line but none else were worth mentioning. Our waitress gave us excellent service. She constantly came around to refill our drinks and to ask if everything was ok. And she ALWAYS had a smile on which is A++++++ in my book. the bus boys came around often to remove our plates of empty oysters and crab leg shells. Overall the food and desserts were good. But I do not think even I could eat my $58 worth and i am a 6 foot 240 lbs pure CHINESE eater! and i am by far the biggest person and largest eater in my family. Bottomline, the food was great, service was great, BUT NO ONE SMALLER THAN 6 FEET and WEIGHING LESS THAN 240 pounds COULD EVER EAT THERE $58 (plus tax and mandatory gratuity) worth here, but then again i guess you pay for the wide selection of different foods at a buffet.

    (4)

  • Dawn T.

    Although it's quite pricey $55.00 weekdays, w/ Kamaina discount its $41.25. All of the cold and hot entrees were excellent especially the fish, ribs, kaboocha mash potatoes & Kahuku shrimp . Not as much selection as Makino Chaya or Hawaii Prince but what is offerred is of high quality. There is still much to choose from and the dessert bar was great especially the bread pudding and keylime pie. Worth the price for a high quality buffet.

    (5)

  • Terry S.

    My family enjoyed the dinner buffet here last week. The fresh, local ingredients that they advertise is evident in the high quality of the dishes. My favorites were the prime rib and the Niihau chowder. Onaga was offered that night and was great. Various cooked vegetables were done to perfection with nice thick mushroom slices in some of the dishes that really added a nice touch. Sashimi was good, but not great as were the tako and ahi poke. My son loved the fried rice with Portuguese sausage. Overall, not as much choice as some of the other high end buffets in town, but excellent quality. Service was excellent too. Try this place out now before the masses discover it. I think they're holding back on their advertising until some outside remodeling is finished. Our waiter guessed that construction would be done by the end of October. Nice view of Diamond Head and the hotel's new infinity pool. The night we went it was less than a quarter full. Make sure you request the 25% Kamaaina discount because they don't advertise that anywhere. 4-hours free validated parking in the main Sheraton parking lot.

    (4)

  • Eric X.

    The best buffet I've eaten in Hawaii -- which isn't saying much because I rarely go to buffets; I'm not that big so it generally ends up being a waste of money for me. The food is apparently mostly locally sourced and the quality was good. For a buffet, the quality was excellent. Most people go for the obvious stuff like the prime rib and crab legs. At this price, roughly 50% more than the Oceanarium, I would hope for king crab. The Oceanarium occasionally does king crab. Anyway, I rather liked the seafood chowder, crab cakes (remarkably ungreasy but unfortunately not in the least bit crispy), poke (mm crunchy salt bits gives it that real Hawaiian feeling -- the only thing we use salt this size for back where I'm from is traction on the roads), seaweed salad (something sorely lacking at the Oceanarium), kahuku shrimp (actually I believe these were prawns). I wonder why the mashed potatoes were sourced from Ewa while the potato salad supposedly comes from Molokai. Delicious, leprous potatoes. The Sheraton hotel is one of my favorites in Waikiki. This was my first time back since they remodeled the outside area with a brand new ocean side pool. It's got a great vibe, and the live music and dancing within eye and earshot from our table completed the ambience. The only thing stopping this place from getting the full 5 stars is the price. However to be fair, they do include soft drinks and coffee in the price -- the Oceanarium does not.

    (4)

  • Mr P.

    Went on a Saturday night for their seafood buffet. The fresh oysters on a half shell, Manila clams with black bean sauce and Tako poke were my favorites. Fresh sashimi and prime rib was ok. For $55 I was expecting king crab so i didnt try the snow crab. The desserts were heavy on the cream pies, short on the fresh fruit. Would I go back? Free parking up to 4 hours, kamaaina rate; I'll go back in a year after going back to Todai and Makinos

    (4)

  • Lauren C.

    With the location of Kai Market and beautiful views that the restaurant has, it's things like these that remind me why many travel from all over to visit Hawaii -- a place that I'm lucky call home. A bit pricey, but expected for a buffet in Waikiki. I personally think that it is worth it for the wide variety of yummy food, relaxing ambiance, and nice decor. My friends and I started off with sipping some drinks before stuffing our faces with food. I had the LILIKOI BREEZE (Skyy passion fruit vodka + lilikoi + orange + lemonade) which was really tasty and refreshing. Keep in mind that their menu Mon-Thu ("Waikiki Beach Barbecue) is different from Fri-Sun (Seafood Nights) so be sure to double-check if you're okay with what they have available on the day you're planning to go!

    (4)

  • Wayne M.

    We ate here our first night in town, and there was a vast assortment of selections to choose from. Ahi sashimi, crab legs, fruit, a variety of vegetables and desserts. They were Ok, not fantastic but passable. The 65.00 charge was not, way too expensive for what you get. Fast forward to the breakfast buffet, this was worth it 30.00 for fresh baked goods, fruit, an omelette bar, Asian options. If you're not famished to the point of eating the ass off a dead horse, they offer a light fare of all the above except the hot items. Huge props to Tony our server who did an excellent job. When in Honolulu get wacky in Waikiki and always remain Feral.

    (4)

  • Mike R.

    Great breakfast buffet! We did the AAA breakfast with our room rate and enjoyed the fresh fruit, eggs and omelettes cooked to order, crispy bacon, Portuguese sausages, fresh pastries, salads, miso soup, congee, pancakes, juices and coffee just to name a few items. Really convenient way to start the day before embarking on each adventure everyday. Servers provided excellent service by keeping our table clean and our glasses full. We also had a chance to do the dinner buffet and that was even more amazing! Same wonderful service and delicious options. Our server brought us a cream Kula corn chowder to start our dinner. Some of the selections were fresh steamed fish in soy ginger sauce Chinese style, prime rib, and the best prawns ala plancha! For dessert they had ted's pies, cheesecake, flan, mochi, and bread pudding. Perfect place to celebrate a special occasion or taking out friends and family from out of town. More on the expensive side, so come hungry for some fresh seafood and tender prime rib.

    (5)

  • Ric C.

    Meeting expectations- the buffet challenge. Kai Market is the beachfront buffet at the Sheraton Waikiki that touts it's use of local ingredients whenever possible. We have had a chance to dine there for both breakfast and dinner and I would say that the dinner, although more expensive, is the preferable choice. Let me explain: The breakfast offerings are highlighted by their omelet stations and they do have a nice selection of ingredients to "infuse" your omelet. Limited selection of fruit, salad and pastry items, miso soup and other Japanese style items no doubt for the hotel clientele. While the ingredients are fresh I didn't think they were that much different from other buffet offerings in town. The setting is nice and the service has always been top notch. But if you don't like driving into the middle of Waikiki that can be a turn off. Maneuvering to get to the Sheraton parking on a Friday or Saturday night can get tricky, I will explain further in this review. The dinner offerings are pretty comparable to other buffet places but they have specialties that they offer on the weekends that push them ahead of the pack. Their Chinese style whole island steamed fish is excellent and one of the best fish preparations I have tasted in a buffet setting. You are served a portion of the fish which insures more patrons will get a crack at the fish. You piggies are put on notice :). There is also a seafood paella that was "ok". The usual suspects- prime rib, soup, poke, salad bar, etc. are fresh, flavorful and executed very well. Parking on a Fri or Sat can really get crazy if the hotel is having an event. We went on a Sat. Night and the parking at the Sheraton was full by 6pm. There was some confusion and at first they indicated we were on our own- bad news on a Sat. Night. Luckily they were able to offer parking at a sister hotel about 3 blks away so it turned out fine. The one important factor that weighs in Kai Market's favor is that they give a 25% discount to Kamaaina (with proof). Always check to make sure the discount is still in play. Would not hesitate to go back to Kai Market but I would be wary of Saturday if there are major events at the hotel. 3.5 stars for breakfast, 4 stars for dinner with an overall 4 stars because of the Kamaaina discount, great service and nice setting.

    (4)

  • Jake C.

    Yelp 365 Challenge 2015 #46/365 I've been to Kai Market a few times, for breakfast and for dinner, and I have to say, as far as buffets go, it does not disappoint. Our most recent visit was for the breakfast buffet, which was $28. This is Waikiki, and this is a buffet, so we didn't really expect much less. The breakfast buffet looks pretty impressive. From the far side, the station that would usually have the salad/seafood during dinner service is empty, but on the island next to it, there's a station with fresh juice, and Japanese style breakfast food, such as salmon, miso soup, and rice. They also have rice porridge which I stayed away from. When you move over to the main station, the first thing you're gonna hit is the omelette bar. It's cool because you have this small square bowl/tray that you put your omelette insides in. There's different meats, such as bacon, ham, or breakfast sausage, and a bunch of veggies too. Then, you hand your omelette fillings to the omelette maker, who is working three pans at the same time, and watch him make magic. He also asks if you want cheese at the end of your omelette creation. Moving down, there's pancakes, with four different types of syrups to choose from, and they had this sliced bread pudding, which was amazing. You can also add a caramel banana sauce to it, if you want. They also offered a chili eggs benedict (interesting), a ton of bacon, scrambled eggs, and hash browns. There's also a second omelette station, but the service at that one seemed sporadic, as during my multiple trips, I only saw both sides working at the same time once. On the opposite end of the Japanese breakfast side, there's a salad bar and fruit, and on the island there's bread for toast, bagels, croissants, strudels, and cereal and milk. I always make sure I get a bowl of cereal and milk before I'm done with the buffet! It's a great breakfast buffet, one of the best I've ever been to, and they even give you a kama'aina discount! Great way to start the day on a vacation.

    (4)

  • Chau L.

    This review is for breakfast buffet only. Food was just ok, not that great. Not many selections, typical breakfast items. 3 stars is for the spectacular view but will not come back.

    (3)

  • Turquoise Z.

    Great fresh buffet!!!" We liked this buffet was very fresh some Hawaiian dishes, ambianse was very nice. Is recommended to make reservations it was a long line before restaurant open. I believe you should try to go Friday or Saturday cause they have the seafood and it would be a crime to pay 58 dollars for regular food buffet. The crab were delicious with the butter and garlic sauce dessert s were just ok. They dont have too many dishes in the buffet including salad bar and dessert s I think only around 20 different dishes, for the price I expect ed double. My daughter said you should try the sweet potatoes mashed natural juices were delicious but not included in price. The Sheraton have a worderful view of diamond head for pictures

    (4)

  • Bryce A.

    Kai Market is a great place to go if you're looking for an upscale buffet with a wide variety of local foods. Located in the Sheraton, Kai Market has a great view of the water. And, if you are driving in, they give you 4 hours of free parking. The Kai Market buffet has a wide selection of cooked and raw items. We visited here on a seafood night, which meant that the highlights included fresh tuna sashimi, perfectly steamed opakapaka, and plenty of snow crab legs. I would also recommend giving the lau lau and clam chowder a try as they were delicious, though they may not be the best use of stomach space at a buffet. The desserts were good too - I particularly enjoyed the bread pudding and the selection of mini bars, which included Key Lime and Peanut Butter. Great food, though a bit on the pricey side even with the kama'aina discount.

    (4)

  • Addie L.

    When here for a "regular" night, not a seafood night. It's $3 cheaper but here are the differences: No crab legs, clams are made with butter instead of black bean sauce, no sashimi, no seafood paella, chowder is clams only. They still have poke, Chinese style steamed fish, shrimp (it's huge!), and added ox tails (it's very tender!), and prime rib. Remember to use locals only 25% off and senior discounts. Highly recommended!

    (5)

  • Tobias C.

    For local people - make sure you go at 5:30pm when they open. Valet your car. Make a reservation - mention you are Kamaaina when checking in at the desk and enjoy. Prime rib, stuffed fish main station. Braised beef, Shoyu chicken, fried pork and Chinese bun, salad bar section, and dessert section. View of the beach and beach bar - great! Went for a Birthday - warning - Do Not bring your own cake - the charge is $6.50 per person corkage fee - we asked- because one of our friends made us an elaborate birthday cake - we had to eat it at home- by ourselves. Ha!

    (4)

  • Reina L.

    Tonight for V-day is a seafood wonderland of options for their buffet. King crab legs, sashimi, seafood clam chowder, and even a chocolate fountain for the strawberries and marshmellows. Varios fried rice, yummy yam mashed potatoes, and even a lau lau were offered tonight. The poke didn't look too good though, but everything else was pretty good. I was the only one who ordered ginger ale, but somehow Jake had ginger ale, the waiter was quick to replace it with his correct drink. James was attentive and cleared the table and brought utensils very quickly. Sort of disappointed with the casual dressers who walked in, considering how most are dressed at least business casual. Besides, it is Valentine's Day...even the kids had on better shirts and pants than some of the adults.

    (4)

  • Timothy J.

    Came here for Father's Day dinner. Was not disappointed. The buffet was a little more expensive that night because of Father's Day, but I still think it was worth it. We did have to wait since we didn't have a reservation, but it was alright. The waiting area is at the outdoor pool of the Sheraton Hotel overlooking the beach. Couldn't have a nicer waiting area. The food was good. As expected of a classy hotel restaurant. The prime rib was actually pretty juicy. All the food was cooked well (meat was tender and food was tasty), definitely NOT like typical buffet quality food. The service was great. We had a nice waitress that picked up empty plates fairly quick. Great attitude too. Overall, I think this is a great buffet to go to if you're up for it. ALSO, Plantation Iced Tea is included with the meal, all other drinks are not!! (at least when I was there this was the case)

    (4)

  • Nathan K.

    Pretty good place if you like buffets. Seafoods like King Crab, O'pakapaka, fresh Sashimi, chowder, Poke, etc., Good salad bar with mix salads nice and fresh too, prime roast beef, choices of prepared chicken and more..... My favorite is deserts after a good meal and there were a lot to choose from. Cakes, pies, puddings, brownies, fresh fruits, etc., etc.,. You gotta be hungry to eat here!

    (4)

  • Helen M.

    $55 per person is more than a little steep for a buffet, but dammmnnn... this is seriously the best buffet I have ever been to with some fab and delicious food. There is a very drastic difference in quality for Kai's Market and other buffets. If my old workplace did not foot the bill, I would have never known about it (so thank you!). It's also $58 for nights when they offer seafood like crab, which I would trust is just as fresh and delicious as their regular food. Besides, an extra $3 for crab legs seems worth it when you're already paying $55 in general. There was not a single dish or item that I did not like here though I did skip majority of the salad station items. They had sashimi and sushi - pretty standard stuff, but since it was fresh, it's worth it. The standout items that I went back for second (and third!!) helpings of were the steamed fish and mac and cheese. The steamed fish was done perfectly with lots of ginger but was also not overwhelming! Their mac and cheese was so creamy, cheesy, and fancy... I loved it. The desserts are cute miniature creations that are perfect to just grab and go. There were various tarts, cakes, and pies. Their mochi was really good - perfect consistency; however, I chose the fancier desserts just because I feel I could get mochi on an everyday basis. My favorites were the trifle and panna cotta, if memory serves me right! I would consider this a buffet for special occasions, if there's such a thing. While you probably won't be able to come here often, it's totally worth it for the times that you do.

    (5)

  • Dwayne Y.

    So this was a decent buffet. We went here for Mother's Day. They had a wide variety of food. But many things were empty and it took the runners too long to keep things stocked. They had a omelette station. But the chef was gone for a while and the line got long. I never seen a station left unattended for so long. The place was busy but not that bad. But the waiters rarely, if ever, checked on us. I had to continually flag down the wait help to fill our drinks or remove out plates. The prime rib had a pretty good flavor but it wasn't tender. The pancakes and French toast was rubbery and lacked flavor. The dessert was on point. The bread pudding, mochi, pot de creme, and pies were tasty. Overall there was nothing special and we probably wouldn't go back again.

    (2)

  • Rhys A.

    I'm ashamed to say I didn't take note of our waiter but he was awesome!!! An older chinese man (I think) and he was so very nice and very attentive. That alone deserves 5 stars, just for him and his attitude. But I gave a 4 star because there were no mashed potatoes as advertised and that was a big disappointment since I do not like rice. I loved the potatoes salad tho and the fresh chinese style fish was very good and so was the prime rib. I thought the dessert and fruits station was terrible with only watermelon and pineapple with a sprinkle of blue berries offered and for sweets, it was just a mess of stuff, except for the Ted's pies but they didn't have chocolate which is the only Ted's I'll eat. I liked this place and would like to try breakfast. The dinner was a bit costly for what was offered. I think 45.oo would be more appropriate .

    (4)

  • David M.

    Had the best buffet ever at Kai Market,, Make sure you ask for Dana,, she is the BEST,, Water front tables with beautiful views !! Tell Dana I sent you David Santa Rosa CA

    (5)

  • DP N.

    The selection is limited, but the quality is great. We went on a Wednesday night. Immediately went to get shrimps and poke and they were both right on the mark. The sake and ahi poke were slightly spicy but was just enough to cater to everyone's taste. Their garlic shrimp tower was an impressive structure, but I decided to topple that monster down and managed to get away gaining just two pounds on the scale. Kai ran out of roasted duck and was substituted for roasted pork belly for the moo shu style dish but with the steamed bao. You shouldn't miss that entree. The skin was roasted to a nice crisp, and the fat was barely noticeable yet the pork belly was moist and tender. The glass noodles was a cross-over between pancit, chow mein and yakisoba. It was also delicious. It kind of reminds me of bihon but served cold. I tried the three mochi they had, the purple, white and pink and the white. Awesome! I wanted some more but I didn't want to commit a deadly sin and be sent to Dante's inferno. I tried to convince our server to slip me a take-out box and he knew I was just kidding. Besides, it's not allowed. And speaking of our server, his name is Kai. We teased him and accused him of being the owner. What a great guy. Hard to understand, but a really great guy. It was $55 per person, but they give military/vet discounts so, I kicked ass. If you are going there, don't expect it to be a gourmet buffet. It's simple, yet delicious. It's limited yet the quality great. So, go. Go now!

    (5)

  • Iris J.

    I initially made plans for Christmas Eve dinner for the family and some out of town guest. Selecting the appropriate ambiance, quality of food for the price and based upon previous positive experience, I booked reservations without much hesitation. Long story...Short; I was DISAPPOINTED!!! I was not satisfied and what we received basically failed to meet expectation. I raved about "Kai Market" @ Waikiki Sheraton and my mom never tried it, so she was insistent this would be a perfect opportunity since it was the holiday family celebration. Those in my party, made complaints on the food lacking taste (yakisoba, shrimp scampi, tray of tomoatoe/basil/cheese), main entrée(beef short ribs) was tough and only at room temperature, and some items were obviously not prepared correctly (hard rice used for cone sushi, kim chee fried) and never did I eat chop chae that was hard??? Food should definitely be at appropriate temperatures so dishes can be more appealing and enjoyable. My concern was the salad bar which only offered a very limited variety. They had a spring mix of lettuce greens, only tray with cherry tomatoes and cucumber pieces. I would have liked to have seen more options. Where was the croutons? And, why was there only 3 choices of salad dressing (which one ladle wasn't even labeled with the type). How can you offer soup, yet no crackers? The dessert was nothing fabulous. Because of the various disappointments experienced in one visit, I highly am unlikely that I will return in the future. The request was made for a quality service comment card, so I could jot my feelings down in hopes that awareness could be raised and remedies could be sought and found for other patrons could find satisfaction and enjoy their visit. What I received was a delayed response which was annoying. The greeter in the front told me she would consult with a manager and bring the comment card to my table. After about 25 minutes, I approached to check the status and nonchalantly, the girl was somewhat surprised I was not accommodated with my initial request. During my excessive wait time, I ran through my mind that my approach needed to be tactful considering my irritation was increasing and it was the holiday season so calmest needed to be maintained as a courtesy to all. After about 15 minutes later, a manager came out to address my concern. He was professional, yet was not very apologetic. He expressed general concern, and I asked what protocol was with complaints that were typically brought to management's attention. He said they would discuss issue with the cooks/prep staff in the kitchen. I questioned importance of quality control since apparently it was problematic at my visit to that buffet. I asked for a business card which should've been offered to me upfront. But, as an end result I requested a comp request for 2 given that's the number of guest from out of town I had in my party. Again, in order to find resolution the manager should have prompted instead of me. He was able to fulfill my reasonable request. It was unfortunate that I had a bad experience since previously I loved Kai Market. With this visit, my outlook has changed tremendously and going forward, I'm hoping this feedback will be a tool for others when they might be searching for a restaurant venue to meet their special occassion gathering needs. Please consider the brunch buffet rather than the dinner buffet, you may think to yourself who can mess up breakfast food LOL!!! Be safe especially since price is set high may as well be cautious before you book reservations!!!

    (2)

  • Caitlin G.

    I wanted to try this place after reading that they try their best to source as much of their ingredients as possible from local farmers. I happened to be staying in Waikiki and thought I'd give them a try for Friday morning breakfast. Upon seating I was told they were only serving buffet, which I generally think are a rip off, but I thought what the hey I'm already here-how expensive could Kama'aina be? I sat down and ordered a hot tea and got my food, which was fine-not exceptional but good-I have no complaint about that. The tea unfortunately was the cheapest Lipton's that is available, and it was stale at that-which is unfortunate considering even McDonald's has great locally made Hawaiian teas. When I got the bill it was $30! For one person on a weekday morning! When I was seated I mentioned that I was Kama'aina, but it wasn't until after I had finished eating and received the bill that they told me there was no Kama'aina rate that morning. I understand this is in a nice hotel in Waikiki, but that is no excuse to gouge even your non local customers-Hawaii is expensive, but I felt Kai's was simply ridiculous.

    (2)

  • D K.

    Let's start with the positive. The wait staff is friendly and courteous. Now, the reality is the food is terrible, the omelette chefs look absolutely miserable, and the pigeons outside are unbearable. Not only is this breakfast buffet a complete waste of great ingredients due to the ill preparation of most items, but furthermore is a complete rip-off and should go for something around $9.95. Don't waste your time. If you're looking for a great buffet breakfast go to the Halekulani or the Kahala Mandarin.

    (1)

  • Dave H.

    It's hard to find a good quality buffet, but when you do, you definitely have to give them their props. I judge a buffet by how greasy their food is. The less oil used, the better. Although, the variety of food seems somewhat limited, the quality of food is great. Service is great, so give it a shot!

    (4)

  • Andrew P.

    located inside our hotel the waikik sheraton where we stayed at. had the morning brunch buffet. $28 per person. specatular ocean view. not cheap but you get what you pay for. quality and variety of food was up to par for the price.

    (4)

  • Leo S.

    What a difference one year has on the quality and variety of food here. We were looking forward to our annual Sheraton waikiki buffet, but this time the menu lacked the outstanding dishes. ie. No crab, oysters. . . Went here around 7pm and it was almost empty. Table for 7 people took sometime to get seated last year because the place was full last year. I hope they go back to last year's full menu. Service was ok.

    (2)

  • Clark C.

    Good food but it was completely mobbed with people this year on Christmas Eve. It appears they added far more tables and over sold them for the size of the buffet. Last year, we also went on Christmas Eve and enjoyed the food and atmosphere so much that we booked it again for our party of eleven on Christmas Eve this year. The food was equally good with a slightly larger selection, but it was so overcrowded that everyone was standing in line quietly and looking very serious. The prisoners in the cafeteria in the movie "The Shawshank Redemption" looked happier about getting their food. We had fun at our own table, but everyone else in the restaurant really created a bummer of an environment when we were expecting a festive holiday good time.

    (2)

  • Mallory M.

    Kai Market how I'm still thinking about you... My boyfriend got us a hotel room for the weekend of my birthday. My birthday fell on a Thursday but after reading a few reviews I decided that I could wait another night for seafood night! Got there and the hostest sat us right away. We got sat inside but now I wish that we sat outside. Right as we sat down entertainment started with fire knife and hula dancing. I recommend you to request to sit outside if your into that type of scene. I started off with the salad and soup line. Not to much because I was saving myself for crab of course! I got the clam chowder which was really good. Everything is made from local ingredients too! Prime rib was cut a little to thick for my taste but the crab is always the best! When it was time for dessert I was really wanting to try the bread pudding I heard so much about, but it was empty!!! :( I guess next time... Our server was great and never let our glasses get empty. We will definitely come back soon and I can't wait! :)

    (4)

  • Natasha G.

    OMG this place was delicious! The atmosphere was enjoyable and relaxing. I went there with 2 other friends on Christmas Eve for brunch and we sat outside right along side the ocean. My favorites were the loco moco and the french toast! MMm yummy! It is pretty pricey but for a once in awhile indulgence with friends it was perfect.

    (4)

  • Aileen W.

    We love this place! Great quality foods, great location and great service!! I love their grilled butterfish!! Pink lemonade is so good too. I always come back to this place because of their deserts. sooo yummy!!! Breakfast is really good too but shame they don't have kamaaina discount for breakfast anymore. But we LOVE Kai Market!!

    (5)

  • Caligurl M.

    Great ambiance, great quality food, and great margaritas! what more can i say? Not too many selections, but I'll choose quality over quantity any day....the service was impeccable and live music was da bomb.

    (5)

  • Dave E.

    Great buffet with quality of local foods. Good selection of seafood, prime rib and poke. Finally, a great buffet with high quality food.

    (4)

  • Kers Y.

    One of the more expensive buffets I have been too. Use your SPG number if you are dining there. We didn't go on seafood night. The prime rib was delicious and the desserts were all soooo goooddd! Service was good, they could have cleared plates a little faster.

    (4)

  • Jennifer J.

    I came here for my birthday a Saturday night - seafood night. The place is already packed at around 6:30PM. Everyone here is very friendly, from the host to the waiters, bussers and the food servers. Their clam chowder tastes really good. I like beef so I enjoyed the prime rib but didn't want it raw. I'm not sure if I can have them cook it well done, the server did not offer to cook it (he is the only unfriendly guy there). Steamed opakapaka was soft but doesn't have much taste. I'm not really a fan of crabs but there are steamed crab legs. Let the host know that you're celebrating your birthday so you'd get a complimentary cake. The cake is rock hard but it's nice being sang to by their funny waiters.

    (4)

  • Lisa L.

    Ok i really dont get some of the high ratings for this place. We had dinner here last night (Sunday) with seven in our party. All I can say is Sheraton should be ashamed of putting together a" buffet" like this. I am still upset a day later at the crazy amount of money we spent for horrible food and service. Service: our waiter, while a sweet elderly man, was incredibly slow and messed up on our bill twice. The sad part is this is a self serve kind of place but they automatically added 18% gratuity to our bill! We had to look for him twice just to order drinks, he charged us for more drinks then we ordered, gave us our neighbors bill instead of ours, and forgot to give my daughter a new wine after she found something floating in it. Food: mediocre at best. Poor quality and little choices. Honestly the only highlight for us was the Ahi poke which was fresh and tasty. Sad, but we could have gone to tamuras to get great ahi poke for a fraction of the price Bottom line : if you are looking for a great buffet this isn't it. It's a waste of alot of money. If sizzlers were still open that would have been a better option.

    (1)

  • Jason Y.

    The menu items sounded nice but overall wasn't too impressed. I am certainly taking into consideration that it is a hotel buffet and they are supposed to put out quantity over quality but for the price you pay my hopes were a bit higher. The good: kalua pork, braised oxtail, turkey, prime rib (some cuts at least) The bad: sashimi (no selection really, just tuna). Poke (just tasted like the sashimi cut up into chunks), chicken (dry), oysters (didn't seem too fresh), salad (only some cuts of romaine) Decent: Inari, kimchi, honey ham, crab legs, cocktail shrimp, garlic butter shrimp. Must get: the peanut butter filled mochi ball, mango pudding, Overall, for a buffet (esp in a very nice hotel) it was mediocre at best. Maybe we caught them on a bad night. For the price, plenty of other options around the area.

    (3)

  • Rho D.

    Selection for Valentine's Day were great. Plenty to choose from and all satisfactory. Nothing really stood up but overall satisfied. Pretty pricey

    (3)

  • Colleen W.

    What a great buffet. . . yeah, the selections are not that extensive, but the quality makes up for it. Driving into Waikiki on a Saturday night during prom season and with UH graduation was horrible. We were almost 15 minutes late getting to our 6:30 reservations, but not a problem when we arrived. It was crowded. . .a baby's christening party was in effect, along with UH graduation parties, but our wait service was excellent. Hot food selections. . .dare I say KING CRAB LEGS! Not self serve, but you could ask for as many as you wanted. The garlic prawns. . .delish! Prime rib. . .good. . .other entrees included clams in black bean sauce, shoyu chicken. . .laulau even. Although there were only 3 kinds of sushi, it was good enough for me. . .along with sashimi and poke. . .good to go. Desserts galore! Our plates were cleared off the table in a timely manner. . .not stacked up that is. And. . .the best is a 25% kamaaina discount. . .which means one of 4 eats free! It is a great bargain and should be checked out! Loved it, hope to go back with others.

    (5)

  • Danielle N.

    Kai Market seafood buffet at/in the Sheraton Waikiki Hotel. Yes the Sheraton, prime ribs good quality meat, chowder soup great flavor & that is all you will find at this place consider is edible for $58.00 a person. Lawry's is real prime-rib. Everything else is poor quality & I have pictures to proof it. Crab legs are over cooked very dry and it will be cold by the time you walk to your table. The salad bar is biggest as is for 5 items to choose from, sashimi maybe 3 items to choose from & sushi rolls maybe 5 types and I don't know what the hell they wrap the inside with, I spit it out. (see pictures below) Asian hot & cold dessert items sure doesn't taste like one & the flan u will be sorry, no real condense milk, and bubble pockets. I even called the manager & bring it to his attention & he wishes that we will give it a second chance next time, what, rude??? Bellagio, Caesar Palace... That's are real buffer. This place is not cater to American people or American food standard in my opinion.

    (1)

  • Dan W.

    Had the dinner buffet and could not have been more dissapointed. The only thing that was redeeming on the whole buffet was the tuna poke. Imagine that, good tuna poke in Hawaii. It was certainly not worth the $50 ea my wife and I spent there. Still, hotel buffet dinner? It's really my own fault for thinking that was going to work out any differently... Live and learn. Well, live.... anyway.

    (2)

  • Teresa F.

    Juicy prime rib. Shrimp, sashimi & poke Awesome!! Love the assorted cheese(s) etc..The mango dessert on point

    (5)

  • Sheena Y.

    Don't get me wrong the food is great but I don't think it's worth $58 per person. Its a little steep and I've been to better buffets for the price.

    (3)

  • Ryan M.

    With regards to the choices, it's easily 5 stars!! Steamed opakapaka, kahuku style shrimp, king crab, clams, prime rib and sashimi to name a few. Problem is that everything is overlooked!!! It's not like they were slow, we went on a Friday night with high turnover so food sitting under the heat lamp and drying out the food was not the problem. Yet every dish was dry. Very disappointed in the quality of the dishes. It's too bad because the view is gorgeous, service was good, selection was top notch but not well executed per se.

    (3)

  • En I.

    Dinner: Over priced even though quality of food was okay. Terrible service service too.

    (3)

  • Yujin H.

    Me and a bunch friends wanted to splurge and eat some crab legs. So we ask around and got recommended Kai Market. Since Friday and saturdays they have a seafood buffet. We get seated and immediately start our buffet. We were mainly there for the snow crab legs. However we ate a little of everything. The first round of crab legs were good, moist and tasty. Then they ran out of crab legs, a seafood buffet night where the crab legs are the main attraction and they ran out... They gave an estimated time of 5-6 minutes for the fresh batch of crab legs to be ready... Waited about 25+ minutes... When the crab legs finally came out, there was a mad rush of people. The second round of crab legs we had were terrible!!!! The crab meat was dry, and over steamed. Everything else was mediocre the clams were alright and the poke was a bad cut of ahi. The only thing that was exceptional was our server Gary who was on point! He was always coming by making sure everything was ok. If your like us and want to splurge on crab legs go else where. Even with the kamaaina discount it was not worth it at all.

    (1)

  • Megan W.

    My husband and I came here for dinner as we thought we should try it out since we were staying at the hotel. We went once for breakfast and once for dinner. In both instances, the food was NOT worth the price. The menu options were limited and there was not a large variety . We looked up the menu prior to going to dinner and it actually looked good so we were pretty disappointed to have that not reflect in the food. So much cheaper to go to pretty much any other restaurant in Waikiki.

    (2)

  • Florence K.

    How to get your money's worth at a buffet (with the Kai Market twist): Start by eating the most expensive items first. The alae salt crusted slow roasted prime rib with horseradish sour cream and natural au jus. Heck, get two slices. How often do you get to eat prime rib anyway? Then go for other expensive things being offered. The white wine and garlic steamed Manila clams. The Hawaiian-style ahi poke and the kimchee marinated tako poke. The steamed island market fresh fish, Chinese style. The "shrimp truck style" garlic Kauai head-on shrimp. The curried mussels on the half shell crusted with mozzarella cheese. Yeah, seafood is crazy expensive when you buy it fresh. Hmm, oxtail is kind of expensive, let's put the red wine braised oxtail on my plate too! Do not at any point eat anything that's considered a carbohydrate. The bread, mashed potatoes, the pasta, the ginger scallion charsiu fried rice, the local style fried saimin. It's just going to fill you up, and you'll be hungry 2 hours later. I would know. I'm a carb lover. But man just looking at the names of the dishes they have at the buffet makes my stomach start growling. Another thing that's great about Kai Market is they try to use locally grown products from Hawaii as well as provide a cuisine that highlights the many cultures and foods we have here. Awesome, right? I had decided to take my boyfriend and his family out for his birthday and decided on a buffet because that way, no one had to decide on what they wanted to eat, and I wouldn't have to worry about everyone still being hungry. Kai Market was where I decided to take everyone and it's located in the Sheraton Waikiki Hotel. At $55 a person ($58 on Friday and Saturday which is their seafood night) I had to make sure I followed my rules to get my money's worth. I don't eat a lot at once so it was going to be really hard for me. First thing I did? Hit the cold section! Ooh! Bread and butter with an assortment of cheeses! Butter and cheese are the 2 reasons I could never go vegan. Oooh! California Rolls! I love avocado! Everything was so delicious, I had to try their famous seafood chowder, which lived up to the hype! Then I went for the prime rib, which was so juicy and tender, as well as the steamed fish, so moist! I couldn't eat those alone so I paired it with mashed potatoes which filled me up. I wasn't going to let that stop me so I tried a little of everything. Everything here is really delicious and well prepared. Trust me, it's worth the price. Even more so if you avoid the carbs and follow the rules, which I OBVIOUSLY did not do. Besides the delicious food, the service was stellar. Our plates were removed constantly so we could stand up and hit the buffet line again. Our server constantly checked up on us to make sure everything was going okay. Definitely 5 star service! Make sure you take advantage of their kama'aina and senior discounts. They really help when you're paying so much for a meal! Children 5 and under also eat free here.

    (5)

  • S D.

    Great fresh food, nice setting, excellent service! I love the breakfast buffet and the omelet station. Always wonderful.

    (5)

  • Leslie Y.

    Kai's breakfast is pretty good, we ate there twice during our visit......... Omelets were very good...... Service is good.......

    (4)

  • Irene G.

    One of my favorite buffets! They give a discount for kama'aina so make sure to ask about it. Love their breakfast buffet and it's a good mix of American and Asian dishes. Dinner is more on the Asian side as many Japanese tourist stay at this hotel.

    (4)

  • Paul C.

    Since this place went through a major renovation and changed from Ocean Terrace to Kai Market, this is the first time to dine here under its new name. First of all, I was amazed by the "face-lift" Sheraton Waikiki went through as I worked many years in the tour industry and was last stationed at this hotel for several years. I was in awe of how this hotel became so modern, including Kai Market. Our dinner reservations were for 630pm and just in time to view the sunset on the Ewa side - - it was amazing. And on the opposite side you had a great view of Diamond Head up-close. In comparing the dinner buffet of Ocean Terrace to the new Kai Market, my first impression was the food generally had the same theme but the menu became more refined in my opinion. The dinner lineup generally varies by the day-of-the-week: sheraton-waikiki.com/din… Dined here tonight (Thursday) and the main stars: alaea salt crusted slow roasted prime rib, steamed grouper fish fillet Chinese-style (with lup cheong sausage), deep fried large Kahuku head on prawns w/ fresh herbs, Niihau style clam chowder (clams, fish, potatoes and taro), seafood curry (scallops, shrimp and mussels) and kim chee w/ portuguese sausage garlic fried rice. For a buffet dinner the food was above-average. The quality of ingredients is a step-up compared to your regular buffet line, but not as good as Prince Court at Hawaii Prince Hotel. Compared to the prior Ocean Terrace, Kai Market is definitely much more brighter and lively. You can dine indoors or near the poolside where you can watch the nightly Hawaiian entertainment. However, the desserts were disappointing to me. They seemed very exotic with a lot of Hawaiian flair but the taste didn't deliver. Tropical fruit flavors were used but the taste was subtle and at times were overpowered by other accompanying strong flavors surrounding it and got lost. I had to strategically eat as I wanted to maximize the space in my stomach so I didn't eat much salad or starches. I was surprised with the quality of the ahi and tako poke as both of them were on the slimy side. Grossed me out... The restaurant was quite packed with Japanese tourists and the wait staff were busy so I am being lenient in this area. In our table of 12 adults, our waiter did try his best to stop by to clear our plates and refill the drinks. At the end he made an effort to ask if we wanted coffee or tea. The price here is on the high-side of $55 per adult (Sunday to Thursday) but there is a 25% kama'aina discount. On Fridays and Saturdays they offer a seafood buffet and the price is $58 per adult. For parking, I parked my car in the garage myself so validated parking was free up to 4 hours. If you chose to valet park, the validated parking is good for only 2 hours. Overall, a decent dinner buffet in Waikiki that offers quality local ingredients. With the Kama'aina discount, this place is worth coming by on special occasions (birthday, anniversary or entertaining out-of-town relatives). NOTE: I didn't see many vegetarian dishes here. So for vegetarians, this place may not be a place to pay $50 plus for dinner.

    (4)

  • Emmajoy R.

    Went here for a buffet brekfast with the hubby. Beautiful food, no wait time. They had eggs bendict in a cup which was perfectly cooked. Also they had a make your own omlet station which was super cool you pick all your fillings, pass it over and he adds cheese and love. Fruit and yogurt bar with delicious caramelized bananas and a ridiculous caramel and banana sauce for your french toast. A bagel bar with every cheese you can think of. Eggs, bacon, pancakes, and the list goes on. There is no alacarte menu but everything you feel like you can find here. mainly. It has a beautiful view of the beach and the staff were very friendly and helpful. I really enojoyed it as far as buffets go, keep in mind this is the very first one I've had while travelling america and hawaii.

    (4)

  • Kimberly W.

    I went here for my birthday. It is a buffet that didn't have much of anything. There was only on meat offered, prime rib. There wasn't any chicken or fish offered. I found this to be very surprising. There was only 3 veggies and 3 items on the dessert area. I paid a fortune for parking and it was not validated. I don't think I will be going back there.

    (3)

  • Denalee C.

    I have some very mixed thoughts on Kai Market. The salad/appetizer/soup section on the left was awesome and so were the desserts (on the right). However, the entire middle part- the hot dishes were pretty disappointing. It was like a confused oreo cookie, where the cream in the middle wasn't the best part. It's important to note my dinner experience was on a Sunday night (not seafood night), but still boasted a decent amount of seafood. Let's start with the yummy parts. Yummy items from the left side: seafood chowder, poke (huge chunks of tasty, fresh cartilage free fish), shrimp cocktail, sushi, caesar salad, cheese platter, garlic hummus and lavosh & caprese salad. Yummy items from the right side: array of mochi (my fave) and the moistest, softest bread pudding ever. Yummy items from the middle: Kabocha mashed potatoes. (seriously that was it), the thai curry was pretty decent too. Other thoughts on the middle section: mac and cheese was overcooked and lacked cheesy flavor, corn on the cob was swimming in butter but had hard kernels, bbq ribs were dry, fresh fish and prime rib were also dry and tasteless. I went back and got a small dish full of sauce for the fish and just let him bathe for a while, but that still didn't help. Here's probably the best part of Kai Market. It is the MOST AMAZING SUNSET spot ever. Time your reservation right and your breath will be taken away. Would I go back? Well kamaaina get 25% off which makes it a little more affordable...I would probably go somewhere else first before I came here again, but I'd say yes, I'd return, but stay on the sides where the better food is!

    (3)

  • Rita L.

    i was expecting this buffet to blow my mind...i thought it was just alright. the salad bar was ok, i felt that it wasn't that fresh. i must admit the seafood chowder was delicious. the main buffet was not that impressive. the roast beef was kinda dry, the lau lau was tasteless, and the fish was dry as well. i did love the dessert area... that was delicious. i loved all the different pastries and was in love with the mango pudding with li hing pineapple. fan of the desserts at sheraton.

    (3)

  • Rebekah T.

    I'm conflicted about Kai Market, although the food was okay and service was good - I should have gone for dinner instead of a breakfast buffet. Our waiter sat us outside with a view of the water which was a beautiful setting to wake up and enjoy a meal together. You can only eat so much breakfast, pancakes and waffles can be filling and I was more interested in the seafood, fried nice and noodles, the salad bar and the cheese and fruit than breakfast items. They seemed pretty average and not too special for a $35.00 buffet. I wasn't really into the eggs, although I tried both the quiche and the poached egg. When it mentioned that there was chilli on the bottom of the poached egg - I assumed chili peppers and not beans. The combo was weird. Everything was decent, but looking back there were items that I would have preferred in a more lunch/dinner menu. If I came back to the Sheraton and back to Kai Market, I wouldn't do the breakfast buffet again. I'd go for the steak and crab.

    (3)

  • Bam M.

    The food was great! The variety was awesome. They had various items from prime rib to poke to sashimi and huli chicken. All items were hot! and fresh. I took my grandmother here for her 81st birthday and she said it was the best buffet that she has ever been to! I would definitely go back. tip: Make reservations!

    (4)

  • Pat M.

    Wow!!! Family from Japan came to visit, so we decided to take them to Kai Market because of the yelp reviews!!! Everyone of us were impressed by the freshness and the variety of excellent seafood cold and hot abound !! Actually missed the steamed fish!! Oh well... Next time. I already want to go back!!! The Japan family were loving the fresh ahi sashimi! Ok I'm hungry, just reliving last night's dinner buffet. Finally made it back. Went there for seafood buffet and again we were happy. The sashimi was as fresh as you can get it. The Kauai prawns were huge and delish, the cute Laulau is favorite......the steamed fish was moist and yummy, the snow crab was good( kinda skinny ), the prime rib(?) was okay (kinda tough to cut with the knives that's in the table). We asked for one steak knife to share and it worked better. Okay... I'm hungry again.

    (5)

  • Rachel S.

    I like kai market. Not all their dishes are great though. The only items I found delicious were the sushi, pasta, prime rib and pork with the bun. Everything else was bland or too salty. Their desserts were ok. None of them tasted that great but it was cute because they put "happy Easter" on them since it was almost Easter. I ordered a smoothie for $7 and it was not worth it. It was too icy and barely had any taste. Even with the kama'aina discount it is still very pricey. But they validate parking and their service is good. Plus you get a view of the beach while ur eating.

    (3)

  • Jung L.

    A great in house buffet. The food is good and the service is decent. Awesome congee and some other asian menu.

    (4)

  • Liz bentz- L.

    Very disappointed! If your not staying at this hotel the Sheraton and you don't order the buffet it takes over 30 minutes to get your food! Treated like an outsider not right! everyone got meals at a different time

    (1)

  • LesliAnn K.

    Kamaaina discount...kamaaina discount of 25% which is nice because this place seems a tad bit overpriced. even with the discount. Overall I appreciate that they use local sourced produce and ingredients which is probably contributing the higher costs (along with the "being in Waikiki" effect). I'm not a buffet person, but I do appreciate that this seemed to be a "healthy" buffet in which if choosing right I could keep my tummy expansion in check. So, if you are from out of town, and say, have only one or two nights in Waiks and want a whirlwind crash course in local food, then could be a place to "experience" local cuisine. None of the dishes were too fancy, they were things i've seen before. The atmosphere and ambiance of the restaurant itself is nothing too interesting, lot of Japanese tourists and you packed in a small space. Its loud, the aisle busy with people loading plates. Two guys were playing live Hawaiian music, favorites like the Ka'au Crater boys and more. Highlight/embarassing moment: I went for my birthday, so it was a special touch that the employees gathered around and sang to me, and the band also stopped mid-song to sing along as well. Then the whole place clapped! As for the food: Sometimes not as advertised. Mostly had a cool factor because the labels made me think more about their origins Here is some of what I tried: BEST FOOD INSPIRATION (makes me wanna try at home): Kabocha mashed potatoes YUM! The steamed island market fresh fish chinese style had great texture, pure white, BUT bland. Shoyu and hot oil advertised but I think the shoyu part was missing. We asked the server to bring us shoyu to the table to use. -pineapple bbq baby back ribs with DOLE pineapple relish -kai market herb wall shrimp scampi with HAMAKUA tomatoes and fresh mushrooms -hawaiian style NIIHAU seafood chowder -soy sake braised beef short ribs topped with off with korean ko chop gang glaze - tender -miso glazed KAHUKU japanese eggplant -hamakua tomato fresh mozzarella cheese drizzled with balsamic reduction was like a deconstructed caprese...lacking any cheese?? They had maki sushi, poke, potato salad with KAHUKU corn, seaweed salad. For dessert, things like sweet potato meringue portuguese sweet bread pudding: pretty solid dessert! But I've rarely tasted a bread pudding i haven't liked so I'm not the best critic for that. fresh fruit was just cantaloupes, honeydew melon, grapes, blueberries. Felt like any other catering party at a hotel.They coulda gone bigger, more special with this, like featuring all of our fresh island fruit!!!! papayas, mangoes etc The food was good, but I think most of the delight was in finding out where it came from and acknowledging that. I got caught up in the labels. Imagining that these little clams had been one day basking in the sun in Niihau and now ended up in my soup, BOY, I was pretty tickled by that. It felt unique. It felt Hawaiian. It felt very farm to table. I felt more educated, aware of where everything was coming from. But the dishes were also just typical dishes. GOOGLE Can't compare to the best buffet I've had, which is Vegas, Wicked Spoon at the Cosmopolitan.

    (3)

  • Marcia L.

    I love love love Kai Market! My family (party of 9) came here for Mother's Day Brunch Buffet and the selection was fabulous. Wayyy better than the brunch buffet at Halekulani for about the same price. Some items: salads, lavosh, olives, hummus, cut upon order sea bass & prime rib, shrimp scampi, sashimi, poke, eggs benedict, etc. Complimentary iced tea, hot tea, coffee, cappuccinos. Definitely a must try for any foodie.

    (5)

  • Kelly L.

    Been here a few times and we've never been disappointed! The food is high quality, poke, salad bars, Kobe steaks, ribs, shrimps, deserts....! The staff is friendly and attentive! And of course the view...! Perhaps, the only minor negative point on their menu is somewhat short on seafood (no fresh fish dishes... unless you go for the special night of sea food, there is no any kind of crab legs on the menu!) The ambience makes up for shortness of seafood! We definitely come back!

    (5)

  • Jimmy N.

    We had our 2012 Christmas dinner here. From the service, to the food, to the view, I must admit that Kai Market is quite good. Our 1-year-old got sick and our waitress was kind enough to bring us extra napkins and bags to put her clothes into. On to the important stuff... The food was excellent. The poke was well-seasoned and tender. Everything was fresh and well presented. Desserts in terms of quantity and variety were excellent because we had many local choices available on top of traditional fare. Only issue we had was that the lines were insane toward the end of the evening, only because they were fully booked. I would definitely recommend and come back to Kai Market. Reservations are a must!

    (4)

  • Courtney T.

    Kai Market offers a new take on a variety of local dishes. Their fresh, made-in-Hawaii ingredients contribute to the quality of the food, catering to both locals and tourists. The Good The food is amazing. The prime rib is salty on the outside and tender on the inside. The seafood chowder does not skimp on the seafood and is wonderfully creamy. The fact that I can eat as much fresh peanut butter mochi is mind-blowing (in a good way). The variety is astounding. There is something for everyone. I don't really care for seafood so I filled up on prime rib, beef tenderloin, roast duck and braised beef. But if you like seafood, there's the chowder, different kinds of fish and clams and stuff. The service is pretty good. The servers were helpful, attentive and refilled drinks quickly. Servers, managers and bussers pitched in to clear empty dishes away. There is a 25% kamaaina discount. Anywhere that gives kamaaina discount shows that they care about about local business. The Kai Market website is super helpful and lists prices and menus. The Bad For dinner, the price per adult head is $55 or $58, depending if it's seafood night. This might be a little pricey for a regular meal (especially for non-tourist people). However, it's just the right price for a special occasion. Parking If you park in the Sheraton garage and you remember to get your ticket validated, it's free! If you decide to valet you pay $8. Overall Fresh, local and amazingly delicious food + 25% kamaaina discount + relaxing ambiance = A satisfying, enjoyable meal.

    (4)

  • Ms. G.

    Pretty good as Waikiki buffets go. There aren't a lot it seems. Friday/Saturday are seafood nights and price is $58/person. Note in the Go Oahu mini book you can pick up on the street there is a $10/off coupon for up to 4 people. You can make reservations on the Sheraton website as well to avoid the long waits. We went at 6:30pm on a Friday night and it wasn't packed. Everything was pretty good (note buffet does not include drinks of any kind). There were oysters, prime rib, snow crab legs (just ok), scallops, fish, shrimp (just to name a few), and desserts to die for. Leave room! It's on the pricey side, but if you want a seafood buffet this is the one.

    (4)

  • R H.

    5 guys at the Friday Saturday seafood special dinner, 25% off with Kamaaina discount from normal price of $58.00 (pre tax/tip) simply craving for some crabs. We all got a plate of crab, and although the server only gave us a few legs and asked us to come back if we want more, it was juicy and good. The good part of the review ends here. Within minutes, no more crabs. We asked how long it will be for the crab to be served, was told 15 minutes, and we ended up waiting over 25 minutes. The second round of crab was overcooked, dry, and was like chewing on beef jerkey. I think the only good part about the night was our waiter Gary, who took care of us. That's about it. Its a seafood buffet. We didn't go there to spend time at the salad bar, or choose which cake to eat. We went there to eat crabs. $60 for the meal, spending most of our time waiting was not worth it.

    (1)

  • Victoria G.

    Delicious buffet and everything is fresh and of higher quality. Definitely worth the price!! Also, great view of the ocean. The restaurant is well-maintained and the management is great!! :)

    (5)

  • Carol Y.

    OMG Located in the Sheraton Waikiki next to the infinity pool their BRAISED oxtail is the best thing i ever had in my life. sooo tender and addicting!!! great customer service and i think i ate a whole pound of food.... price is acceptable for the food quality.

    (5)

  • Joshua R.

    Went here for dinner with family, and I was not disappointed! The wait was not long at all for a table, and this was my first time here and I was very impressed. We went there on a Saturday so it was all seafood based and literally everything there was amazing! Trust me you will not leave this place hungry.

    (5)

  • Kristine K.

    Huuuuge buffet with different options. Depending on the night that you go therr are different type of food. I highly recommend making reservations if you do not want to wait all night.

    (3)

  • Darrel T.

    I'm going to echo Ms J.'s review. Went for dinner a couple nights ago, the food was average, but the price was high. If not for the kama'aina discount I might have been a little upset. I'll cover a couple of the dishes: Prime rib: 3 stars, nothing special here Steamed fish: 2 stars, no flavor at all Fried rice: 2 stars, flavor was weak Shoyu chicken: 3 stars, so-so Crispy pork belly and rolls: 4 stars, this one was not bad Mashed potatoes: 1 star, pretty sure this was instant. Dessert bar: 4 stars, this was actually pretty good. For this price I would expect most of the fare to be around 3 stars or better. I know there are always a couple items at a buffet that aren't delicious, but when your entire main offering is below standards, that is not forgivable.

    (2)

  • Vivian H.

    Must have: clams in black bean sauce, island seafood chowder, whole island fish, desserts We're on the hunt for a restaurant for our family dinner after our wedding ceremony. We wanted to try a few places and see what would work with the tastes of our guests and what we were looking for. Kai Market is in the Sheraton Waikiki with validated valet parking. The restaurant itself sits close to the beach and there is a beautiful view if you sit on the outside patio. It seems to be a cleaner buffet that is well maintained. The food selection doesn't seem like a lot but it is of good quality. It is on the pricier side so me, being the cheapie, stuffed myself silly to feel like I got my "money's worth". Not a good idea. I found that I had to get up and walk around a bit during my meal! I stuck close to the shrimp cocktail (I love shrimp!) and clams in black bean sauce. The island seafood chowder was one of the best ones I've had in Hawaii. I also enjoyed the whole island fish which is offered on the "Seafood Nights". Then the desserts! They were very cute and delicious. My fiance is not much of a mochi eater (unless it's mochi ice cream!) and really liked the mochi offerings which were pillowy soft. All in all it was a good meal with a beautiful view. I just don't know if I should allow myself to feel THAT full on my wedding night!

    (4)

  • Mahina C.

    I'm not the biggest seafood fan, actually to be honest i'm not a fan at all. It's great for large parties, and the staff is friendly but the price even for kamaaina is cray cray! This place breaks even my savings :( Great assortment of dishes, they even had cake noodles! but the best by far was the sweetness galore! buffet of pies, cakes, tapioca's, and creations of their own. creative, innovative, and delicious!

    (3)

  • Jenna S.

    Um, how does this place get such good reviews? I went to the Saturday night Seafood Buffet. Such a waste of money, even with my Kamaaina discount. The food was really below average; the crab didn't have taste, you can't even pick it yourself, it's behind the carving station with the steamed fish that tasted bleh and was cold. Most of the hot offerings were warm or cold and most of the seafood tasted like it was just tossed in oyster sauce. I felt like I was in a cafeteria. This was the first time I came to a crab buffet and didn't get more than one plate of it. The best thing I ate didn't require any cooking, the SASHIMI! The plantation iced tea also tasted watered down. If you want a good crab buffet go to the Oceanarium. There's is SO much more tasty food and crab there. Plus the parking blows. Drove to the top of Sheraton parking to find out there was none, so I parked at the Royal Hawaiian.

    (1)

  • F G.

    Knock 1 star for no crab legs. All the other foods (for Mother's Day brunch) were Ono!!! To name a few: prime rib, braised short ribs, jumbo shrimp, sashimi, sushi, omelette station, noodles, fried rice, steamed fish, Mochi, teds pies, fruits and many more!!! Cost was $52 p/person. We had a great view of diamond head! There was also live music which was nice. Free valet parking with validation. I still think for the price there should of been crab legs....

    (4)

  • Judy G.

    Walked in here for the first time tonight for my dad's birthdsy dinner and I left very happy (maybe not so much my tummy). The dinner menu was very diverse and I liked that it had an assortment of Hawaiian, Chinese, Japanese, american, etc dishes to appeal to just about anyone and everyone's taste. The dishes were always pretty fully stacked (the chefs took care to fill plates that were near empty). Aside from the amazing dinner, the dessert was even more to die for and I'm pretty sure that's what sent me into a food coma shortly after eating. There is this coffee jello dessert that is really good. It tastes like gelatinous coffee but I'm assuming/hoping with less caffeine. I didn't try any of their cakes, but my sister didn't particularly care for the blueberry and strawberry cheesecakes- said they tasted a bit stale. I did try the key lime pie though, and I thought that was a bit too sour for my taste. True key Lime lovers should not have a problem though! Show them your local ID and get 20% off! I'd come back :)

    (4)

  • Makai H.

    We came for the breakfast buffet... Pros: Oceanside seating, infinity pool nearby added to tropical/resort ambiance, GREAT service, wide selection of breakfast items and Japanese dishes, and the fruits very fresh & sweet. Try the chili eggs Benedict-very yummy. Cons: You'll need to visit the juice bar for refills on POG! Price a bit higher than what I'd pay, although the ambiance and service make up for it and some!

    (4)

  • Ray L.

    We are Hawaii residents and very frequent patrons of the Kai Marketplace. Our visits are about once every other month and we find special occasions to make a visit to the Kai Market. We recently dined there in a party of 8 adults celebrating my fathers birthday. We were promptly seated by the always gracious staff and drink orders taken by our waiter. Everything was almost the same which was great but we really noticed that the menu items were not prepared in the usual manner. A few of the dishes were just not cooked right. For example one of our favorites are the blackbean clams. On this night the clams were not cooked well and almost all of the clams were left unopened. Even as the new batch were brought out, it was still not up to par as we have always come to expect. It was also a very busy evening with lines for most of the food areas but on one period, the chowder was not stocked and left empty for a period of time. We all discussed about how there was a noticable lack in the quality of the food that night. I'm not sure that the hefty price of the buffet should result in examples of such. This was a high disappointment for this regular patron.

    (2)

  • Daniel G.

    I've only tried their awesome dinner buffet so I wanted to try their breakfast. Packed up the fam and headed out! We were greeted with big smiles and a lovely view. They had a small selection for a buffet but as long as there was a omelette station, we were going to be fine. If you didn't want an omelette, they have scrambled eggs or you can ask the omelette chef for over-easy or sunny side up eggs. They also have mini pancakes, different types of yogurt with yummy healthy toppings, different types of breads, bagles and pastries. Oh, and lots of fruits. Can you imagine all you can eat bananas??? Yup they had that. The waitress was great, the Hostess was cute, the view of the Ocean and Diamond Head in the background...felt like I was on vacation! LOVE IT!!!

    (4)

  • Jennifer K.

    I've admired the desserts at Kai Market from afar for quite a while. So I was semi-excited to get the chance to try it for the first time last week. We decided to eat there for my friend's birthday and although I quite enjoyed it, I'm not sure if the quality of the food quite matches the price. I do really like that the food there is all locally grown, fresh, and organic though. The restaurant is located in Sheraton Hotel in Waikiki right by their pool and also includes out door seating. It's $55 for adults on Sun-Thurs and $24.50 for children. There's also a kamaaina discount of 25% off. But if you have a party of 6 people or more, there's a mandatory 18% gratuity and you pretty much lose much of your discount -___-. We were there on a Monday, which is their Plantation night.They had roast duck with bao buns, steamed mussels in coconut thai curry, singapore style manila clams, roasted pork loin with lehua honey glaze, kahuku shrimp scampi, and kahlua roast duck with mango chutney. That's the menu for Monday and Wednesday nights. They have seafood nights on Fridays and Saturdays, and Paniolo Nights on Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday. They also have poke, various salads, kim chee fried rice, prime rib, fresh island fish, and various desserts served daily. Of everything I tried, I liked their roast duck with bao buns (although it was nothing special compared to the ones you can get at any Chinese restaurant), the roast duck, and the clams the most. I was looking forward to the kim chee fried rice but found it to be quite dry and lacking of any kim chee flavor. The coconut thai curry tasted nothing like curry and resembled cheese instead. The Kahuku shrimps were of a good quality but lacked in flavor. Oh they also had seafood chowder! I can't believe I nearly forgot to mention that. That was probably my favorite out of all the savory food items. I also tried a number of their desserts but sadly I quite stuffed by that point and couldn't take more than a few bites of everything. I especially enjoyed their bread pudding, coffee pudding, panna cotta, and mango pudding (or at least it had mango in the name). They also had a good macadamia haupia pie which I think is from Ted's Bakery...it sure tasted like it at least. Just in case if anyone is wondering, their Paniolo Night menu consists of: glazed short ribs with jack daniels bourbon sauce, kona coffee dry rubbed baby back ribs slow cooked in bbq sauce, chinese salt and pepper kahuku head on shrimp, and red wine braised boneless short rib. On their Seafood Nights, you can look forward to steamed snow crab legs with garlic and big island meyer lemon infused drawn butter, manila clams flavored with black bean, garlic, and ginger, soy sake braised beef short-ribs with korean kim chee and koo cha jang sauce, chinese salt and pepper kahuku head-on shrimp, chef's special seasonal pasta, and crispy fried cake noodle with fresh seafood sauce.

    (4)

  • Tyra S.

    First time I thought it was a close call between Kahala buffet with dolphins and this place. But Kahala is still tops. It's nice if u wanna stay in Waikiki. Ocean front seating.

    (4)

  • Dan M.

    Oh, buffets. The few times in life where you can indulge your appetite to your maximum potential and say "I've conquered this motha'." The buffet at Kai Market is pretty damn good. Their salt-crusted prime rib is insanely tasty. The Hawaiian-style potato salad was a constant draw. The desert melody that featured pies, cheesecakes, and their incredible Bread Pudding with Vanilla Bean drizzle was literally the cherry on top of the invisible cake. Kai Market features a good amount of delectable goods that would satisfy the foodie in most of us...for better or for worse. But is it the BEST?? No. Perhaps, I am spoiled by the incomparable imagination of Las Vegas buffets, where you literally have the entire world of cuisine at your disposal. I'm looking at you, Wynn buffet. Those are the kind of buffets where you don't eat to get full. You eat to overload your senses first...AND THEN roll yourself out. Kai Market does keep it fresh, offering a lot of tastes from around the island. I usually stay away from seafood at buffets 'cause I'm weird like that. But I couldn't help try the ahi poke and iron-skillet steamed mussels as they always had new batches of it fly out of the kitchen. One of the out-of-nowhere highlights was the roasted duck. So freakin' good. Place it in the soft and chewy buns right next to it, throw in a little cilantro and sprinkle on the hoisin dipping sauce... ::wipes drool off keyboard:: Despite it being a good buffet, $55 dollars is kind of hard to swallow (especially since you have all that food in you already, har har). Does it feel like I've eaten $55 worth of food afterwards? Not sure... Plus the fact that you have to tip 15-20% MORE, when we only saw our server twice throughout the whole meal, makes it a really pricey dinner. I think if they had a little more variety while keeping the quality as high as they already have it MIGHT make it worth the price of admission. Still, it was a meal I carried with me onto the following day as it was the worst food coma I've ever had. But totally worth it. 31 Yelps Review Challenge - October 2012 #16/31

    (4)

  • Diana T.

    Came here yesterday for Valentine's day as a surprise from my boyfriend. I hadn't even heard of the place and didn't know what kind of food they served. I just remembered reading that they had an isle discount offer for the iDcard. We had reservations but the line was so long we ended up waiting a little more - until around 7:30 (reservations at 7). We did arrive a bit late thanks to Waikiki traffic, but we were still standing in line for at least 10-15 minutes. Turned out even though there was a long line, there was only one person working at the front, and on top of that he was on the phone! No wonder we were waiting so long! Poor guy looked overwhelmed but as soon as he was off the phone, the line moved quickly. Every woman was given a rose, as it was Valentine's Day, which is always a nice touch. On top of that, there was a complimentary glass of pink champagne for each of-age diner, which was quite good. So that is always a plus. I got around to getting some food for the buffet. I started on the left side to get some soup and salad (and HUMMUS! YUMMM) to start myself off. It was interesting because there was a guy there who was putting salad on his plate... and then he decided to pick up a leaf (with the tongs, mind you) and ate it (again, with the tongs). WHAT!? I was so shocked! And then he saw that I saw him so he said "It just looked so good, I HAD to try it!" Oh my goodness. People these days. I went back to the table and ate all of my salad, soup, and hummus like a happy girl. After that I was already a little more than half-full (darn filling hummus). But I still didn't feel like eating heavy foods yet, so I went back to the left side of the bar for some sushi and sashimi. The fish tasted SO fresh it blew me away. The only thing that wasn't so pleasant for me was the oyster. That was a little too fresh - I almost felt like I was drinking salt water. Blegh. I'm sure some people love their oysters like that but I'll pass. After my sushi, I was even more full. So I waited a bit and then made a beeline for the entrees (starting from the right side of the entrees). I got some truffle mac and cheese, some lamb with mashed kabocha, their salt-encrusted prime rib, and their market fish, which was a hong-kong style steamed white fish. SO AMAZING. I love how all of the food here just tastes so amazingly fresh and home made and not processed and amazing. And did I say amazing? It was so good! After that, of course, I went for the desserts (chocolate fountain!). They were also delicious. I didn't have one of everything but I had a lot of strawberries and a rice krispy piece (with chocolate), and some coffee custard. I also had bites of my boyfriends desserts, the mango custard, lemongrass custard, and key lime tart. After being completely STUFFED, we got the bill - not only did they not accept the iDcard because it was Valentine's Day, but their prices were also jacked up a bit from normal. Sad day! :( Oh well. We'll probably be back a while down the line, when our wallets are able to handle it.

    (4)

  • Clarissa M.

    I am not a frequent roller of buffets. Went here with a party of ten. Towards the back of Sheraton Hotel and near the shore beach of Waikiki this place was dead on with location and view. The array of items were fewer than what I would expect at buffets. But what they lack in quantity they make up for quality. The salad bar, entrees, seafood, assortment of cheeses and hummus, dessert, and the chocolate fondue. Everything was tasty and fresh during our dinner service. Kan was our server who attended to our needs with a great attitude and was very attentive. For large parties I do recommend this joint - everyone will be able to try something different and walk away content.

    (4)

  • Mari K.

    Took my parents here for Father's Day dinner last night. It was our first time and we thoroughly enjoyed it! Upon checking in for our reservation, they asked us if we were Kama'aina and asked for our ID. Didn't know it till the check came, but we got 25% OFF! Such a great offer for locals and for my wallet. I wish we got seated outside looking at the ocean, but we were seated inside (its ok because the weather was horrible lol). The selection of food was great. My mom has many allergies from alcohol to seafood to chocolate, but she was able to find things she could eat and could get enough to eat as well. I enjoyed the salads I ate - fresh Nalo greens and goma dressing, the potato salad, and thai salad (so good). There were many hot dishes as well; my favotires were - spinach goat cheese gratan, mac & cheese, grilled asparagus with garlic, and grilled potatoes were to die for! There was also a BBQ station outside where you could get steaks, hot dogs, corn, etc. The quality of the food was really good too. You could tell they use fresh ingredients and try to incorporate local products, which I am a big fan for. The dessert selection really was something else. I didn't think they could have any more dessert! I tried the green tea-azuki-haupia, peanut butter mochi, chocolate haupia pie, chocolate pudding.... ALL SO GOOD! I wish I had more space in my stomach to eat more than just one bite from each dessert! All in all, I really liked this buffet (I don't usually do well with buffets). The only downfall was the service. Our waitress never refilled my tea and took 15 minutes to bring our check out. She hardly came around, rather we had to flag her down many times. Doesn't matter, I was full and happy and I'll be back.... someday :)

    (4)

  • Julie N.

    They have KAMAAINA DISCOUNT! It's pretty expensive, and I wish they had more selection... The prime rib was awesome and the sashimi is good. The other foods are just typical: fried rice, fried noodles, breads, fruits, cold pasta salad, some seafood, bread pudding, almond float, cheesecake, etc. The have an expresso machine on the buffet line, which is pretty cool. I like the atmosphere, since it's right by the ocean and the outdoor bar is nice. There is also outside seating too. You can park for free with validation, either self parking or valet.

    (4)

  • Christine A.

    Aghh where to start.... My husband and I wanted to go to a breakfast buffet. We didn't realizing the price until we sat down $70.00 for 2 for breakfast!!!!! After we paid I was hoping for the most amazing breakfast, but no that's not the case. The pancakes tasted as if they were pre frozen and than warmed up in the microwave. Eggs were slimmy and not cooked all the way. I know they have a large Asian population here, but really fried rice and noodles for breakfast. This was such a waste of money for terrible food that wasn't fresh at all. So disappointed with that money we could of gone to a nice dinner! Save your money go somewhere else!

    (1)

  • Kim M.

    Mother's Day Brunch Buffet 2012 10:30am-3:00pm (last seating at 2:30pm) Adults are $55; Kids (ages 6-12) are $24.50 Kai Market Brunch Buffet is a Mother's Day tradition in our family. Reservations are pretty much mandatory for this kind of specialty buffet bc the spread much more elaborate than usual. And if you're a picky eater, you may want to check the menu before making any sort of reservation bc it's $55 a head. (Check the menu on the Kai Market page on the Sheraton Waikiki website.) Every year there's always a carving station. My favorite carved-to-order item was the Alaea salt crusted slow-roasted Prime Rib with horseradish sour cream and natural au jus. Everything is carved to order, so you're getting a juicy piece every time. The carving station also featured an island steamed snapper (Chinese style) this year. (I ate one of the eyeballs!) The omelet station is always crazy busy, so if you want one, it may be wise to hit that up first (if you've secured a 10:30am seating). This year I avoided the omelet station altogether bc there were so many other things to try. I had my eye on the roast duck with bao buns and hoisin.. I had 3 servings of that. LOL. The roast duck made up for the absent Eggs Benedict that they normally serve. There was also a pancake station this year! It smelt sooo good that the bf and I had a couple pancakes. (I really hate to fill up on those generic breakfast foods, but it smelt way too good to pass up.) The turkey with pipikaula stuffing, turkey giblet gravy, and cranberry jam was a hit with my family. It was kind of nice having such cliché Thanksgiving dishes outside of the winter holidays. Hah. As far as the desserts go, I liked the Bread Pudding with Hawaiian vanilla anglaise the most. I went for it 3x. lol. The halo halo was delicious, too. Hah, but my little sister couldn't stay away from the chocolate fondue fountain... Overall, I like the Mother's Day spread. $55 does, however, seem like a lot per person... I'm so glad I don't have to pay. Yelp 365 - #287/265

    (4)

  • Michelle M.

    Kai Market Breakfast Buffet is okay with your basic items and a very good section for Japanese items like Miso Soup, Natto, Rice Soup, Tofu and Tsukemono NICE! we had a table near the beach but the only thing birds would fly around. Open air patio and views can be great if seated in a perfect spot. As for the price it can be a little expensive

    (2)

  • Scott M.

    For $58 a head you kinda expect some decent quality for a buffet. Prime rib was good. Dessert was good. There was a good selection of dessert. Sashimi was nice for the most part- a little discolored but more than enough quantity to pick around the dirty pieces. Crab was good too, some were overcooked - meat shriveled down to almost nothing. But, like the sashimi, more than enough to make up for it. Service sucked though. We were just told to go and eat. No offer of drinks any drinks that the buffet came with. We had to ask for everything. No refills until we asked. Poor plate clearing - we had a pile going a few times. When making reservations, we were asked if there was an occasion we were celebrating which we said birthday. Not sure what it was for as we never had anything for it nor did they mention it. I did see some pictures in yelp tho so maybe we missed out. We also seem to have had the same waiter another poster had. Prob may have made the whole difference in our experience. Disappointing.

    (2)

  • Caryn W.

    Went back to Kai Market last night to celebrate my dad's birthday. There were WAY more people than the last time I went. There were lines of people waiting to grab food from the buffet. When we got there, there was a huge group of Japanese tourists in front of us. Fortunately, they were all together, so we got helped and seated right away. We arrived a half-hour early, but they still took us to sit down. Saturdays are "seafood" nights, so there were lots of seafood offerings, including manila clams, crab legs, butterfish, sashimi, poke, and shrimp dishes. The butterfish was really tasty, but my favorite dish was a portobello mushroom ravioli. I got one every time I went up to the buffet line. I also liked the salads that were offered, especially this spinach salad with strawberries and walnuts. The dessert offerings were pretty good this time around as well. I had an Okinawan sweet potato cheesecake that was really tasty. The tapioca pudding halo halo style was good too. I was pretty full by the time I ate dessert so I couldn't try anything else. My mom and brother hadn't gone to Kai Market before, and I could tell that they really enjoyed the food by the amount they ate. I can't wait to go again for my fiancee's birthday...3 more months to go.

    (5)

  • Nat N.

    Buffets are always a crap shoot - some are good, most are bad. Let's face it - since the food is made in mass quantities and is displayed for long periods of time, it's unrealistic to expect much. Kai Market is one of the good ones. This was my first visit to Kai Market, which is located in the Sheraton Waikiki. We went at 6:30 pm on a Friday evening and were greeted by a beautiful sunset off of Waikiki. Unlike most buffets (such as Tsukiji's and Makino Chaya), you won't find yourself waiting in line just to get your food. When we got there there were no lines at any of the food stations. Yay! Instant gratification. It was seafood night, and boy did they have a nice selection of seafood. My favorite items were the clams, garlic prawns, and of course, the crab legs. The seafood chowder reminded me of the chowder from the San Francisco Wharf. I had to make an effort not to go up for my second bowl because I did not want to waste space in my stomach on the soup alone. They also offer prime rib on the buffet line, which balanced out the plate of crab that I devoured. Try it with the mashed potatoes - yummers. The dessert section has something for everyone - cakes, pies, mochi, chi chi dango. After you gorge at the buffet line, you can head straight to the beach from the restaurant to walk it all off.

    (4)

  • Avin B.

    Best buffet in town, IMO. Expensive but worth it if you can eat a lot! Their poki and sashimi were fresh from pier 38 (as stated)...varieties of desserts. I went on Saturday for the snow crabs and prime rib. If it had Alaskan king crab or Dungeness crab I would give it a 5star. Nice ocean view along with the infinity pool. It's in the Sheraton hotel!

    (4)

  • Russell C.

    Firstly Maybe they should consider a name change mainly because from the 4 days I stayed here at the Sheraton , I did not know it was a buffet/restaurant till the last night with the help of my trusty yelp mobile app. We decided on going there because the trip has made all of us exhausted and we got half off for staying starhot. Got there at 8pm but waited awhile because of the spectacular fireworks show going on beachside. So we finally sit down at 815 and by then most of the employees looked tired and the food had been sitting a while like it was ready to shut down. Highlights for me from the food choices were the spinach and goat cheese au gratin, and the prime rib. Everything else for me was inline with most buffets ice been too. Desserts were great, would have eaten way more of that if I didn't have 2 1/2 slices of cheesecake left over from the Cheesecake Factory the prior night . But it was a ok experience maybe next time we'll try earlier in the evening and on a Better themed night like seafood night.

    (3)

  • Holly B.

    With all the hype about this "international" buffet, I was expecting awesome. It was OK, but the soup was lukewarm, and the attention to keeping the buffet stocked and clean was lacking...Still the view and sunset was priceless, though the cost of the buffet was expensive for the value.

    (3)

  • Max K.

    Had dinner there earlier tonight and tonight's theme was the Paniolo Buffet. For a buffet that normally costs $55.00, I expected a little better. I'm not saying the food was bad but when you go to a buffet that costs that much you don't expect to have hamburgers and hot dogs on part of the buffet line. To start I had a few plates of sushi (California Roll with Unagi), ahi poke ,tako poke and shrimp cocktail. The ahi poke was very fresh and flavorful and the tako was pretty good too. You really can't do much with shrimp cocktail and the cocktail sauce was standard. I also tried the long rice salad, the Thai green papaya salad and more sushi and ahi poke (again). The next few plates consisted of a little bit of the entrees they have. I had some kalbi, oyster sauce chicken, salt and pepper Kahuku prawns, steamed asparagus, Chinese-style steamed fish, prime rib, Kukui Brand Kim Chee Sausage fried rice, beef stew and creamed spinach. The dessert table was well stocked with desserts like... Mango Pudding with Li Hing Pineapple, Chichi Dango, Coconut Mochi with Azuki Beans, Mochi with Peanut Butter, Macadamia Nut Cream Pie, Key Lime Pie, Almond Float, Green Tea Mousse, Lemongrass Panacotta, Bread Pudding with Vanilla Glaze, Molokai Halo Halo Tapioca, Calamansi Lime Tart, Strawberry Cream Pie, Thai Coffee Custard, Red Velvet Cake, and Mango Cheesecake and more.... The Plantation Iced Tea was very tasty and came with the buffet. They also have this new filtered water system and the iced water was very refreshing also. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed the food and the desserts and the "FREE" parking with the validation but just wished there were more to the food lines.

    (4)

  • Joann Y.

    Overall very good buffet. The staff was polite and the food was great. There was a large array of foods, and I especially loved the desserts. Additionally, the food had a bit of an Asian, Hawaiian flair. I didn't like the prime rib that much but I did enjoy the short ribs, onaga, and poke. It was great how we were seated right next to the beach. I loved the ocean scent and breeze. There was also a Polynesian fire dancer that put on a great show. I was very satisfied!

    (4)

  • Jerrene T.

    My coworkers and I took a vote on where we would do our annual Christmas party and this place won out! I can see why! Food was delicious and the ambiance couldn't have been better! Oh and service was EXCEPTIONAL! Our waitress was on top of our drinks and they never got past half full. She was really nice and took the time to talk to us about Christmas parties. She didn't overstay her welcome or conversation. It was enough that we felt like we were appreciated but not too much that we were like get away so we can gorge! Food was delicious. The appetizers were yum-o and the cheese was really good. I think I could eat the sushi and poke all day too! The oxtail soup was almost better than Kam Bowl! It's making my mouth water thinking about it. The prime rib was awesome esepcially since they gave me the end piece! YAY! The desserts were alright... I think they were the least favorite of everything because we had eaten so much that it wasn't that awesome. My tastebuds were pooped by that point anyway. Our seats were near the end and by the windows so we could watch the sunset and listen to the music from Christian Yrizarry and David Asing. I thought that it was really nice. I appreciated the awesome music! Our waitress like I said earlier, was very accomodating. She always was there when we needed her. I would totally come here again especially since they give kamaaina discount! Oh and they validate parking for four hours!

    (5)

  • Mai L.

    I read the reviews for this buffet and thought it was a good choice...wrong. I was disappointed. I don't know if the other nights offered a better selection of food, but my boyfriend and I came here on a Sunday night and it did not offer a large variety of food. I don't mind paying a good sum of money for a good meal, but in my opinion this was not worth the cost. Pros: Short wait in line Good seats (could see/hear entertainment outside-may be enjoyable) Good drinks Cons: Not enough variety of food Food was not that great Waiters are not attentive The cost for the buffet is not worth it

    (2)

  • Kelly G.

    Our family just came in to celebrate my Mother's 67th Birthday ... sadly Kai Market did not live up to all the hype we have been reading & hearing about ! the food was just average with nothing being overly impressive .... for the price tag you think you would want to go back for seconds of something !! Anyway we still had fun enjoying each others company and walking the grounds of the Sheraton... renovations look beautiful !!

    (3)

  • B B.

    Kai Market Breakfast Buffet has a great Kamaaina rate of 22$ per person and 4 hours free validated parking in the Sheraton Garage. Nice selection of Japanese items and Local fare choices. Good view from patio and not very crowded for a Saturday morning. Surprisingly, there were not many birds vying to eat our breakfast on the lanai. Good selection of fresh fruit, meats, eggs Benedict, scrambled eggs, jook, pastries, french toast, yogurt bar, sweet and savory items, a cappuccino/hot chocolate machine & a custom made omelette station. Good place to take family or friends who are visiting the Islands as one local ID covers the table for discount rate.

    (4)

  • Janice H.

    Did I go on an "off" night? Read the 4 and 5-star reviews, intentionally went without lunch in anticipation for an onolicious meal and the bf raved about how delicious this was & that was when he went several months ago. My expectations were high. Sheraton is a quality, top-notch brand and I've tasted their catered food before. Gourmet, onolicious stuff. Not tonight, though. Food was OK and just that. We didn't end up getting seconds of anything, not even dessert. A $8 plate lunch from a lunch wagon in downtown would've been better and cheaper. Bf had eaten here before & his friend had been there 3x --- each had nothing but marvelous things to say. We talked to the manager & he was very apologetic, attentive and a true gentleman. He offered his card, told us to contact him the next time we decided to eat there again. We felt bad because he truly was sorry, but it wasn't his fault the food was bland. Said the executive chef was off that night. I'm chalking this up to a fluke & going to have to come back here at a later time to try again. MISC 1) Otherwise, our waiter was extremely attentive, never let our glasses stay empty for long & periodically stopped by our table to make sure we were doing OK. 2) Cost for parking after they validate your ticket: FREE! You can get it validated at the front where the hostesses are or your waiter/waitress can do it for you. 3) Call ahead to make reservations & if you're a Hawai'i resident, ask for the kama'aina discount to get 25% off of your bill! 4) Wish they'd designate which nights are Paniolo/BBQ nights & which are seafood nights. Thursday = Paniolo/BBQ night, that much I know. Went in thinking it was seafood night. 5) $55.00 per adult on seafood and paniolo/BBQ nights (Sun, Tues, Thurs, Fri & Sat). $51 for Mon nights.

    (2)

  • Mark Y.

    I consider myself a buffet expert and one thing I know is that you need to attack a buffet with a predetermined strategy. You can always spot the buffet novices because on their first visit to the buffet table, they come back with a big pile of everything (usually on 2 plates). With gusto, they bravely dive head first into their huge mounds of food. But, about halfway through, they run out of steam and are done before they can even sample the desserts....sigh. I've learned from my many decades of buffet training that you need to have a plan. 1. RECONNAISSANCE: Determine what's in the spread BEFORE grabbing a plate. 2. STRATEGIZE: Formulate a game plan so you know what sectors to hit first, second, third, etc. 3. CHARGE! Attack with extreme prejudice. 4. THE COUP DE GRACE: Savor your victory with a nice after dinner drink. On a recent visit to Kai Market, I employed all these tactics to a rousing triumph. I was able to sample pretty much everything there (in tiny portions) then on subsequent trips to the buffet, I could focus on the dishes that I enjoyed the most. Most dishes were good but these were the things that I thought were exceptional: BBQ skirt steak with red wine reduction Jack Daniel's glazed short ribs Chef's preparation fresh fish Ahi Poke Kim Chee/Portuguese sausage garlic fried rice Pipikaula mac and cheese Molokai Potato salad Assorted cheese board The desserts were pretty good like the bread pudding and the pot de creme but nothing stood out as being superb. As far as atmosphere, I'd say it's OK. A good thing is you can sit on the lower level which is near the hotel pool and watch all the good looking pool users walking by. *WARNING: This can also be a bad thing. For example, if you were on a date and have wandering eyes, then you should probably sit upstairs! (Believe me, I speak from experience).

    (4)

  • Erin Y.

    My first experience at Kai Market, and I will SURELY be back. Well, I can't pass up a good deal. Plus I have two children, ages 1-1/2 and 4-1/2. Kids under 6 eat for FREE, and 25% Kamaaina discount is a KILLER DEAL for a buffet!!! Plus we went on Paniolo night and got a beer koozie, in the shape of a boot. Super cute for my daughter (I told her it was a sock)! The decor is nice and comfortable. The tables are large and roomy. Everything looks clean and the views are great. No complaints here. Though it is marked $$$$ in terms of price, its not really a "special occasion" type of place. The food was pretty good. I would have been happier with more selection, but I know, this is not Prince Court Buffet. The food was cooked well and the presentation (for a buffet) was outstanding. My favorite was the mac and cheese (oh, get there when there's a new pan so you can get the slightly burnt tops), and the fried rice. The desserts were ok, but lacking a soft serve machine is a definite -1. The service was on point, plates cleared timely, and drinks refilled promptly. All in all a great experience. Valet park for free with validation up to 2 hours, self park for free for up to 4 hours with validation. Happy eating!

    (4)

  • Tammy L.

    I came here for Christmas Eve dinner with the family this year, and we all enjoyed it. As with most buffets, some things were definitely better than others. The good: Molokai potatoes, clam chowder (tender clams bc they're stewed for 24 hrs!), cooked baby bok choy, steamed fish, crab legs. The meh: desserts. I thought the pies were pretty good (strawberry guava--yum), but the rest were not very well executed. Some of the dessert portions were just too big--at a buffet, desserts should be kept small so folks can try lots of stuff without wasting a lot of food. Some of the small tart-type items were dry, some just plain didn't taste good. Their key lime tart was a scary shade of green! I would come back for the seafood and pretty nice view, but save some room for dessert elsewhere!

    (4)

  • Russel M.

    Really great Buffet! We hardly ever go to a buffet but this is on the highend side and I had a coupon for half off. Overall we felt the food was average plus or better. Some dishes were very good. Excellent Sashimi, Prime Rib, Clam Chowder, etc. Kama'aina discount available. Service was great.

    (4)

  • Sheena C.

    I LOVE VEGAS. I LOVE VEGAS BUFFETS. With that said, Kai Market is the BEST buffet I've been to--ever!!! I went on a Friday (25% kama'aina discount & kids FREE!) and had all you can eat snow crab, onaga, prime rib, kal bi, and BOMB poke' and sashimi. Local buffets (and some Vegas ones) usually have poke' and sashimi, but the quality of it is always crap. Kai Market's poke' and sashimi were fresh, soft, and delish! Kapena played live, my fam and I stuffed our faces until we had to unbutton our pants, and my husband almost burst into tears bc he wanted to eat more but just couldn't manage to. Did I mention the dessert? Peanut butter-filled mochi? Molokai sweet bread pudding? Can I please go back like, right now?! Kama'aina is about $45 during seafood buffet, and I am more than happy with that price for the quality and selection of the food. I'd choose Kai Market over any fine dining place any day. P.S. Best to call for reservations if dining on a weekend for dinner.

    (5)

  • Max Y.

    Kai Market is situated in Sheraton Hotel - Waikiki. They offer an "All You Can Eat" Fresh Seafood Buffet on Friday and Saturday nights. The buffet is regularly priced at $58 per person - kinda pricy in itself. Here's the kicker - if you're a Kama'aina, and aren't we all, you get 25% off making it now only $43.50 per. That's a saving of $14.50! Kicker #2 - if anyone in your party is 62 yrs or older, they now qualify for the "Senior's Discount" making it a staggering $39.00 per senior. That's a 33% discount! Kicker #3 - buffet includes coffee, hot tea, iced tea, or Plantation Iced Tea! Kicker #4 - Self-Parking is FREE with validation! The discounts aren't promoted on their website so you need to mention them at arrival. Only bummer was having a party of 6 or more will automatically tack on an 18% gratuity to your bill. Still the service was great and everyone was friendly. Water and beverages were topped off and dishes were cleared immediately off our table. Pretty much earned the 18%. The buffet included: Cold Offerings - poke, maguro sashimi, sushi (inari and maki), salad, lavosh Hot Offerings - seafood chowder, white rice, laulau, short-ribs, salt/pepper shrimp, clams, fried noodles, paella, scallop/shrimp newburg, kimchee fried rice, potato puree Carvery - steamed Onaga, prime rib, snow crab, dungeness crab Dessert - mango pudding, bread pudding, tapioca, red velvet cake, cheesecakes, mochi and MORE Initially you might become disappointed due to the smaller than usual amount of selections. Keep in mind that they concentrated on quality and not quantity. Virtually everything was onolicious. We're not talking Makino or Todai but a Vegas quality type buffet. Can't wait to return.

    (5)

  • Angel A.

    It was good but not &52 worth of good. The dessert was the best part. What gets this place three stars Is the " service fee" since when am I charged to eat at a buffet? I know it's a tip but it was very confusing. I'm sure they rack up on the tourist that don't understand that the tip is already included. I'm a Very good tipper 20% at least when the service is good. It was good but they cheat their servers with a customer like me.

    (3)

  • Renee C.

    Have eaten dinner here before and it was fabulous. So, wanted to try the breakfast. Just made a reservation and was told they don't take any for breakfast. bummer. So, I spoke with the manager and he was so accommodating and willing to take our reservation. It's for our staff Christmas party, so we didn't want to take a chance. Kudos to the customer service we got here. While I'm sure food is going to be good, good customer service is what is rare and will keep folks coming back!

    (5)

  • Chad Y.

    Now, I'm not a huge fan of buffet's, however I could certainly appreciate a good selection of food that doesn't require me to pick only one or two items. Kai Market offers just that, an interesting selection of menu items with decent service and a great ambiance. Service left something to be desired and the price is on the tad higher side, however don't let that deter you. The menu features local ingredients prepared in a plethora of ways. They feature a good selection of salads, sushi, and other appetizer items while the main entree line is where you really go. The selection is wide ranging whether you want beef, vegetables, chicken, pork, or seafood. The alae salt prime rib is good, but nothing truly stellar that sets it apart and the steamed monchong was a healthy portion, however just lacked the final umph in flavor to take it to the top. That statement could be made for a lot of their items, it was good, but nothing truly wow-ing or stellar. Service was ok, it was on the busier side, however drinks went empty and plates took awhile. It was your ordinary buffet service, however I expected just a bit more for the price and the fact that it is Sheraton. Ambiance is nice, however you may want to avoid the tables along the windows overlooking the bar area and the floor as it is hard to get in and out of your seat if you are the lucky bastard against the wall. Validated parking available or valet for small fee. Price is a little on the higher side, however given the selection is a good price point. Kamaaina and senior discounts available. All in all it was a good buffet, nothing stellar or wow-ing, however certainly a good option.

    (3)

  • D W.

    For the price slightly over $50 I expected very good food. However, the food was at best so-so and I felt ripped off. It made me angry, and I will never come back.

    (1)

  • Katie M.

    This review is for the breakfast buffet which my husband and I had before leaving for a bus tour and it really was our only option since we were staying at the hotel and only IHop and Denny's open before 6 (at least according to the hotel desk). The waiter was very nice and accommodating to get us our check so we could make our bus however the hostess pushed us into the restaurant and said it was the "best deal". This buffet was in no way the best deal but was actually outrageously overpriced and the food was mediocre. If you are looking for a buffet walk 150 yards down the beach to dukes at outrigger and save $20/person!

    (1)

  • Brian M.

    I have been twice and enjoyed everything I ate here. Kai market buffet has food for the local and tourist palette. Food selection is very good,also have different things on the buffet line that you normally don't find. Alcohol is available from the beach side bar (price not bad for Waikiki). Beautiful views of the beach and infinity edge pool from the Outside seating. Definitely one of my favorite buffet places to eat!

    (4)

  • Larry P.

    One of my favorite buffets anywhere. A great assortment of local, Japanese and American dishes. Kona Ribs are great. Two kinds of shrimp, aha poke, stir fry noodles. Great salad bar and dessert bar. Come Friday-Sunday for an expanded spread.

    (5)

  • James C.

    Yes, it's pricey. If you're a kamaina, be sure to let them know. Some wait staff are better than others at acknowledging it. But for a 25% discount, it's worth asking. The food is fresh. I especially liked the sashimi.

    (4)

  • Gina B.

    I LOVE eating at buffets and Kai Market is now my favorite. I'm a chowder enthusiast and their Niihau island chowder was the best I've ever had. In fact, I plan to go back to Kai Market just so I can eat their chowder again. I may spend money to eat as many bowls as I can possibly consume...and nothing else. It's just that good. The story behind the fresh seafood and taro chowder is that it's inspired by local fishermen and it's simmered over kiawe wood for 24 hours. I also ate prime rib, Onaga (snapper), garlic mashed potatoes, bok choy and more. I didn't care for the lemongrass roasted chicken only because I like lemongrass and I didn't taste any hint of it. Save your stomach space for sashimi and poke....and dessert. The restaurant features Satura cupcakes. My only suggestion is that they label the various flavors. I also liked that locally grown products are used. And, as a useful decorative piece, they have a wall where fresh herbs are grown. I ate here on a Friday night at about 7:30 p.m. Our server was attentive and friendly which made the meal that much more enjoyable. I can't wait to go back!

    (5)

  • Mike O.

    Went to Paniolo night this week. The starters like salad, shrimp and poke were good. Their chowder was excellent. When we moved on to the main courses, we were disappointed. They were ok but nothing stood out. They hyped the grilled rib-eye and prime rib. Both were raw and tough and cold. Best thing on the main course were the Kalbi. Desserts were good. Strawberry SC from satura was yummy as was the creme brulee. My wife loved the shrimp cocktail. This was a trial run for Paniolo night and the service was excellent. Our server was prompt and friendly. He talked story with us but wasnt over bearing, he knew when to let us eat. Now that they have our comments, I am sure they can improve on their main dishes. I really want to try their seafood buffet.

    (3)

  • Jeff L.

    You know how when you really enjoy something the first time you do it, think about it, and build it up to something that's unreachable the next time you do it? Well I went back to Kai Market... ...and it was just as good as I had built it up to be! Again the service was awesome, the food was just as incredible, and the experience left my friends with smiles from ear to ear. One even commented, "I wish I wore a dress," because her pants were too tight upon leaving! One thing I liked even better was that that this time I was able to better game plan my meal. I knew what I liked and didn't have to sample all of the delectable flavors. I was able to focus on the Chinese style opakapaka and not worry about having to try the coffee-infused ribs, roasted chicken, or any of the vegetable dishes. Yum! I will definitely going back soon! Hope to see you there!

    (5)

  • Spencer L.

    The breakfast selections for the day itself rated five stars: mini loco moco, fried rice, and natto! They had me at mini loco moco. Everything else was a blur. Service was attentive, although I think the waiter had too many tables to handle. Discount for kamaainas always a plus.

    (5)

  • tawny w.

    One of the best buffets i've been to. What gives Kai Market the edge is THE OCEAN VIEW. It was surreal sitting there cutting into my delicious medium rare prime rib with a side of poki, while listening to the waves crash onto shore and feel the warm ocean breeze accompany each bite.

    (5)

  • Anh V.

    3.5 stars for the brekkie buffet. our coffee and juice cups were consistently filled. one downside of getting an outside table is that you had some feathered friends waiting for you to leave the table between rounds. some standouts included: eggs bennie loco moco the island bread pudding crustless goat cheese and spinach quiche guava butter - i was putting that on everything including the fried chicken! they would be more successful if they focused on the variations of island food but i guess that it is the sheraton afterall. the eye sores included the natto, jook and continental spread for those unwilling to try some yummy nouveau island food. thumbs up: fresh farm ingredients - some of which are growing on the wall next to you!

    (4)

  • Garik M.

    too expensive 4 That kind of food, really bad experience , only dessert was good but to pay $150 for dessert?

    (1)

  • Soojeon P.

    Not really feeling all of the rave reviews that are here. I'm not really a fan of seafood so my review will mainly focus on the nonseafood items. I started off with a chicken item which was a bit dry and hard and tasted a bit like duck. They had some beef in Korean sauce which was one good thing. Next I went for the prime rib. I had recently eaten a prime rib at the Aulani buffet and I can say that this did not compare at all. While it was soft, it lacked flavor. I also tried the oven baked Mac and cheese. While it looked good, it was very bland in general. Last, the corn was overly buttered and sweetened. Bright bright bright yellow. Just gross. Later I tried a potato purée. It tasted like mashed potatoes but it was nothing special. The dessert selection was very large and someone could even make you custom s'mores. The flan was very soggy, but I enjoyed the mango pudding. The service is fine and we received boots and neckerchiefs apon arrival (kinda weird for Hawaii but I'm not complaining. 2 stars overall.

    (2)

  • Malia E.

    My family and I went there to celebrate my 40th birthday with Kai's seafood buffet. We normally go to the Halekulani for the Sunday Orchids brunch. On this day, I just wanted to try Kai as I had read the mostly positive Yelp reviews. Lets start with the great and the good. 1) We had reservations for 5:30. We were running late. They were willing to push us all the way back to 6:15. That was cool of them. We got there early enough that the crowd wasnt too bad. But within the hour, the place really packed up and lines formed. The super cool part was that there sure was a solid local contingency there. Good mix. 2) Yes, the seafood chowder is amazing. Sheraton could make a fortune if they bottled and sold that soup. Sooo ono. 3) Overall, the food was solid. Nothing really was not good. On the other hand, other than the soup and one of the dessert choices, nothing was OHMYGODTHATSAMAZING! 4) The seafood selections were fresh and ono: raw oysters, shrimp, and sashimi were all delicious. I enjoyed the snow crab, too. 5) The prime rib was a perfect compliment to all the seafood. My kid must have had three servings. 6) They did manage to provide me with the single handedly best dessert I have ever had at a buffet, maybe anywhere: a thai coffee mousse with vanilla bean sauce served in a small glass cup. OMG!! This thing was cool, creamy, silky, and just GIMME5MORE delicious!!! The not so good and the irritating: 1) If youre going to serve oysters, please have real horseradish available, too. 2) There was drawn butter for the crab, but it was cold. 3) Enhance the salad options. Go check out HaleKoa for some excellent salad offerings in a buffet. Kai is definitely lacking in the salad area - which is surprising for their 'local, fresh' theme. 4) If youre going to serve snow crab, please have those little shimmys that allows you to cut open the shell and helps push out the meat. I asked - and the staff looked at me like I was nuts. So, I had to use my fork. 5) They should consider making other seafood-related dishes. Hows about Clam Linguine? Seafood dynamite? 6) Staffing issues: a) We had to keep asking for plates to be removed. That would never happen at the Halekulani. If youre going to charge Halekulani prices, your staff had better be sharp, responsive, and fast. If you take the silverware, they should know to replace it. I kept having to take from the neighboring tables. b) My kid spilt her full glass of guava juice everywhere. The busboy slowly came to help - and our waitress had no idea that we got charged again. Really? c) when we asked for new napkins because we had all used ours to clean up the guava juice, the clueless waitress looked annoyed and then gave us paper napkins to replace our linens. d) We went looooong stints without anyone checking on us. e) No one asked if we wanted coffee after dinner, Isnt that standard? f) They did bring me a birthday dessert - but after we had our huge plates of buffet dessert. Common sense says bring it before I pig out at the buffet. g) We waited for at least 20 minutes, if not more, for our check. Thats a very long time just to pay. h) Basically, the thing we observed is that there is just not enough waitstaff to keep their attention to the guests at the level that it should be for the price of this buffet. Service should be impeccable - and its not. Its not even close. Overall, three stars is the right call for this market. But if you love, love, love oysters - then you'll love this place. Just bring your own horseradish!

    (3)

  • Jane S.

    Way over priced and a poor buffet selection for dinner.

    (2)

  • Zoe B.

    We went on the past Friday for the seafood dinner buffet. We are a party of 4. Me and my husband are from here and our 2 friends are visiting from Chicago. The restaurant was nice enough to give us all kama'aina discount! So nice of them. And the food was also great. Seafood lovers are gonna enjoy this buffet alot. The oyster is very clean and fresh, very impressive. The clams are good as well. My friend said the sashimi was great too. The crab was also delicious. We also like the prime rib and the braised short rib. Basically we like everything there. We arrived at 6pm and ate till after 9pm. My advice is that you'd better be there as early as they start the dinner buffet, because I noticed that when the time is closing to 9pm, a lot of seafood items are gone, I think it's because they don't want to make a new steamed fish when it's closing soon as it's gonna be a big waste for the leftover. Besides, be reminded that seafood buffet is on Friday and Saturday only, so you have to go on Friday or Saturday if you want seafood night.

    (4)

  • Joseph B.

    So this place was good. I found out about through my friend and from restaurant week. I like the fact that they use a lot of local produce. They had steamed onaga Chinese style and that was delicious. The prime rib was a tad bit on the rare side. They had crab legs and the desserts were good. Look for the bread pudding. So yum. Plus kama'aina discount.

    (4)

  • Anthony H.

    The food was worth the price for the taste and presentation. I went there for breakfast and dinner and still brag about it today. Sitting right on the beach was very epic, the atmosphere could only be described as "serenity". When I think of taking a stay-cation on Oahu, I want to stay at the Sheraton for Kai Market and the Infinity pool.

    (5)

  • Grace M.

    My family and I ate breakfast here everyday while on vacation recently. We had a package from Costco that included a daily breakfast buffet at Kai Market. The breakfast selection is pretty good, includes the usual fixings, eggs, omlette station, bacon, sausage (different kinds daily), fruit station, pastries, breads, quiches, eggs benedict (different kinds daily). My family and I thoroughly enjoyed having breakfast here, either sitting inside or outside. The service was good, we had quite a few great servers who recognized us towards the end of our trip, hehe. They bring you coffee and passionfruit juice right when you sit down and you can order another drink if you'd like. They are quick on refills and have the Aloha spirit!

    (4)

  • Jennifer C.

    This buffet is way too overpriced for the quality. I've had better buffets with bigger selections and better quality for the same price. The dinner was my first meal of the day and I didn't even eat that much. Not worth it!

    (2)

  • Renee A.

    I found my favorite buffet!!! This place is THE BEST! The food is super fresh and the selection is great. I also love the ambiance & location of the restaurant. They have the menu posted online so I'd recommend reading it before deciding to go. My favorite is their Friday's menu. Saturday is not bad either :)

    (5)

  • theresa s.

    kai market has always been very satisfying for us. love the selection and the food is always good, just wish the prices were more reasonable. tonight, we again went for dinner and the server recommended the cabernet sauvignon, so we wanted to go with her recommendation. she brought us a bottle of sauvignon blanc instead-- it was a misunderstanding when i was ordering, so it was no big deal to us-- still good wine! we decided to stick with the white after we tasted it. she later brought 2 full glasses of the cab so we could try it. super great service and the food always tastes so fresh, even something as simple as marinara sauce can taste bright and flavorful! love the desserts selection-- especially the satura cakes!

    (4)

  • Lawrence S.

    I favorites there are the seafood chowder, sea bass, and butter fish (black cod). Sashimi and poke was very good. The Kahuku salt & pepper shrimp and black bean clam is pretty good too. Desserts are always a hit.

    (4)

  • Sandy D.

    Took my husband for his birthday along with my dad and two children (3 and 8). We had a 6 pm reservation which was nice because it wasn't busy and we had very attentive waitstaff until it got a bit more crowded. The downside of being there early is that the food sits for a long time so the prime rib was dry. The fried rice was also crusting on the edges. The steamed fish Chinese style was dry and not warm. The salad area is a big hit. Things look fresh and tasted fresh. The seafood chowder tasted too rich and creamy for my daughter. The crab legs were dry and not hot or cold. The Korean braised shortribs were tasty but by the time I reached my table, it was cold and getting gummy. The desserts were the highlight of the night. The chocolate pot de creme that I had was wonderful! The kids and husband enjoyed the desserts also. I did let them know that I was celebrating a birthday and after we asked for the bill and was ready to leave, they came to sing happy birthday with the little cake. Too late. When it gets busy, it's hard to get the attention of the servers. Overall, I most likely won't go back. Very pricey for what you get. My dad who is really picky finally waited for a new prime rib to come out and enjoyed their green ocean salad. They did give a kamaaina discount and the kids ate free.

    (3)

  • C Y.

    I would rate the food a 4*, but the service really made me want to lower the score a lot. The food was good and desserts were stellar. The thing that I liked about this place is the food didn't taste too oily or over salted. The service was horrible. Waitresses kept bumping my seat without apologizing and drinks took a long time because they kept passing off orders to each other. For an more expensive buffet, I expect service to be above the rest. As far as food items, the prime rib was cooked to perfection, even if it seems like a no brainer, I have had pretty horrible rib from buffets. Dessert selection was awesome and most all of them were great. If the service was there, this place could be a lot better, but I guess since it is Waikiki and they don't care because they get tourists coming in all the time...

    (2)

  • Wade H.

    I had heard good things about Kai Market but I was skeptical since it was at a hotel and it was a buffet. I also thought the price at $55 as listed on the Sheraton Waikiki website was a bit steep. Lucky for my party, we had four seniors (age 60 and above). Cost was $35 per person and two Kamaaina. Cost was $45. Children pricing is also discounted. I made a reservation for a Friday night and got the earliest reservation at 5:30pm. Note: They asked for a credit card as they have a cancellation policy. If you decide to cancel, you can do so within 72 hours without any issues. Recommend making reservations eventhough this restaurant is large. I forget which restaurant was here before it became Kai. There are lots of hotel guests who come to the restaurant. I think they had some coupons so the hotel is discounting the meals. The Sheraton Waikiki Hotel can be confusing. If you park in the garage, take the elevators down to the ground floor. Once you get out of the elevators, head towards the main lobby. The restaurant is located past the shops. The signs aren't too good either. If you see the ocean, make a right turn towards the Ewa side. There are two lines. One for reservations and one for no reservations. We were seated rather quickly because we had reservations. The person at the counter asked if we were Kamaaina. I said yes. The waitress then asked as we were sitting down how many seniors. The menu and price changes daily so be sure to check out the website. For Friday night, the main dishes included: prime rib (excellent), fish (excellent), snow crab legs (okay). To me, it was worth it for the prime rib and fish. The 3 entrees are served so you can't necessarily take what you want, although the guy who served me was very generous. If you go early and get the 5:30pm reservation, you pretty much get first crack at all of the buffet items. Here is what the selection was on the salad side: oysters Nalo greens lots of different salads and condiments tofu salad noodles Different breads (this was good) Tako poke - tako was rubbery. :( Ahi Sashimi deveined shrimp. Kind of like shrimp cocktail but with a nice sauce. Very TASTY! For the other entrees: crab cakes - okay whole chicken - chinese style fresh steamed vegetables - very good mashed potatoes - excellent cake noodle - okay scallops, shrimp, mushrooms, etc. Desserts: Satura cakes - Heard that it's like $3 for just one serving. Different flavors mochi and chi chi dango - kinda hard. :( portuguese bread pudding with and without raisins fresh fruits - pineapple and watermelon - pineapple was sweet different kinds of moose in glass cups The mainstay of Kai is using fresh local ingredients wherever possible. I like the concept. Because it's a buffet, you can try different things and go back for the stuff that you like. Lots of local people eating when we were there. Lots of celebrations. Noise level high because music from pool area blaring into restaurant. It's open with lots of birds but just kick em aside. Wait staff pretty good. Filled water. You can order beverages. Beer is like $5.72 PER CAN... Validated parking for up to 4 hours so you can check out the Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center for a little while before leaving. Dress is very casual. You can wear shorts and a nice top. Slippers too. I"ll be back!"

    (4)

  • Indigo L.

    We had a party here for dinner. The management and servers were very accommodating while we were in the planning stages of our party. The ambiance was great, there was live music + hula dancing and a fire dancer at one point. We were seated on the covered lanai next to the ocean. There was a great selection of choices, to please all of our guests. The highlights included the snow crab legs, prime rib, & Satura Cake desserts. It's definitely a place where you are paying a high price for the total package (quality food, quality setting and quality service). Now, if you don't care about any of these things, the Oceanarium will suffice. All in all, we were happy we chose Kai Market for our special celebration.

    (4)

  • michelle y.

    Had dinner there last night and food was ok. Not a large selection as stated in Honolulu Advertiser and some items were less than room temp, like the prime rib. Overall the quality is good but would not choose to go there again. Maybe it was an off night? Not many people there. Too high in price for what is offered even thought it was a kamaaina rate.

    (2)

  • Michael S.

    So I was looking to avoid Mother's Day crowd. I had read the reviews of Kai, didn't know that the restaurant had changed. So we booked there for Sat. night instead of the Sun. brunch. (probably sold out anyway being last min. )I would recommend the chowder, sashimi and poke! My wife went to town on the crab (Seafood Night) and the salt and pepper shrimp! The red snapper was steamed to perfection! The prime rib was good too! But the desserts were the bomb! Maybe next time I go back ( I will be back!!) I'm just going to 1. skip breakfast and lunch and 2.hit the dessert first! The desserts are not in huge portions but are BIG in taste! Service was very good! Not once was a plate left on the table when we went back for more food! Drinks were refilled when needed, Free soft drink refills too! Kudos to Kevin F. our waiter! He made this a great experience! Oh and for local folks with kids, especially nice!!! Local discount is 25% off. Kids 1-5 eat free, 6-12 free with full paying adult and 12-16 1/2 price! Very hard to beat this place with the food, discounts and service! Oh and I was expecting to pay for parking but it was FREE.

    (5)

  • Toni R.

    They have a good rotating menu (different menu depending on the day of the week). I can't remember exactly which days offer which menu, but there's a seafood night, a BBQ night... and some others I can't recall. (Its been six months). Staff are super nice... they give kama'aina discount. We are considering this place for a post-wedding day brunch. There is an indoor and outdoor sitting area... The outdoor looks out into the infinity pool and the ocean.

    (4)

  • Dijon Y.

    The buffet was $50 as it was valentine's day. Pretty damn expensive. Like most buffets, not worth it. The prime rib was ok, not great. I've had better for $7 in cafes in mediocre casinos in las vegas. The food quality is good overall but like most buffets, I didn't really feel compelled to try 2nds of different entrees, as nothing really made me go wow, got to get more of that. The seafood chowder was the one thing that stood out though.

    (3)

  • bucca d.

    Okay the food here is really fresh and very good. Although the price for Chinese was quite steep i thought at $50 a person. Even with the Kamaina discount down to ~$38 it was a little steep for essentially Chinese. Many of the fresh vegetables were really just Chinese vegetables. The steamed fish was very good. The fresh herbs from the living wall was fun. It almost felt like a very high class Panda Cuisine with a little western fusion. They also have decent salads and raw oysters and poke which was good. The desert station was quite impressive as far as selection and overall quality. All in all though this place with the Kamaina discount wasn't bad. The waitresses were also relatively nice considering our son, who was free because he was under a certain age, made somewhat of a mess. So for a Kamaiana meal for two was about ~$80, not including tax and tip off of the price of $100. The total then with everything is about $105 - still an extraordinary price to have to pay, but alas the buffet was good.

    (3)

  • Eric S.

    great service i loved how the receptionist gave me great information regarding the 25% percent off discount on food for locals. food was awesome with a touch of elegance yet simplicity and complexity ranging from sashimi to porchini stuffed pasta. i even like the fact they had wet wipes for your crab legs usually i only seen them offered at rib places. one big plus is the satura cakes imagine the killing there taking from that alone cuz just to buy one at satura cakes is about 4 dollars. the one thing i loved the most was this dessert called lemongrass panacotta infused with lychee and strawberry can i say awesome it reminds me of my childhood cuz it had a lingering finsh of fruit loops. thanks to everyone who gave me suggestions for where to take my gf i choose this place and it was a great recommendation.

    (5)

  • Steve c.

    This is the best buffet you have ever been to. The service is excellent. Ask for senior discount. It is $20 on a $55 meal! don't miss this!

    (5)

  • kenneth m.

    One of the best breakfast buffets I have ever had. Very fresh food, nice variety and wonderful service. I look forward to eating there again.

    (5)

  • L K.

    dinner food is really good. we've been on several different nights and they've all been very satisfying. love the raw oysters on seafood nights, love the lamb chops on mondays. BUT we learned tonight that they've grown a serious pair of balls. we had a party of 8 adults and they AUTOMATICALLY tacked on a 20% TIP!! are you kidding me!? 15, sure, 18, maybe, but 20!? had it been any of the previous times we'd gone we would have had issue and spoken to a manager, but this time we had the greatest waitress. we actually added to the 20, she was that good. very attentive, cleared dishes promptly, brought wet towels for easy clean up (evil, tasty prawns), even tried to bring a treat for the birthday boy (but her back of house took too long and we had to leave - she boxed it to go for us). we will be back, god willing we'll get her again.

    (4)

  • Denalee C.

    I have some very mixed thoughts on Kai Market. The salad/appetizer/soup section on the left was awesome and so were the desserts (on the right). However, the entire middle part- the hot dishes were pretty disappointing. It was like a confused oreo cookie, where the cream in the middle wasn't the best part. It's important to note my dinner experience was on a Sunday night (not seafood night), but still boasted a decent amount of seafood. Let's start with the yummy parts. Yummy items from the left side: seafood chowder, poke (huge chunks of tasty, fresh cartilage free fish), shrimp cocktail, sushi, caesar salad, cheese platter, garlic hummus and lavosh & caprese salad. Yummy items from the right side: array of mochi (my fave) and the moistest, softest bread pudding ever. Yummy items from the middle: Kabocha mashed potatoes. (seriously that was it), the thai curry was pretty decent too. Other thoughts on the middle section: mac and cheese was overcooked and lacked cheesy flavor, corn on the cob was swimming in butter but had hard kernels, bbq ribs were dry, fresh fish and prime rib were also dry and tasteless. I went back and got a small dish full of sauce for the fish and just let him bathe for a while, but that still didn't help. Here's probably the best part of Kai Market. It is the MOST AMAZING SUNSET spot ever. Time your reservation right and your breath will be taken away. Would I go back? Well kamaaina get 25% off which makes it a little more affordable...I would probably go somewhere else first before I came here again, but I'd say yes, I'd return, but stay on the sides where the better food is!

    (3)

  • Rita L.

    i was expecting this buffet to blow my mind...i thought it was just alright. the salad bar was ok, i felt that it wasn't that fresh. i must admit the seafood chowder was delicious. the main buffet was not that impressive. the roast beef was kinda dry, the lau lau was tasteless, and the fish was dry as well. i did love the dessert area... that was delicious. i loved all the different pastries and was in love with the mango pudding with li hing pineapple. fan of the desserts at sheraton.

    (3)

  • Bryce A.

    Kai Market is a great place to go if you're looking for an upscale buffet with a wide variety of local foods. Located in the Sheraton, Kai Market has a great view of the water. And, if you are driving in, they give you 4 hours of free parking. The Kai Market buffet has a wide selection of cooked and raw items. We visited here on a seafood night, which meant that the highlights included fresh tuna sashimi, perfectly steamed opakapaka, and plenty of snow crab legs. I would also recommend giving the lau lau and clam chowder a try as they were delicious, though they may not be the best use of stomach space at a buffet. The desserts were good too - I particularly enjoyed the bread pudding and the selection of mini bars, which included Key Lime and Peanut Butter. Great food, though a bit on the pricey side even with the kama'aina discount.

    (4)

  • Addie L.

    When here for a "regular" night, not a seafood night. It's $3 cheaper but here are the differences: No crab legs, clams are made with butter instead of black bean sauce, no sashimi, no seafood paella, chowder is clams only. They still have poke, Chinese style steamed fish, shrimp (it's huge!), and added ox tails (it's very tender!), and prime rib. Remember to use locals only 25% off and senior discounts. Highly recommended!

    (5)

  • Tobias C.

    For local people - make sure you go at 5:30pm when they open. Valet your car. Make a reservation - mention you are Kamaaina when checking in at the desk and enjoy. Prime rib, stuffed fish main station. Braised beef, Shoyu chicken, fried pork and Chinese bun, salad bar section, and dessert section. View of the beach and beach bar - great! Went for a Birthday - warning - Do Not bring your own cake - the charge is $6.50 per person corkage fee - we asked- because one of our friends made us an elaborate birthday cake - we had to eat it at home- by ourselves. Ha!

    (4)

  • Kers Y.

    One of the more expensive buffets I have been too. Use your SPG number if you are dining there. We didn't go on seafood night. The prime rib was delicious and the desserts were all soooo goooddd! Service was good, they could have cleared plates a little faster.

    (4)

  • Jennifer J.

    I came here for my birthday a Saturday night - seafood night. The place is already packed at around 6:30PM. Everyone here is very friendly, from the host to the waiters, bussers and the food servers. Their clam chowder tastes really good. I like beef so I enjoyed the prime rib but didn't want it raw. I'm not sure if I can have them cook it well done, the server did not offer to cook it (he is the only unfriendly guy there). Steamed opakapaka was soft but doesn't have much taste. I'm not really a fan of crabs but there are steamed crab legs. Let the host know that you're celebrating your birthday so you'd get a complimentary cake. The cake is rock hard but it's nice being sang to by their funny waiters.

    (4)

  • Joshua R.

    Went here for dinner with family, and I was not disappointed! The wait was not long at all for a table, and this was my first time here and I was very impressed. We went there on a Saturday so it was all seafood based and literally everything there was amazing! Trust me you will not leave this place hungry.

    (5)

  • Kristine K.

    Huuuuge buffet with different options. Depending on the night that you go therr are different type of food. I highly recommend making reservations if you do not want to wait all night.

    (3)

  • Lisa L.

    Ok i really dont get some of the high ratings for this place. We had dinner here last night (Sunday) with seven in our party. All I can say is Sheraton should be ashamed of putting together a" buffet" like this. I am still upset a day later at the crazy amount of money we spent for horrible food and service. Service: our waiter, while a sweet elderly man, was incredibly slow and messed up on our bill twice. The sad part is this is a self serve kind of place but they automatically added 18% gratuity to our bill! We had to look for him twice just to order drinks, he charged us for more drinks then we ordered, gave us our neighbors bill instead of ours, and forgot to give my daughter a new wine after she found something floating in it. Food: mediocre at best. Poor quality and little choices. Honestly the only highlight for us was the Ahi poke which was fresh and tasty. Sad, but we could have gone to tamuras to get great ahi poke for a fraction of the price Bottom line : if you are looking for a great buffet this isn't it. It's a waste of alot of money. If sizzlers were still open that would have been a better option.

    (1)

  • Jason Y.

    The menu items sounded nice but overall wasn't too impressed. I am certainly taking into consideration that it is a hotel buffet and they are supposed to put out quantity over quality but for the price you pay my hopes were a bit higher. The good: kalua pork, braised oxtail, turkey, prime rib (some cuts at least) The bad: sashimi (no selection really, just tuna). Poke (just tasted like the sashimi cut up into chunks), chicken (dry), oysters (didn't seem too fresh), salad (only some cuts of romaine) Decent: Inari, kimchi, honey ham, crab legs, cocktail shrimp, garlic butter shrimp. Must get: the peanut butter filled mochi ball, mango pudding, Overall, for a buffet (esp in a very nice hotel) it was mediocre at best. Maybe we caught them on a bad night. For the price, plenty of other options around the area.

    (3)

  • Rho D.

    Selection for Valentine's Day were great. Plenty to choose from and all satisfactory. Nothing really stood up but overall satisfied. Pretty pricey

    (3)

  • Colleen W.

    What a great buffet. . . yeah, the selections are not that extensive, but the quality makes up for it. Driving into Waikiki on a Saturday night during prom season and with UH graduation was horrible. We were almost 15 minutes late getting to our 6:30 reservations, but not a problem when we arrived. It was crowded. . .a baby's christening party was in effect, along with UH graduation parties, but our wait service was excellent. Hot food selections. . .dare I say KING CRAB LEGS! Not self serve, but you could ask for as many as you wanted. The garlic prawns. . .delish! Prime rib. . .good. . .other entrees included clams in black bean sauce, shoyu chicken. . .laulau even. Although there were only 3 kinds of sushi, it was good enough for me. . .along with sashimi and poke. . .good to go. Desserts galore! Our plates were cleared off the table in a timely manner. . .not stacked up that is. And. . .the best is a 25% kamaaina discount. . .which means one of 4 eats free! It is a great bargain and should be checked out! Loved it, hope to go back with others.

    (5)

  • Danielle N.

    Kai Market seafood buffet at/in the Sheraton Waikiki Hotel. Yes the Sheraton, prime ribs good quality meat, chowder soup great flavor & that is all you will find at this place consider is edible for $58.00 a person. Lawry's is real prime-rib. Everything else is poor quality & I have pictures to proof it. Crab legs are over cooked very dry and it will be cold by the time you walk to your table. The salad bar is biggest as is for 5 items to choose from, sashimi maybe 3 items to choose from & sushi rolls maybe 5 types and I don't know what the hell they wrap the inside with, I spit it out. (see pictures below) Asian hot & cold dessert items sure doesn't taste like one & the flan u will be sorry, no real condense milk, and bubble pockets. I even called the manager & bring it to his attention & he wishes that we will give it a second chance next time, what, rude??? Bellagio, Caesar Palace... That's are real buffer. This place is not cater to American people or American food standard in my opinion.

    (1)

  • Dan W.

    Had the dinner buffet and could not have been more dissapointed. The only thing that was redeeming on the whole buffet was the tuna poke. Imagine that, good tuna poke in Hawaii. It was certainly not worth the $50 ea my wife and I spent there. Still, hotel buffet dinner? It's really my own fault for thinking that was going to work out any differently... Live and learn. Well, live.... anyway.

    (2)

  • Teresa F.

    Juicy prime rib. Shrimp, sashimi & poke Awesome!! Love the assorted cheese(s) etc..The mango dessert on point

    (5)

  • Sheena Y.

    Don't get me wrong the food is great but I don't think it's worth $58 per person. Its a little steep and I've been to better buffets for the price.

    (3)

  • Ryan M.

    With regards to the choices, it's easily 5 stars!! Steamed opakapaka, kahuku style shrimp, king crab, clams, prime rib and sashimi to name a few. Problem is that everything is overlooked!!! It's not like they were slow, we went on a Friday night with high turnover so food sitting under the heat lamp and drying out the food was not the problem. Yet every dish was dry. Very disappointed in the quality of the dishes. It's too bad because the view is gorgeous, service was good, selection was top notch but not well executed per se.

    (3)

  • En I.

    Dinner: Over priced even though quality of food was okay. Terrible service service too.

    (3)

  • Kelly L.

    Been here a few times and we've never been disappointed! The food is high quality, poke, salad bars, Kobe steaks, ribs, shrimps, deserts....! The staff is friendly and attentive! And of course the view...! Perhaps, the only minor negative point on their menu is somewhat short on seafood (no fresh fish dishes... unless you go for the special night of sea food, there is no any kind of crab legs on the menu!) The ambience makes up for shortness of seafood! We definitely come back!

    (5)

  • Florence K.

    How to get your money's worth at a buffet (with the Kai Market twist): Start by eating the most expensive items first. The alae salt crusted slow roasted prime rib with horseradish sour cream and natural au jus. Heck, get two slices. How often do you get to eat prime rib anyway? Then go for other expensive things being offered. The white wine and garlic steamed Manila clams. The Hawaiian-style ahi poke and the kimchee marinated tako poke. The steamed island market fresh fish, Chinese style. The "shrimp truck style" garlic Kauai head-on shrimp. The curried mussels on the half shell crusted with mozzarella cheese. Yeah, seafood is crazy expensive when you buy it fresh. Hmm, oxtail is kind of expensive, let's put the red wine braised oxtail on my plate too! Do not at any point eat anything that's considered a carbohydrate. The bread, mashed potatoes, the pasta, the ginger scallion charsiu fried rice, the local style fried saimin. It's just going to fill you up, and you'll be hungry 2 hours later. I would know. I'm a carb lover. But man just looking at the names of the dishes they have at the buffet makes my stomach start growling. Another thing that's great about Kai Market is they try to use locally grown products from Hawaii as well as provide a cuisine that highlights the many cultures and foods we have here. Awesome, right? I had decided to take my boyfriend and his family out for his birthday and decided on a buffet because that way, no one had to decide on what they wanted to eat, and I wouldn't have to worry about everyone still being hungry. Kai Market was where I decided to take everyone and it's located in the Sheraton Waikiki Hotel. At $55 a person ($58 on Friday and Saturday which is their seafood night) I had to make sure I followed my rules to get my money's worth. I don't eat a lot at once so it was going to be really hard for me. First thing I did? Hit the cold section! Ooh! Bread and butter with an assortment of cheeses! Butter and cheese are the 2 reasons I could never go vegan. Oooh! California Rolls! I love avocado! Everything was so delicious, I had to try their famous seafood chowder, which lived up to the hype! Then I went for the prime rib, which was so juicy and tender, as well as the steamed fish, so moist! I couldn't eat those alone so I paired it with mashed potatoes which filled me up. I wasn't going to let that stop me so I tried a little of everything. Everything here is really delicious and well prepared. Trust me, it's worth the price. Even more so if you avoid the carbs and follow the rules, which I OBVIOUSLY did not do. Besides the delicious food, the service was stellar. Our plates were removed constantly so we could stand up and hit the buffet line again. Our server constantly checked up on us to make sure everything was going okay. Definitely 5 star service! Make sure you take advantage of their kama'aina and senior discounts. They really help when you're paying so much for a meal! Children 5 and under also eat free here.

    (5)

  • David M.

    Had the best buffet ever at Kai Market,, Make sure you ask for Dana,, she is the BEST,, Water front tables with beautiful views !! Tell Dana I sent you David Santa Rosa CA

    (5)

  • Paul C.

    Since this place went through a major renovation and changed from Ocean Terrace to Kai Market, this is the first time to dine here under its new name. First of all, I was amazed by the "face-lift" Sheraton Waikiki went through as I worked many years in the tour industry and was last stationed at this hotel for several years. I was in awe of how this hotel became so modern, including Kai Market. Our dinner reservations were for 630pm and just in time to view the sunset on the Ewa side - - it was amazing. And on the opposite side you had a great view of Diamond Head up-close. In comparing the dinner buffet of Ocean Terrace to the new Kai Market, my first impression was the food generally had the same theme but the menu became more refined in my opinion. The dinner lineup generally varies by the day-of-the-week: sheraton-waikiki.com/din… Dined here tonight (Thursday) and the main stars: alaea salt crusted slow roasted prime rib, steamed grouper fish fillet Chinese-style (with lup cheong sausage), deep fried large Kahuku head on prawns w/ fresh herbs, Niihau style clam chowder (clams, fish, potatoes and taro), seafood curry (scallops, shrimp and mussels) and kim chee w/ portuguese sausage garlic fried rice. For a buffet dinner the food was above-average. The quality of ingredients is a step-up compared to your regular buffet line, but not as good as Prince Court at Hawaii Prince Hotel. Compared to the prior Ocean Terrace, Kai Market is definitely much more brighter and lively. You can dine indoors or near the poolside where you can watch the nightly Hawaiian entertainment. However, the desserts were disappointing to me. They seemed very exotic with a lot of Hawaiian flair but the taste didn't deliver. Tropical fruit flavors were used but the taste was subtle and at times were overpowered by other accompanying strong flavors surrounding it and got lost. I had to strategically eat as I wanted to maximize the space in my stomach so I didn't eat much salad or starches. I was surprised with the quality of the ahi and tako poke as both of them were on the slimy side. Grossed me out... The restaurant was quite packed with Japanese tourists and the wait staff were busy so I am being lenient in this area. In our table of 12 adults, our waiter did try his best to stop by to clear our plates and refill the drinks. At the end he made an effort to ask if we wanted coffee or tea. The price here is on the high-side of $55 per adult (Sunday to Thursday) but there is a 25% kama'aina discount. On Fridays and Saturdays they offer a seafood buffet and the price is $58 per adult. For parking, I parked my car in the garage myself so validated parking was free up to 4 hours. If you chose to valet park, the validated parking is good for only 2 hours. Overall, a decent dinner buffet in Waikiki that offers quality local ingredients. With the Kama'aina discount, this place is worth coming by on special occasions (birthday, anniversary or entertaining out-of-town relatives). NOTE: I didn't see many vegetarian dishes here. So for vegetarians, this place may not be a place to pay $50 plus for dinner.

    (4)

  • Yujin H.

    Me and a bunch friends wanted to splurge and eat some crab legs. So we ask around and got recommended Kai Market. Since Friday and saturdays they have a seafood buffet. We get seated and immediately start our buffet. We were mainly there for the snow crab legs. However we ate a little of everything. The first round of crab legs were good, moist and tasty. Then they ran out of crab legs, a seafood buffet night where the crab legs are the main attraction and they ran out... They gave an estimated time of 5-6 minutes for the fresh batch of crab legs to be ready... Waited about 25+ minutes... When the crab legs finally came out, there was a mad rush of people. The second round of crab legs we had were terrible!!!! The crab meat was dry, and over steamed. Everything else was mediocre the clams were alright and the poke was a bad cut of ahi. The only thing that was exceptional was our server Gary who was on point! He was always coming by making sure everything was ok. If your like us and want to splurge on crab legs go else where. Even with the kamaaina discount it was not worth it at all.

    (1)

  • Megan W.

    My husband and I came here for dinner as we thought we should try it out since we were staying at the hotel. We went once for breakfast and once for dinner. In both instances, the food was NOT worth the price. The menu options were limited and there was not a large variety . We looked up the menu prior to going to dinner and it actually looked good so we were pretty disappointed to have that not reflect in the food. So much cheaper to go to pretty much any other restaurant in Waikiki.

    (2)

  • Emmajoy R.

    Went here for a buffet brekfast with the hubby. Beautiful food, no wait time. They had eggs bendict in a cup which was perfectly cooked. Also they had a make your own omlet station which was super cool you pick all your fillings, pass it over and he adds cheese and love. Fruit and yogurt bar with delicious caramelized bananas and a ridiculous caramel and banana sauce for your french toast. A bagel bar with every cheese you can think of. Eggs, bacon, pancakes, and the list goes on. There is no alacarte menu but everything you feel like you can find here. mainly. It has a beautiful view of the beach and the staff were very friendly and helpful. I really enojoyed it as far as buffets go, keep in mind this is the very first one I've had while travelling america and hawaii.

    (4)

  • Kimberly W.

    I went here for my birthday. It is a buffet that didn't have much of anything. There was only on meat offered, prime rib. There wasn't any chicken or fish offered. I found this to be very surprising. There was only 3 veggies and 3 items on the dessert area. I paid a fortune for parking and it was not validated. I don't think I will be going back there.

    (3)

  • Carol Y.

    OMG Located in the Sheraton Waikiki next to the infinity pool their BRAISED oxtail is the best thing i ever had in my life. sooo tender and addicting!!! great customer service and i think i ate a whole pound of food.... price is acceptable for the food quality.

    (5)

  • Lauren C.

    With the location of Kai Market and beautiful views that the restaurant has, it's things like these that remind me why many travel from all over to visit Hawaii -- a place that I'm lucky call home. A bit pricey, but expected for a buffet in Waikiki. I personally think that it is worth it for the wide variety of yummy food, relaxing ambiance, and nice decor. My friends and I started off with sipping some drinks before stuffing our faces with food. I had the LILIKOI BREEZE (Skyy passion fruit vodka + lilikoi + orange + lemonade) which was really tasty and refreshing. Keep in mind that their menu Mon-Thu ("Waikiki Beach Barbecue) is different from Fri-Sun (Seafood Nights) so be sure to double-check if you're okay with what they have available on the day you're planning to go!

    (4)

  • Wayne M.

    We ate here our first night in town, and there was a vast assortment of selections to choose from. Ahi sashimi, crab legs, fruit, a variety of vegetables and desserts. They were Ok, not fantastic but passable. The 65.00 charge was not, way too expensive for what you get. Fast forward to the breakfast buffet, this was worth it 30.00 for fresh baked goods, fruit, an omelette bar, Asian options. If you're not famished to the point of eating the ass off a dead horse, they offer a light fare of all the above except the hot items. Huge props to Tony our server who did an excellent job. When in Honolulu get wacky in Waikiki and always remain Feral.

    (4)

  • Mike R.

    Great breakfast buffet! We did the AAA breakfast with our room rate and enjoyed the fresh fruit, eggs and omelettes cooked to order, crispy bacon, Portuguese sausages, fresh pastries, salads, miso soup, congee, pancakes, juices and coffee just to name a few items. Really convenient way to start the day before embarking on each adventure everyday. Servers provided excellent service by keeping our table clean and our glasses full. We also had a chance to do the dinner buffet and that was even more amazing! Same wonderful service and delicious options. Our server brought us a cream Kula corn chowder to start our dinner. Some of the selections were fresh steamed fish in soy ginger sauce Chinese style, prime rib, and the best prawns ala plancha! For dessert they had ted's pies, cheesecake, flan, mochi, and bread pudding. Perfect place to celebrate a special occasion or taking out friends and family from out of town. More on the expensive side, so come hungry for some fresh seafood and tender prime rib.

    (5)

  • Ric C.

    Meeting expectations- the buffet challenge. Kai Market is the beachfront buffet at the Sheraton Waikiki that touts it's use of local ingredients whenever possible. We have had a chance to dine there for both breakfast and dinner and I would say that the dinner, although more expensive, is the preferable choice. Let me explain: The breakfast offerings are highlighted by their omelet stations and they do have a nice selection of ingredients to "infuse" your omelet. Limited selection of fruit, salad and pastry items, miso soup and other Japanese style items no doubt for the hotel clientele. While the ingredients are fresh I didn't think they were that much different from other buffet offerings in town. The setting is nice and the service has always been top notch. But if you don't like driving into the middle of Waikiki that can be a turn off. Maneuvering to get to the Sheraton parking on a Friday or Saturday night can get tricky, I will explain further in this review. The dinner offerings are pretty comparable to other buffet places but they have specialties that they offer on the weekends that push them ahead of the pack. Their Chinese style whole island steamed fish is excellent and one of the best fish preparations I have tasted in a buffet setting. You are served a portion of the fish which insures more patrons will get a crack at the fish. You piggies are put on notice :). There is also a seafood paella that was "ok". The usual suspects- prime rib, soup, poke, salad bar, etc. are fresh, flavorful and executed very well. Parking on a Fri or Sat can really get crazy if the hotel is having an event. We went on a Sat. Night and the parking at the Sheraton was full by 6pm. There was some confusion and at first they indicated we were on our own- bad news on a Sat. Night. Luckily they were able to offer parking at a sister hotel about 3 blks away so it turned out fine. The one important factor that weighs in Kai Market's favor is that they give a 25% discount to Kamaaina (with proof). Always check to make sure the discount is still in play. Would not hesitate to go back to Kai Market but I would be wary of Saturday if there are major events at the hotel. 3.5 stars for breakfast, 4 stars for dinner with an overall 4 stars because of the Kamaaina discount, great service and nice setting.

    (4)

  • F G.

    Knock 1 star for no crab legs. All the other foods (for Mother's Day brunch) were Ono!!! To name a few: prime rib, braised short ribs, jumbo shrimp, sashimi, sushi, omelette station, noodles, fried rice, steamed fish, Mochi, teds pies, fruits and many more!!! Cost was $52 p/person. We had a great view of diamond head! There was also live music which was nice. Free valet parking with validation. I still think for the price there should of been crab legs....

    (4)

  • Jake C.

    Yelp 365 Challenge 2015 #46/365 I've been to Kai Market a few times, for breakfast and for dinner, and I have to say, as far as buffets go, it does not disappoint. Our most recent visit was for the breakfast buffet, which was $28. This is Waikiki, and this is a buffet, so we didn't really expect much less. The breakfast buffet looks pretty impressive. From the far side, the station that would usually have the salad/seafood during dinner service is empty, but on the island next to it, there's a station with fresh juice, and Japanese style breakfast food, such as salmon, miso soup, and rice. They also have rice porridge which I stayed away from. When you move over to the main station, the first thing you're gonna hit is the omelette bar. It's cool because you have this small square bowl/tray that you put your omelette insides in. There's different meats, such as bacon, ham, or breakfast sausage, and a bunch of veggies too. Then, you hand your omelette fillings to the omelette maker, who is working three pans at the same time, and watch him make magic. He also asks if you want cheese at the end of your omelette creation. Moving down, there's pancakes, with four different types of syrups to choose from, and they had this sliced bread pudding, which was amazing. You can also add a caramel banana sauce to it, if you want. They also offered a chili eggs benedict (interesting), a ton of bacon, scrambled eggs, and hash browns. There's also a second omelette station, but the service at that one seemed sporadic, as during my multiple trips, I only saw both sides working at the same time once. On the opposite end of the Japanese breakfast side, there's a salad bar and fruit, and on the island there's bread for toast, bagels, croissants, strudels, and cereal and milk. I always make sure I get a bowl of cereal and milk before I'm done with the buffet! It's a great breakfast buffet, one of the best I've ever been to, and they even give you a kama'aina discount! Great way to start the day on a vacation.

    (4)

  • Chau L.

    This review is for breakfast buffet only. Food was just ok, not that great. Not many selections, typical breakfast items. 3 stars is for the spectacular view but will not come back.

    (3)

  • Turquoise Z.

    Great fresh buffet!!!" We liked this buffet was very fresh some Hawaiian dishes, ambianse was very nice. Is recommended to make reservations it was a long line before restaurant open. I believe you should try to go Friday or Saturday cause they have the seafood and it would be a crime to pay 58 dollars for regular food buffet. The crab were delicious with the butter and garlic sauce dessert s were just ok. They dont have too many dishes in the buffet including salad bar and dessert s I think only around 20 different dishes, for the price I expect ed double. My daughter said you should try the sweet potatoes mashed natural juices were delicious but not included in price. The Sheraton have a worderful view of diamond head for pictures

    (4)

  • Reina L.

    Tonight for V-day is a seafood wonderland of options for their buffet. King crab legs, sashimi, seafood clam chowder, and even a chocolate fountain for the strawberries and marshmellows. Varios fried rice, yummy yam mashed potatoes, and even a lau lau were offered tonight. The poke didn't look too good though, but everything else was pretty good. I was the only one who ordered ginger ale, but somehow Jake had ginger ale, the waiter was quick to replace it with his correct drink. James was attentive and cleared the table and brought utensils very quickly. Sort of disappointed with the casual dressers who walked in, considering how most are dressed at least business casual. Besides, it is Valentine's Day...even the kids had on better shirts and pants than some of the adults.

    (4)

  • Timothy J.

    Came here for Father's Day dinner. Was not disappointed. The buffet was a little more expensive that night because of Father's Day, but I still think it was worth it. We did have to wait since we didn't have a reservation, but it was alright. The waiting area is at the outdoor pool of the Sheraton Hotel overlooking the beach. Couldn't have a nicer waiting area. The food was good. As expected of a classy hotel restaurant. The prime rib was actually pretty juicy. All the food was cooked well (meat was tender and food was tasty), definitely NOT like typical buffet quality food. The service was great. We had a nice waitress that picked up empty plates fairly quick. Great attitude too. Overall, I think this is a great buffet to go to if you're up for it. ALSO, Plantation Iced Tea is included with the meal, all other drinks are not!! (at least when I was there this was the case)

    (4)

  • Nathan K.

    Pretty good place if you like buffets. Seafoods like King Crab, O'pakapaka, fresh Sashimi, chowder, Poke, etc., Good salad bar with mix salads nice and fresh too, prime roast beef, choices of prepared chicken and more..... My favorite is deserts after a good meal and there were a lot to choose from. Cakes, pies, puddings, brownies, fresh fruits, etc., etc.,. You gotta be hungry to eat here!

    (4)

  • Jennifer C.

    This buffet is way too overpriced for the quality. I've had better buffets with bigger selections and better quality for the same price. The dinner was my first meal of the day and I didn't even eat that much. Not worth it!

    (2)

  • Rhys A.

    I'm ashamed to say I didn't take note of our waiter but he was awesome!!! An older chinese man (I think) and he was so very nice and very attentive. That alone deserves 5 stars, just for him and his attitude. But I gave a 4 star because there were no mashed potatoes as advertised and that was a big disappointment since I do not like rice. I loved the potatoes salad tho and the fresh chinese style fish was very good and so was the prime rib. I thought the dessert and fruits station was terrible with only watermelon and pineapple with a sprinkle of blue berries offered and for sweets, it was just a mess of stuff, except for the Ted's pies but they didn't have chocolate which is the only Ted's I'll eat. I liked this place and would like to try breakfast. The dinner was a bit costly for what was offered. I think 45.oo would be more appropriate .

    (4)

  • Helen M.

    $55 per person is more than a little steep for a buffet, but dammmnnn... this is seriously the best buffet I have ever been to with some fab and delicious food. There is a very drastic difference in quality for Kai's Market and other buffets. If my old workplace did not foot the bill, I would have never known about it (so thank you!). It's also $58 for nights when they offer seafood like crab, which I would trust is just as fresh and delicious as their regular food. Besides, an extra $3 for crab legs seems worth it when you're already paying $55 in general. There was not a single dish or item that I did not like here though I did skip majority of the salad station items. They had sashimi and sushi - pretty standard stuff, but since it was fresh, it's worth it. The standout items that I went back for second (and third!!) helpings of were the steamed fish and mac and cheese. The steamed fish was done perfectly with lots of ginger but was also not overwhelming! Their mac and cheese was so creamy, cheesy, and fancy... I loved it. The desserts are cute miniature creations that are perfect to just grab and go. There were various tarts, cakes, and pies. Their mochi was really good - perfect consistency; however, I chose the fancier desserts just because I feel I could get mochi on an everyday basis. My favorites were the trifle and panna cotta, if memory serves me right! I would consider this a buffet for special occasions, if there's such a thing. While you probably won't be able to come here often, it's totally worth it for the times that you do.

    (5)

  • Dwayne Y.

    So this was a decent buffet. We went here for Mother's Day. They had a wide variety of food. But many things were empty and it took the runners too long to keep things stocked. They had a omelette station. But the chef was gone for a while and the line got long. I never seen a station left unattended for so long. The place was busy but not that bad. But the waiters rarely, if ever, checked on us. I had to continually flag down the wait help to fill our drinks or remove out plates. The prime rib had a pretty good flavor but it wasn't tender. The pancakes and French toast was rubbery and lacked flavor. The dessert was on point. The bread pudding, mochi, pot de creme, and pies were tasty. Overall there was nothing special and we probably wouldn't go back again.

    (2)

  • S D.

    Great fresh food, nice setting, excellent service! I love the breakfast buffet and the omelet station. Always wonderful.

    (5)

  • Leslie Y.

    Kai's breakfast is pretty good, we ate there twice during our visit......... Omelets were very good...... Service is good.......

    (4)

  • Irene G.

    One of my favorite buffets! They give a discount for kama'aina so make sure to ask about it. Love their breakfast buffet and it's a good mix of American and Asian dishes. Dinner is more on the Asian side as many Japanese tourist stay at this hotel.

    (4)

  • Iris J.

    I initially made plans for Christmas Eve dinner for the family and some out of town guest. Selecting the appropriate ambiance, quality of food for the price and based upon previous positive experience, I booked reservations without much hesitation. Long story...Short; I was DISAPPOINTED!!! I was not satisfied and what we received basically failed to meet expectation. I raved about "Kai Market" @ Waikiki Sheraton and my mom never tried it, so she was insistent this would be a perfect opportunity since it was the holiday family celebration. Those in my party, made complaints on the food lacking taste (yakisoba, shrimp scampi, tray of tomoatoe/basil/cheese), main entrée(beef short ribs) was tough and only at room temperature, and some items were obviously not prepared correctly (hard rice used for cone sushi, kim chee fried) and never did I eat chop chae that was hard??? Food should definitely be at appropriate temperatures so dishes can be more appealing and enjoyable. My concern was the salad bar which only offered a very limited variety. They had a spring mix of lettuce greens, only tray with cherry tomatoes and cucumber pieces. I would have liked to have seen more options. Where was the croutons? And, why was there only 3 choices of salad dressing (which one ladle wasn't even labeled with the type). How can you offer soup, yet no crackers? The dessert was nothing fabulous. Because of the various disappointments experienced in one visit, I highly am unlikely that I will return in the future. The request was made for a quality service comment card, so I could jot my feelings down in hopes that awareness could be raised and remedies could be sought and found for other patrons could find satisfaction and enjoy their visit. What I received was a delayed response which was annoying. The greeter in the front told me she would consult with a manager and bring the comment card to my table. After about 25 minutes, I approached to check the status and nonchalantly, the girl was somewhat surprised I was not accommodated with my initial request. During my excessive wait time, I ran through my mind that my approach needed to be tactful considering my irritation was increasing and it was the holiday season so calmest needed to be maintained as a courtesy to all. After about 15 minutes later, a manager came out to address my concern. He was professional, yet was not very apologetic. He expressed general concern, and I asked what protocol was with complaints that were typically brought to management's attention. He said they would discuss issue with the cooks/prep staff in the kitchen. I questioned importance of quality control since apparently it was problematic at my visit to that buffet. I asked for a business card which should've been offered to me upfront. But, as an end result I requested a comp request for 2 given that's the number of guest from out of town I had in my party. Again, in order to find resolution the manager should have prompted instead of me. He was able to fulfill my reasonable request. It was unfortunate that I had a bad experience since previously I loved Kai Market. With this visit, my outlook has changed tremendously and going forward, I'm hoping this feedback will be a tool for others when they might be searching for a restaurant venue to meet their special occassion gathering needs. Please consider the brunch buffet rather than the dinner buffet, you may think to yourself who can mess up breakfast food LOL!!! Be safe especially since price is set high may as well be cautious before you book reservations!!!

    (2)

  • DP N.

    The selection is limited, but the quality is great. We went on a Wednesday night. Immediately went to get shrimps and poke and they were both right on the mark. The sake and ahi poke were slightly spicy but was just enough to cater to everyone's taste. Their garlic shrimp tower was an impressive structure, but I decided to topple that monster down and managed to get away gaining just two pounds on the scale. Kai ran out of roasted duck and was substituted for roasted pork belly for the moo shu style dish but with the steamed bao. You shouldn't miss that entree. The skin was roasted to a nice crisp, and the fat was barely noticeable yet the pork belly was moist and tender. The glass noodles was a cross-over between pancit, chow mein and yakisoba. It was also delicious. It kind of reminds me of bihon but served cold. I tried the three mochi they had, the purple, white and pink and the white. Awesome! I wanted some more but I didn't want to commit a deadly sin and be sent to Dante's inferno. I tried to convince our server to slip me a take-out box and he knew I was just kidding. Besides, it's not allowed. And speaking of our server, his name is Kai. We teased him and accused him of being the owner. What a great guy. Hard to understand, but a really great guy. It was $55 per person, but they give military/vet discounts so, I kicked ass. If you are going there, don't expect it to be a gourmet buffet. It's simple, yet delicious. It's limited yet the quality great. So, go. Go now!

    (5)

  • Wendy H.

    Have to go on either Fridays or Saturdays for their seafood buffet. One of our favorite buffet, great quality food! Sashimi melts in your mouth. Seafood chowder thick and full of shrimp, scallops & potatoes. Snow crab legs, black bean clams, salt/pepper shrimp, prime rib, and OMG the deserts are soo Ono my favorite is a Thai coffee custard.. 3rd year in a row birthday request & not disappointed yet.

    (4)

  • Christina Y.

    We came here to celebrate our anniversary. The buffet was enjoyable, but not too memorable. The only thing that really stuck out to me was the mango pudding. It was so fresh and delicious. The other perk that I liked about this place was the kama aina discount. Without it, I don't think it's really worth it.

    (3)

  • Rebekah T.

    I'm conflicted about Kai Market, although the food was okay and service was good - I should have gone for dinner instead of a breakfast buffet. Our waiter sat us outside with a view of the water which was a beautiful setting to wake up and enjoy a meal together. You can only eat so much breakfast, pancakes and waffles can be filling and I was more interested in the seafood, fried nice and noodles, the salad bar and the cheese and fruit than breakfast items. They seemed pretty average and not too special for a $35.00 buffet. I wasn't really into the eggs, although I tried both the quiche and the poached egg. When it mentioned that there was chilli on the bottom of the poached egg - I assumed chili peppers and not beans. The combo was weird. Everything was decent, but looking back there were items that I would have preferred in a more lunch/dinner menu. If I came back to the Sheraton and back to Kai Market, I wouldn't do the breakfast buffet again. I'd go for the steak and crab.

    (3)

  • Bam M.

    The food was great! The variety was awesome. They had various items from prime rib to poke to sashimi and huli chicken. All items were hot! and fresh. I took my grandmother here for her 81st birthday and she said it was the best buffet that she has ever been to! I would definitely go back. tip: Make reservations!

    (4)

  • Pat M.

    Wow!!! Family from Japan came to visit, so we decided to take them to Kai Market because of the yelp reviews!!! Everyone of us were impressed by the freshness and the variety of excellent seafood cold and hot abound !! Actually missed the steamed fish!! Oh well... Next time. I already want to go back!!! The Japan family were loving the fresh ahi sashimi! Ok I'm hungry, just reliving last night's dinner buffet. Finally made it back. Went there for seafood buffet and again we were happy. The sashimi was as fresh as you can get it. The Kauai prawns were huge and delish, the cute Laulau is favorite......the steamed fish was moist and yummy, the snow crab was good( kinda skinny ), the prime rib(?) was okay (kinda tough to cut with the knives that's in the table). We asked for one steak knife to share and it worked better. Okay... I'm hungry again.

    (5)

  • Rachel S.

    I like kai market. Not all their dishes are great though. The only items I found delicious were the sushi, pasta, prime rib and pork with the bun. Everything else was bland or too salty. Their desserts were ok. None of them tasted that great but it was cute because they put "happy Easter" on them since it was almost Easter. I ordered a smoothie for $7 and it was not worth it. It was too icy and barely had any taste. Even with the kama'aina discount it is still very pricey. But they validate parking and their service is good. Plus you get a view of the beach while ur eating.

    (3)

  • Jung L.

    A great in house buffet. The food is good and the service is decent. Awesome congee and some other asian menu.

    (4)

  • Liz bentz- L.

    Very disappointed! If your not staying at this hotel the Sheraton and you don't order the buffet it takes over 30 minutes to get your food! Treated like an outsider not right! everyone got meals at a different time

    (1)

  • LesliAnn K.

    Kamaaina discount...kamaaina discount of 25% which is nice because this place seems a tad bit overpriced. even with the discount. Overall I appreciate that they use local sourced produce and ingredients which is probably contributing the higher costs (along with the "being in Waikiki" effect). I'm not a buffet person, but I do appreciate that this seemed to be a "healthy" buffet in which if choosing right I could keep my tummy expansion in check. So, if you are from out of town, and say, have only one or two nights in Waiks and want a whirlwind crash course in local food, then could be a place to "experience" local cuisine. None of the dishes were too fancy, they were things i've seen before. The atmosphere and ambiance of the restaurant itself is nothing too interesting, lot of Japanese tourists and you packed in a small space. Its loud, the aisle busy with people loading plates. Two guys were playing live Hawaiian music, favorites like the Ka'au Crater boys and more. Highlight/embarassing moment: I went for my birthday, so it was a special touch that the employees gathered around and sang to me, and the band also stopped mid-song to sing along as well. Then the whole place clapped! As for the food: Sometimes not as advertised. Mostly had a cool factor because the labels made me think more about their origins Here is some of what I tried: BEST FOOD INSPIRATION (makes me wanna try at home): Kabocha mashed potatoes YUM! The steamed island market fresh fish chinese style had great texture, pure white, BUT bland. Shoyu and hot oil advertised but I think the shoyu part was missing. We asked the server to bring us shoyu to the table to use. -pineapple bbq baby back ribs with DOLE pineapple relish -kai market herb wall shrimp scampi with HAMAKUA tomatoes and fresh mushrooms -hawaiian style NIIHAU seafood chowder -soy sake braised beef short ribs topped with off with korean ko chop gang glaze - tender -miso glazed KAHUKU japanese eggplant -hamakua tomato fresh mozzarella cheese drizzled with balsamic reduction was like a deconstructed caprese...lacking any cheese?? They had maki sushi, poke, potato salad with KAHUKU corn, seaweed salad. For dessert, things like sweet potato meringue portuguese sweet bread pudding: pretty solid dessert! But I've rarely tasted a bread pudding i haven't liked so I'm not the best critic for that. fresh fruit was just cantaloupes, honeydew melon, grapes, blueberries. Felt like any other catering party at a hotel.They coulda gone bigger, more special with this, like featuring all of our fresh island fruit!!!! papayas, mangoes etc The food was good, but I think most of the delight was in finding out where it came from and acknowledging that. I got caught up in the labels. Imagining that these little clams had been one day basking in the sun in Niihau and now ended up in my soup, BOY, I was pretty tickled by that. It felt unique. It felt Hawaiian. It felt very farm to table. I felt more educated, aware of where everything was coming from. But the dishes were also just typical dishes. GOOGLE Can't compare to the best buffet I've had, which is Vegas, Wicked Spoon at the Cosmopolitan.

    (3)

  • Marcia L.

    I love love love Kai Market! My family (party of 9) came here for Mother's Day Brunch Buffet and the selection was fabulous. Wayyy better than the brunch buffet at Halekulani for about the same price. Some items: salads, lavosh, olives, hummus, cut upon order sea bass & prime rib, shrimp scampi, sashimi, poke, eggs benedict, etc. Complimentary iced tea, hot tea, coffee, cappuccinos. Definitely a must try for any foodie.

    (5)

  • Jimmy N.

    We had our 2012 Christmas dinner here. From the service, to the food, to the view, I must admit that Kai Market is quite good. Our 1-year-old got sick and our waitress was kind enough to bring us extra napkins and bags to put her clothes into. On to the important stuff... The food was excellent. The poke was well-seasoned and tender. Everything was fresh and well presented. Desserts in terms of quantity and variety were excellent because we had many local choices available on top of traditional fare. Only issue we had was that the lines were insane toward the end of the evening, only because they were fully booked. I would definitely recommend and come back to Kai Market. Reservations are a must!

    (4)

  • Courtney T.

    Kai Market offers a new take on a variety of local dishes. Their fresh, made-in-Hawaii ingredients contribute to the quality of the food, catering to both locals and tourists. The Good The food is amazing. The prime rib is salty on the outside and tender on the inside. The seafood chowder does not skimp on the seafood and is wonderfully creamy. The fact that I can eat as much fresh peanut butter mochi is mind-blowing (in a good way). The variety is astounding. There is something for everyone. I don't really care for seafood so I filled up on prime rib, beef tenderloin, roast duck and braised beef. But if you like seafood, there's the chowder, different kinds of fish and clams and stuff. The service is pretty good. The servers were helpful, attentive and refilled drinks quickly. Servers, managers and bussers pitched in to clear empty dishes away. There is a 25% kamaaina discount. Anywhere that gives kamaaina discount shows that they care about about local business. The Kai Market website is super helpful and lists prices and menus. The Bad For dinner, the price per adult head is $55 or $58, depending if it's seafood night. This might be a little pricey for a regular meal (especially for non-tourist people). However, it's just the right price for a special occasion. Parking If you park in the Sheraton garage and you remember to get your ticket validated, it's free! If you decide to valet you pay $8. Overall Fresh, local and amazingly delicious food + 25% kamaaina discount + relaxing ambiance = A satisfying, enjoyable meal.

    (4)

  • R H.

    5 guys at the Friday Saturday seafood special dinner, 25% off with Kamaaina discount from normal price of $58.00 (pre tax/tip) simply craving for some crabs. We all got a plate of crab, and although the server only gave us a few legs and asked us to come back if we want more, it was juicy and good. The good part of the review ends here. Within minutes, no more crabs. We asked how long it will be for the crab to be served, was told 15 minutes, and we ended up waiting over 25 minutes. The second round of crab was overcooked, dry, and was like chewing on beef jerkey. I think the only good part about the night was our waiter Gary, who took care of us. That's about it. Its a seafood buffet. We didn't go there to spend time at the salad bar, or choose which cake to eat. We went there to eat crabs. $60 for the meal, spending most of our time waiting was not worth it.

    (1)

  • Victoria G.

    Delicious buffet and everything is fresh and of higher quality. Definitely worth the price!! Also, great view of the ocean. The restaurant is well-maintained and the management is great!! :)

    (5)

  • Darrel T.

    I'm going to echo Ms J.'s review. Went for dinner a couple nights ago, the food was average, but the price was high. If not for the kama'aina discount I might have been a little upset. I'll cover a couple of the dishes: Prime rib: 3 stars, nothing special here Steamed fish: 2 stars, no flavor at all Fried rice: 2 stars, flavor was weak Shoyu chicken: 3 stars, so-so Crispy pork belly and rolls: 4 stars, this one was not bad Mashed potatoes: 1 star, pretty sure this was instant. Dessert bar: 4 stars, this was actually pretty good. For this price I would expect most of the fare to be around 3 stars or better. I know there are always a couple items at a buffet that aren't delicious, but when your entire main offering is below standards, that is not forgivable.

    (2)

  • Vivian H.

    Must have: clams in black bean sauce, island seafood chowder, whole island fish, desserts We're on the hunt for a restaurant for our family dinner after our wedding ceremony. We wanted to try a few places and see what would work with the tastes of our guests and what we were looking for. Kai Market is in the Sheraton Waikiki with validated valet parking. The restaurant itself sits close to the beach and there is a beautiful view if you sit on the outside patio. It seems to be a cleaner buffet that is well maintained. The food selection doesn't seem like a lot but it is of good quality. It is on the pricier side so me, being the cheapie, stuffed myself silly to feel like I got my "money's worth". Not a good idea. I found that I had to get up and walk around a bit during my meal! I stuck close to the shrimp cocktail (I love shrimp!) and clams in black bean sauce. The island seafood chowder was one of the best ones I've had in Hawaii. I also enjoyed the whole island fish which is offered on the "Seafood Nights". Then the desserts! They were very cute and delicious. My fiance is not much of a mochi eater (unless it's mochi ice cream!) and really liked the mochi offerings which were pillowy soft. All in all it was a good meal with a beautiful view. I just don't know if I should allow myself to feel THAT full on my wedding night!

    (4)

  • Mahina C.

    I'm not the biggest seafood fan, actually to be honest i'm not a fan at all. It's great for large parties, and the staff is friendly but the price even for kamaaina is cray cray! This place breaks even my savings :( Great assortment of dishes, they even had cake noodles! but the best by far was the sweetness galore! buffet of pies, cakes, tapioca's, and creations of their own. creative, innovative, and delicious!

    (3)

  • Jenna S.

    Um, how does this place get such good reviews? I went to the Saturday night Seafood Buffet. Such a waste of money, even with my Kamaaina discount. The food was really below average; the crab didn't have taste, you can't even pick it yourself, it's behind the carving station with the steamed fish that tasted bleh and was cold. Most of the hot offerings were warm or cold and most of the seafood tasted like it was just tossed in oyster sauce. I felt like I was in a cafeteria. This was the first time I came to a crab buffet and didn't get more than one plate of it. The best thing I ate didn't require any cooking, the SASHIMI! The plantation iced tea also tasted watered down. If you want a good crab buffet go to the Oceanarium. There's is SO much more tasty food and crab there. Plus the parking blows. Drove to the top of Sheraton parking to find out there was none, so I parked at the Royal Hawaiian.

    (1)

  • Judy G.

    Walked in here for the first time tonight for my dad's birthdsy dinner and I left very happy (maybe not so much my tummy). The dinner menu was very diverse and I liked that it had an assortment of Hawaiian, Chinese, Japanese, american, etc dishes to appeal to just about anyone and everyone's taste. The dishes were always pretty fully stacked (the chefs took care to fill plates that were near empty). Aside from the amazing dinner, the dessert was even more to die for and I'm pretty sure that's what sent me into a food coma shortly after eating. There is this coffee jello dessert that is really good. It tastes like gelatinous coffee but I'm assuming/hoping with less caffeine. I didn't try any of their cakes, but my sister didn't particularly care for the blueberry and strawberry cheesecakes- said they tasted a bit stale. I did try the key lime pie though, and I thought that was a bit too sour for my taste. True key Lime lovers should not have a problem though! Show them your local ID and get 20% off! I'd come back :)

    (4)

  • Makai H.

    We came for the breakfast buffet... Pros: Oceanside seating, infinity pool nearby added to tropical/resort ambiance, GREAT service, wide selection of breakfast items and Japanese dishes, and the fruits very fresh & sweet. Try the chili eggs Benedict-very yummy. Cons: You'll need to visit the juice bar for refills on POG! Price a bit higher than what I'd pay, although the ambiance and service make up for it and some!

    (4)

  • Ray L.

    We are Hawaii residents and very frequent patrons of the Kai Marketplace. Our visits are about once every other month and we find special occasions to make a visit to the Kai Market. We recently dined there in a party of 8 adults celebrating my fathers birthday. We were promptly seated by the always gracious staff and drink orders taken by our waiter. Everything was almost the same which was great but we really noticed that the menu items were not prepared in the usual manner. A few of the dishes were just not cooked right. For example one of our favorites are the blackbean clams. On this night the clams were not cooked well and almost all of the clams were left unopened. Even as the new batch were brought out, it was still not up to par as we have always come to expect. It was also a very busy evening with lines for most of the food areas but on one period, the chowder was not stocked and left empty for a period of time. We all discussed about how there was a noticable lack in the quality of the food that night. I'm not sure that the hefty price of the buffet should result in examples of such. This was a high disappointment for this regular patron.

    (2)

  • Daniel G.

    I've only tried their awesome dinner buffet so I wanted to try their breakfast. Packed up the fam and headed out! We were greeted with big smiles and a lovely view. They had a small selection for a buffet but as long as there was a omelette station, we were going to be fine. If you didn't want an omelette, they have scrambled eggs or you can ask the omelette chef for over-easy or sunny side up eggs. They also have mini pancakes, different types of yogurt with yummy healthy toppings, different types of breads, bagles and pastries. Oh, and lots of fruits. Can you imagine all you can eat bananas??? Yup they had that. The waitress was great, the Hostess was cute, the view of the Ocean and Diamond Head in the background...felt like I was on vacation! LOVE IT!!!

    (4)

  • Jennifer K.

    I've admired the desserts at Kai Market from afar for quite a while. So I was semi-excited to get the chance to try it for the first time last week. We decided to eat there for my friend's birthday and although I quite enjoyed it, I'm not sure if the quality of the food quite matches the price. I do really like that the food there is all locally grown, fresh, and organic though. The restaurant is located in Sheraton Hotel in Waikiki right by their pool and also includes out door seating. It's $55 for adults on Sun-Thurs and $24.50 for children. There's also a kamaaina discount of 25% off. But if you have a party of 6 people or more, there's a mandatory 18% gratuity and you pretty much lose much of your discount -___-. We were there on a Monday, which is their Plantation night.They had roast duck with bao buns, steamed mussels in coconut thai curry, singapore style manila clams, roasted pork loin with lehua honey glaze, kahuku shrimp scampi, and kahlua roast duck with mango chutney. That's the menu for Monday and Wednesday nights. They have seafood nights on Fridays and Saturdays, and Paniolo Nights on Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday. They also have poke, various salads, kim chee fried rice, prime rib, fresh island fish, and various desserts served daily. Of everything I tried, I liked their roast duck with bao buns (although it was nothing special compared to the ones you can get at any Chinese restaurant), the roast duck, and the clams the most. I was looking forward to the kim chee fried rice but found it to be quite dry and lacking of any kim chee flavor. The coconut thai curry tasted nothing like curry and resembled cheese instead. The Kahuku shrimps were of a good quality but lacked in flavor. Oh they also had seafood chowder! I can't believe I nearly forgot to mention that. That was probably my favorite out of all the savory food items. I also tried a number of their desserts but sadly I quite stuffed by that point and couldn't take more than a few bites of everything. I especially enjoyed their bread pudding, coffee pudding, panna cotta, and mango pudding (or at least it had mango in the name). They also had a good macadamia haupia pie which I think is from Ted's Bakery...it sure tasted like it at least. Just in case if anyone is wondering, their Paniolo Night menu consists of: glazed short ribs with jack daniels bourbon sauce, kona coffee dry rubbed baby back ribs slow cooked in bbq sauce, chinese salt and pepper kahuku head on shrimp, and red wine braised boneless short rib. On their Seafood Nights, you can look forward to steamed snow crab legs with garlic and big island meyer lemon infused drawn butter, manila clams flavored with black bean, garlic, and ginger, soy sake braised beef short-ribs with korean kim chee and koo cha jang sauce, chinese salt and pepper kahuku head-on shrimp, chef's special seasonal pasta, and crispy fried cake noodle with fresh seafood sauce.

    (4)

  • Dan M.

    Oh, buffets. The few times in life where you can indulge your appetite to your maximum potential and say "I've conquered this motha'." The buffet at Kai Market is pretty damn good. Their salt-crusted prime rib is insanely tasty. The Hawaiian-style potato salad was a constant draw. The desert melody that featured pies, cheesecakes, and their incredible Bread Pudding with Vanilla Bean drizzle was literally the cherry on top of the invisible cake. Kai Market features a good amount of delectable goods that would satisfy the foodie in most of us...for better or for worse. But is it the BEST?? No. Perhaps, I am spoiled by the incomparable imagination of Las Vegas buffets, where you literally have the entire world of cuisine at your disposal. I'm looking at you, Wynn buffet. Those are the kind of buffets where you don't eat to get full. You eat to overload your senses first...AND THEN roll yourself out. Kai Market does keep it fresh, offering a lot of tastes from around the island. I usually stay away from seafood at buffets 'cause I'm weird like that. But I couldn't help try the ahi poke and iron-skillet steamed mussels as they always had new batches of it fly out of the kitchen. One of the out-of-nowhere highlights was the roasted duck. So freakin' good. Place it in the soft and chewy buns right next to it, throw in a little cilantro and sprinkle on the hoisin dipping sauce... ::wipes drool off keyboard:: Despite it being a good buffet, $55 dollars is kind of hard to swallow (especially since you have all that food in you already, har har). Does it feel like I've eaten $55 worth of food afterwards? Not sure... Plus the fact that you have to tip 15-20% MORE, when we only saw our server twice throughout the whole meal, makes it a really pricey dinner. I think if they had a little more variety while keeping the quality as high as they already have it MIGHT make it worth the price of admission. Still, it was a meal I carried with me onto the following day as it was the worst food coma I've ever had. But totally worth it. 31 Yelps Review Challenge - October 2012 #16/31

    (4)

  • Tyra S.

    First time I thought it was a close call between Kahala buffet with dolphins and this place. But Kahala is still tops. It's nice if u wanna stay in Waikiki. Ocean front seating.

    (4)

  • Caryn W.

    Went back to Kai Market last night to celebrate my dad's birthday. There were WAY more people than the last time I went. There were lines of people waiting to grab food from the buffet. When we got there, there was a huge group of Japanese tourists in front of us. Fortunately, they were all together, so we got helped and seated right away. We arrived a half-hour early, but they still took us to sit down. Saturdays are "seafood" nights, so there were lots of seafood offerings, including manila clams, crab legs, butterfish, sashimi, poke, and shrimp dishes. The butterfish was really tasty, but my favorite dish was a portobello mushroom ravioli. I got one every time I went up to the buffet line. I also liked the salads that were offered, especially this spinach salad with strawberries and walnuts. The dessert offerings were pretty good this time around as well. I had an Okinawan sweet potato cheesecake that was really tasty. The tapioca pudding halo halo style was good too. I was pretty full by the time I ate dessert so I couldn't try anything else. My mom and brother hadn't gone to Kai Market before, and I could tell that they really enjoyed the food by the amount they ate. I can't wait to go again for my fiancee's birthday...3 more months to go.

    (5)

  • Diana T.

    Came here yesterday for Valentine's day as a surprise from my boyfriend. I hadn't even heard of the place and didn't know what kind of food they served. I just remembered reading that they had an isle discount offer for the iDcard. We had reservations but the line was so long we ended up waiting a little more - until around 7:30 (reservations at 7). We did arrive a bit late thanks to Waikiki traffic, but we were still standing in line for at least 10-15 minutes. Turned out even though there was a long line, there was only one person working at the front, and on top of that he was on the phone! No wonder we were waiting so long! Poor guy looked overwhelmed but as soon as he was off the phone, the line moved quickly. Every woman was given a rose, as it was Valentine's Day, which is always a nice touch. On top of that, there was a complimentary glass of pink champagne for each of-age diner, which was quite good. So that is always a plus. I got around to getting some food for the buffet. I started on the left side to get some soup and salad (and HUMMUS! YUMMM) to start myself off. It was interesting because there was a guy there who was putting salad on his plate... and then he decided to pick up a leaf (with the tongs, mind you) and ate it (again, with the tongs). WHAT!? I was so shocked! And then he saw that I saw him so he said "It just looked so good, I HAD to try it!" Oh my goodness. People these days. I went back to the table and ate all of my salad, soup, and hummus like a happy girl. After that I was already a little more than half-full (darn filling hummus). But I still didn't feel like eating heavy foods yet, so I went back to the left side of the bar for some sushi and sashimi. The fish tasted SO fresh it blew me away. The only thing that wasn't so pleasant for me was the oyster. That was a little too fresh - I almost felt like I was drinking salt water. Blegh. I'm sure some people love their oysters like that but I'll pass. After my sushi, I was even more full. So I waited a bit and then made a beeline for the entrees (starting from the right side of the entrees). I got some truffle mac and cheese, some lamb with mashed kabocha, their salt-encrusted prime rib, and their market fish, which was a hong-kong style steamed white fish. SO AMAZING. I love how all of the food here just tastes so amazingly fresh and home made and not processed and amazing. And did I say amazing? It was so good! After that, of course, I went for the desserts (chocolate fountain!). They were also delicious. I didn't have one of everything but I had a lot of strawberries and a rice krispy piece (with chocolate), and some coffee custard. I also had bites of my boyfriends desserts, the mango custard, lemongrass custard, and key lime tart. After being completely STUFFED, we got the bill - not only did they not accept the iDcard because it was Valentine's Day, but their prices were also jacked up a bit from normal. Sad day! :( Oh well. We'll probably be back a while down the line, when our wallets are able to handle it.

    (4)

  • Mari K.

    Took my parents here for Father's Day dinner last night. It was our first time and we thoroughly enjoyed it! Upon checking in for our reservation, they asked us if we were Kama'aina and asked for our ID. Didn't know it till the check came, but we got 25% OFF! Such a great offer for locals and for my wallet. I wish we got seated outside looking at the ocean, but we were seated inside (its ok because the weather was horrible lol). The selection of food was great. My mom has many allergies from alcohol to seafood to chocolate, but she was able to find things she could eat and could get enough to eat as well. I enjoyed the salads I ate - fresh Nalo greens and goma dressing, the potato salad, and thai salad (so good). There were many hot dishes as well; my favotires were - spinach goat cheese gratan, mac & cheese, grilled asparagus with garlic, and grilled potatoes were to die for! There was also a BBQ station outside where you could get steaks, hot dogs, corn, etc. The quality of the food was really good too. You could tell they use fresh ingredients and try to incorporate local products, which I am a big fan for. The dessert selection really was something else. I didn't think they could have any more dessert! I tried the green tea-azuki-haupia, peanut butter mochi, chocolate haupia pie, chocolate pudding.... ALL SO GOOD! I wish I had more space in my stomach to eat more than just one bite from each dessert! All in all, I really liked this buffet (I don't usually do well with buffets). The only downfall was the service. Our waitress never refilled my tea and took 15 minutes to bring our check out. She hardly came around, rather we had to flag her down many times. Doesn't matter, I was full and happy and I'll be back.... someday :)

    (4)

  • Julie N.

    They have KAMAAINA DISCOUNT! It's pretty expensive, and I wish they had more selection... The prime rib was awesome and the sashimi is good. The other foods are just typical: fried rice, fried noodles, breads, fruits, cold pasta salad, some seafood, bread pudding, almond float, cheesecake, etc. The have an expresso machine on the buffet line, which is pretty cool. I like the atmosphere, since it's right by the ocean and the outdoor bar is nice. There is also outside seating too. You can park for free with validation, either self parking or valet.

    (4)

  • B B.

    Kai Market Breakfast Buffet has a great Kamaaina rate of 22$ per person and 4 hours free validated parking in the Sheraton Garage. Nice selection of Japanese items and Local fare choices. Good view from patio and not very crowded for a Saturday morning. Surprisingly, there were not many birds vying to eat our breakfast on the lanai. Good selection of fresh fruit, meats, eggs Benedict, scrambled eggs, jook, pastries, french toast, yogurt bar, sweet and savory items, a cappuccino/hot chocolate machine & a custom made omelette station. Good place to take family or friends who are visiting the Islands as one local ID covers the table for discount rate.

    (4)

  • Kim M.

    Mother's Day Brunch Buffet 2012 10:30am-3:00pm (last seating at 2:30pm) Adults are $55; Kids (ages 6-12) are $24.50 Kai Market Brunch Buffet is a Mother's Day tradition in our family. Reservations are pretty much mandatory for this kind of specialty buffet bc the spread much more elaborate than usual. And if you're a picky eater, you may want to check the menu before making any sort of reservation bc it's $55 a head. (Check the menu on the Kai Market page on the Sheraton Waikiki website.) Every year there's always a carving station. My favorite carved-to-order item was the Alaea salt crusted slow-roasted Prime Rib with horseradish sour cream and natural au jus. Everything is carved to order, so you're getting a juicy piece every time. The carving station also featured an island steamed snapper (Chinese style) this year. (I ate one of the eyeballs!) The omelet station is always crazy busy, so if you want one, it may be wise to hit that up first (if you've secured a 10:30am seating). This year I avoided the omelet station altogether bc there were so many other things to try. I had my eye on the roast duck with bao buns and hoisin.. I had 3 servings of that. LOL. The roast duck made up for the absent Eggs Benedict that they normally serve. There was also a pancake station this year! It smelt sooo good that the bf and I had a couple pancakes. (I really hate to fill up on those generic breakfast foods, but it smelt way too good to pass up.) The turkey with pipikaula stuffing, turkey giblet gravy, and cranberry jam was a hit with my family. It was kind of nice having such cliché Thanksgiving dishes outside of the winter holidays. Hah. As far as the desserts go, I liked the Bread Pudding with Hawaiian vanilla anglaise the most. I went for it 3x. lol. The halo halo was delicious, too. Hah, but my little sister couldn't stay away from the chocolate fondue fountain... Overall, I like the Mother's Day spread. $55 does, however, seem like a lot per person... I'm so glad I don't have to pay. Yelp 365 - #287/265

    (4)

  • Michelle M.

    Kai Market Breakfast Buffet is okay with your basic items and a very good section for Japanese items like Miso Soup, Natto, Rice Soup, Tofu and Tsukemono NICE! we had a table near the beach but the only thing birds would fly around. Open air patio and views can be great if seated in a perfect spot. As for the price it can be a little expensive

    (2)

  • Scott M.

    For $58 a head you kinda expect some decent quality for a buffet. Prime rib was good. Dessert was good. There was a good selection of dessert. Sashimi was nice for the most part- a little discolored but more than enough quantity to pick around the dirty pieces. Crab was good too, some were overcooked - meat shriveled down to almost nothing. But, like the sashimi, more than enough to make up for it. Service sucked though. We were just told to go and eat. No offer of drinks any drinks that the buffet came with. We had to ask for everything. No refills until we asked. Poor plate clearing - we had a pile going a few times. When making reservations, we were asked if there was an occasion we were celebrating which we said birthday. Not sure what it was for as we never had anything for it nor did they mention it. I did see some pictures in yelp tho so maybe we missed out. We also seem to have had the same waiter another poster had. Prob may have made the whole difference in our experience. Disappointing.

    (2)

  • Nat N.

    Buffets are always a crap shoot - some are good, most are bad. Let's face it - since the food is made in mass quantities and is displayed for long periods of time, it's unrealistic to expect much. Kai Market is one of the good ones. This was my first visit to Kai Market, which is located in the Sheraton Waikiki. We went at 6:30 pm on a Friday evening and were greeted by a beautiful sunset off of Waikiki. Unlike most buffets (such as Tsukiji's and Makino Chaya), you won't find yourself waiting in line just to get your food. When we got there there were no lines at any of the food stations. Yay! Instant gratification. It was seafood night, and boy did they have a nice selection of seafood. My favorite items were the clams, garlic prawns, and of course, the crab legs. The seafood chowder reminded me of the chowder from the San Francisco Wharf. I had to make an effort not to go up for my second bowl because I did not want to waste space in my stomach on the soup alone. They also offer prime rib on the buffet line, which balanced out the plate of crab that I devoured. Try it with the mashed potatoes - yummers. The dessert section has something for everyone - cakes, pies, mochi, chi chi dango. After you gorge at the buffet line, you can head straight to the beach from the restaurant to walk it all off.

    (4)

  • Avin B.

    Best buffet in town, IMO. Expensive but worth it if you can eat a lot! Their poki and sashimi were fresh from pier 38 (as stated)...varieties of desserts. I went on Saturday for the snow crabs and prime rib. If it had Alaskan king crab or Dungeness crab I would give it a 5star. Nice ocean view along with the infinity pool. It's in the Sheraton hotel!

    (4)

  • Russell C.

    Firstly Maybe they should consider a name change mainly because from the 4 days I stayed here at the Sheraton , I did not know it was a buffet/restaurant till the last night with the help of my trusty yelp mobile app. We decided on going there because the trip has made all of us exhausted and we got half off for staying starhot. Got there at 8pm but waited awhile because of the spectacular fireworks show going on beachside. So we finally sit down at 815 and by then most of the employees looked tired and the food had been sitting a while like it was ready to shut down. Highlights for me from the food choices were the spinach and goat cheese au gratin, and the prime rib. Everything else for me was inline with most buffets ice been too. Desserts were great, would have eaten way more of that if I didn't have 2 1/2 slices of cheesecake left over from the Cheesecake Factory the prior night . But it was a ok experience maybe next time we'll try earlier in the evening and on a Better themed night like seafood night.

    (3)

  • Holly B.

    With all the hype about this "international" buffet, I was expecting awesome. It was OK, but the soup was lukewarm, and the attention to keeping the buffet stocked and clean was lacking...Still the view and sunset was priceless, though the cost of the buffet was expensive for the value.

    (3)

  • Max K.

    Had dinner there earlier tonight and tonight's theme was the Paniolo Buffet. For a buffet that normally costs $55.00, I expected a little better. I'm not saying the food was bad but when you go to a buffet that costs that much you don't expect to have hamburgers and hot dogs on part of the buffet line. To start I had a few plates of sushi (California Roll with Unagi), ahi poke ,tako poke and shrimp cocktail. The ahi poke was very fresh and flavorful and the tako was pretty good too. You really can't do much with shrimp cocktail and the cocktail sauce was standard. I also tried the long rice salad, the Thai green papaya salad and more sushi and ahi poke (again). The next few plates consisted of a little bit of the entrees they have. I had some kalbi, oyster sauce chicken, salt and pepper Kahuku prawns, steamed asparagus, Chinese-style steamed fish, prime rib, Kukui Brand Kim Chee Sausage fried rice, beef stew and creamed spinach. The dessert table was well stocked with desserts like... Mango Pudding with Li Hing Pineapple, Chichi Dango, Coconut Mochi with Azuki Beans, Mochi with Peanut Butter, Macadamia Nut Cream Pie, Key Lime Pie, Almond Float, Green Tea Mousse, Lemongrass Panacotta, Bread Pudding with Vanilla Glaze, Molokai Halo Halo Tapioca, Calamansi Lime Tart, Strawberry Cream Pie, Thai Coffee Custard, Red Velvet Cake, and Mango Cheesecake and more.... The Plantation Iced Tea was very tasty and came with the buffet. They also have this new filtered water system and the iced water was very refreshing also. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed the food and the desserts and the "FREE" parking with the validation but just wished there were more to the food lines.

    (4)

  • Joann Y.

    Overall very good buffet. The staff was polite and the food was great. There was a large array of foods, and I especially loved the desserts. Additionally, the food had a bit of an Asian, Hawaiian flair. I didn't like the prime rib that much but I did enjoy the short ribs, onaga, and poke. It was great how we were seated right next to the beach. I loved the ocean scent and breeze. There was also a Polynesian fire dancer that put on a great show. I was very satisfied!

    (4)

  • Clarissa M.

    I am not a frequent roller of buffets. Went here with a party of ten. Towards the back of Sheraton Hotel and near the shore beach of Waikiki this place was dead on with location and view. The array of items were fewer than what I would expect at buffets. But what they lack in quantity they make up for quality. The salad bar, entrees, seafood, assortment of cheeses and hummus, dessert, and the chocolate fondue. Everything was tasty and fresh during our dinner service. Kan was our server who attended to our needs with a great attitude and was very attentive. For large parties I do recommend this joint - everyone will be able to try something different and walk away content.

    (4)

  • Christine A.

    Aghh where to start.... My husband and I wanted to go to a breakfast buffet. We didn't realizing the price until we sat down $70.00 for 2 for breakfast!!!!! After we paid I was hoping for the most amazing breakfast, but no that's not the case. The pancakes tasted as if they were pre frozen and than warmed up in the microwave. Eggs were slimmy and not cooked all the way. I know they have a large Asian population here, but really fried rice and noodles for breakfast. This was such a waste of money for terrible food that wasn't fresh at all. So disappointed with that money we could of gone to a nice dinner! Save your money go somewhere else!

    (1)

  • Jerrene T.

    My coworkers and I took a vote on where we would do our annual Christmas party and this place won out! I can see why! Food was delicious and the ambiance couldn't have been better! Oh and service was EXCEPTIONAL! Our waitress was on top of our drinks and they never got past half full. She was really nice and took the time to talk to us about Christmas parties. She didn't overstay her welcome or conversation. It was enough that we felt like we were appreciated but not too much that we were like get away so we can gorge! Food was delicious. The appetizers were yum-o and the cheese was really good. I think I could eat the sushi and poke all day too! The oxtail soup was almost better than Kam Bowl! It's making my mouth water thinking about it. The prime rib was awesome esepcially since they gave me the end piece! YAY! The desserts were alright... I think they were the least favorite of everything because we had eaten so much that it wasn't that awesome. My tastebuds were pooped by that point anyway. Our seats were near the end and by the windows so we could watch the sunset and listen to the music from Christian Yrizarry and David Asing. I thought that it was really nice. I appreciated the awesome music! Our waitress like I said earlier, was very accomodating. She always was there when we needed her. I would totally come here again especially since they give kamaaina discount! Oh and they validate parking for four hours!

    (5)

  • Mai L.

    I read the reviews for this buffet and thought it was a good choice...wrong. I was disappointed. I don't know if the other nights offered a better selection of food, but my boyfriend and I came here on a Sunday night and it did not offer a large variety of food. I don't mind paying a good sum of money for a good meal, but in my opinion this was not worth the cost. Pros: Short wait in line Good seats (could see/hear entertainment outside-may be enjoyable) Good drinks Cons: Not enough variety of food Food was not that great Waiters are not attentive The cost for the buffet is not worth it

    (2)

  • Kelly G.

    Our family just came in to celebrate my Mother's 67th Birthday ... sadly Kai Market did not live up to all the hype we have been reading & hearing about ! the food was just average with nothing being overly impressive .... for the price tag you think you would want to go back for seconds of something !! Anyway we still had fun enjoying each others company and walking the grounds of the Sheraton... renovations look beautiful !!

    (3)

  • Ms. G.

    Pretty good as Waikiki buffets go. There aren't a lot it seems. Friday/Saturday are seafood nights and price is $58/person. Note in the Go Oahu mini book you can pick up on the street there is a $10/off coupon for up to 4 people. You can make reservations on the Sheraton website as well to avoid the long waits. We went at 6:30pm on a Friday night and it wasn't packed. Everything was pretty good (note buffet does not include drinks of any kind). There were oysters, prime rib, snow crab legs (just ok), scallops, fish, shrimp (just to name a few), and desserts to die for. Leave room! It's on the pricey side, but if you want a seafood buffet this is the one.

    (4)

  • Janice H.

    Did I go on an "off" night? Read the 4 and 5-star reviews, intentionally went without lunch in anticipation for an onolicious meal and the bf raved about how delicious this was & that was when he went several months ago. My expectations were high. Sheraton is a quality, top-notch brand and I've tasted their catered food before. Gourmet, onolicious stuff. Not tonight, though. Food was OK and just that. We didn't end up getting seconds of anything, not even dessert. A $8 plate lunch from a lunch wagon in downtown would've been better and cheaper. Bf had eaten here before & his friend had been there 3x --- each had nothing but marvelous things to say. We talked to the manager & he was very apologetic, attentive and a true gentleman. He offered his card, told us to contact him the next time we decided to eat there again. We felt bad because he truly was sorry, but it wasn't his fault the food was bland. Said the executive chef was off that night. I'm chalking this up to a fluke & going to have to come back here at a later time to try again. MISC 1) Otherwise, our waiter was extremely attentive, never let our glasses stay empty for long & periodically stopped by our table to make sure we were doing OK. 2) Cost for parking after they validate your ticket: FREE! You can get it validated at the front where the hostesses are or your waiter/waitress can do it for you. 3) Call ahead to make reservations & if you're a Hawai'i resident, ask for the kama'aina discount to get 25% off of your bill! 4) Wish they'd designate which nights are Paniolo/BBQ nights & which are seafood nights. Thursday = Paniolo/BBQ night, that much I know. Went in thinking it was seafood night. 5) $55.00 per adult on seafood and paniolo/BBQ nights (Sun, Tues, Thurs, Fri & Sat). $51 for Mon nights.

    (2)

  • Mark Y.

    I consider myself a buffet expert and one thing I know is that you need to attack a buffet with a predetermined strategy. You can always spot the buffet novices because on their first visit to the buffet table, they come back with a big pile of everything (usually on 2 plates). With gusto, they bravely dive head first into their huge mounds of food. But, about halfway through, they run out of steam and are done before they can even sample the desserts....sigh. I've learned from my many decades of buffet training that you need to have a plan. 1. RECONNAISSANCE: Determine what's in the spread BEFORE grabbing a plate. 2. STRATEGIZE: Formulate a game plan so you know what sectors to hit first, second, third, etc. 3. CHARGE! Attack with extreme prejudice. 4. THE COUP DE GRACE: Savor your victory with a nice after dinner drink. On a recent visit to Kai Market, I employed all these tactics to a rousing triumph. I was able to sample pretty much everything there (in tiny portions) then on subsequent trips to the buffet, I could focus on the dishes that I enjoyed the most. Most dishes were good but these were the things that I thought were exceptional: BBQ skirt steak with red wine reduction Jack Daniel's glazed short ribs Chef's preparation fresh fish Ahi Poke Kim Chee/Portuguese sausage garlic fried rice Pipikaula mac and cheese Molokai Potato salad Assorted cheese board The desserts were pretty good like the bread pudding and the pot de creme but nothing stood out as being superb. As far as atmosphere, I'd say it's OK. A good thing is you can sit on the lower level which is near the hotel pool and watch all the good looking pool users walking by. *WARNING: This can also be a bad thing. For example, if you were on a date and have wandering eyes, then you should probably sit upstairs! (Believe me, I speak from experience).

    (4)

  • Erin Y.

    My first experience at Kai Market, and I will SURELY be back. Well, I can't pass up a good deal. Plus I have two children, ages 1-1/2 and 4-1/2. Kids under 6 eat for FREE, and 25% Kamaaina discount is a KILLER DEAL for a buffet!!! Plus we went on Paniolo night and got a beer koozie, in the shape of a boot. Super cute for my daughter (I told her it was a sock)! The decor is nice and comfortable. The tables are large and roomy. Everything looks clean and the views are great. No complaints here. Though it is marked $$$$ in terms of price, its not really a "special occasion" type of place. The food was pretty good. I would have been happier with more selection, but I know, this is not Prince Court Buffet. The food was cooked well and the presentation (for a buffet) was outstanding. My favorite was the mac and cheese (oh, get there when there's a new pan so you can get the slightly burnt tops), and the fried rice. The desserts were ok, but lacking a soft serve machine is a definite -1. The service was on point, plates cleared timely, and drinks refilled promptly. All in all a great experience. Valet park for free with validation up to 2 hours, self park for free for up to 4 hours with validation. Happy eating!

    (4)

  • Tammy L.

    I came here for Christmas Eve dinner with the family this year, and we all enjoyed it. As with most buffets, some things were definitely better than others. The good: Molokai potatoes, clam chowder (tender clams bc they're stewed for 24 hrs!), cooked baby bok choy, steamed fish, crab legs. The meh: desserts. I thought the pies were pretty good (strawberry guava--yum), but the rest were not very well executed. Some of the dessert portions were just too big--at a buffet, desserts should be kept small so folks can try lots of stuff without wasting a lot of food. Some of the small tart-type items were dry, some just plain didn't taste good. Their key lime tart was a scary shade of green! I would come back for the seafood and pretty nice view, but save some room for dessert elsewhere!

    (4)

  • Russel M.

    Really great Buffet! We hardly ever go to a buffet but this is on the highend side and I had a coupon for half off. Overall we felt the food was average plus or better. Some dishes were very good. Excellent Sashimi, Prime Rib, Clam Chowder, etc. Kama'aina discount available. Service was great.

    (4)

  • Sheena C.

    I LOVE VEGAS. I LOVE VEGAS BUFFETS. With that said, Kai Market is the BEST buffet I've been to--ever!!! I went on a Friday (25% kama'aina discount & kids FREE!) and had all you can eat snow crab, onaga, prime rib, kal bi, and BOMB poke' and sashimi. Local buffets (and some Vegas ones) usually have poke' and sashimi, but the quality of it is always crap. Kai Market's poke' and sashimi were fresh, soft, and delish! Kapena played live, my fam and I stuffed our faces until we had to unbutton our pants, and my husband almost burst into tears bc he wanted to eat more but just couldn't manage to. Did I mention the dessert? Peanut butter-filled mochi? Molokai sweet bread pudding? Can I please go back like, right now?! Kama'aina is about $45 during seafood buffet, and I am more than happy with that price for the quality and selection of the food. I'd choose Kai Market over any fine dining place any day. P.S. Best to call for reservations if dining on a weekend for dinner.

    (5)

  • Max Y.

    Kai Market is situated in Sheraton Hotel - Waikiki. They offer an "All You Can Eat" Fresh Seafood Buffet on Friday and Saturday nights. The buffet is regularly priced at $58 per person - kinda pricy in itself. Here's the kicker - if you're a Kama'aina, and aren't we all, you get 25% off making it now only $43.50 per. That's a saving of $14.50! Kicker #2 - if anyone in your party is 62 yrs or older, they now qualify for the "Senior's Discount" making it a staggering $39.00 per senior. That's a 33% discount! Kicker #3 - buffet includes coffee, hot tea, iced tea, or Plantation Iced Tea! Kicker #4 - Self-Parking is FREE with validation! The discounts aren't promoted on their website so you need to mention them at arrival. Only bummer was having a party of 6 or more will automatically tack on an 18% gratuity to your bill. Still the service was great and everyone was friendly. Water and beverages were topped off and dishes were cleared immediately off our table. Pretty much earned the 18%. The buffet included: Cold Offerings - poke, maguro sashimi, sushi (inari and maki), salad, lavosh Hot Offerings - seafood chowder, white rice, laulau, short-ribs, salt/pepper shrimp, clams, fried noodles, paella, scallop/shrimp newburg, kimchee fried rice, potato puree Carvery - steamed Onaga, prime rib, snow crab, dungeness crab Dessert - mango pudding, bread pudding, tapioca, red velvet cake, cheesecakes, mochi and MORE Initially you might become disappointed due to the smaller than usual amount of selections. Keep in mind that they concentrated on quality and not quantity. Virtually everything was onolicious. We're not talking Makino or Todai but a Vegas quality type buffet. Can't wait to return.

    (5)

  • Angel A.

    It was good but not &52 worth of good. The dessert was the best part. What gets this place three stars Is the " service fee" since when am I charged to eat at a buffet? I know it's a tip but it was very confusing. I'm sure they rack up on the tourist that don't understand that the tip is already included. I'm a Very good tipper 20% at least when the service is good. It was good but they cheat their servers with a customer like me.

    (3)

  • Renee C.

    Have eaten dinner here before and it was fabulous. So, wanted to try the breakfast. Just made a reservation and was told they don't take any for breakfast. bummer. So, I spoke with the manager and he was so accommodating and willing to take our reservation. It's for our staff Christmas party, so we didn't want to take a chance. Kudos to the customer service we got here. While I'm sure food is going to be good, good customer service is what is rare and will keep folks coming back!

    (5)

  • Chad Y.

    Now, I'm not a huge fan of buffet's, however I could certainly appreciate a good selection of food that doesn't require me to pick only one or two items. Kai Market offers just that, an interesting selection of menu items with decent service and a great ambiance. Service left something to be desired and the price is on the tad higher side, however don't let that deter you. The menu features local ingredients prepared in a plethora of ways. They feature a good selection of salads, sushi, and other appetizer items while the main entree line is where you really go. The selection is wide ranging whether you want beef, vegetables, chicken, pork, or seafood. The alae salt prime rib is good, but nothing truly stellar that sets it apart and the steamed monchong was a healthy portion, however just lacked the final umph in flavor to take it to the top. That statement could be made for a lot of their items, it was good, but nothing truly wow-ing or stellar. Service was ok, it was on the busier side, however drinks went empty and plates took awhile. It was your ordinary buffet service, however I expected just a bit more for the price and the fact that it is Sheraton. Ambiance is nice, however you may want to avoid the tables along the windows overlooking the bar area and the floor as it is hard to get in and out of your seat if you are the lucky bastard against the wall. Validated parking available or valet for small fee. Price is a little on the higher side, however given the selection is a good price point. Kamaaina and senior discounts available. All in all it was a good buffet, nothing stellar or wow-ing, however certainly a good option.

    (3)

  • D W.

    For the price slightly over $50 I expected very good food. However, the food was at best so-so and I felt ripped off. It made me angry, and I will never come back.

    (1)

  • Katie M.

    This review is for the breakfast buffet which my husband and I had before leaving for a bus tour and it really was our only option since we were staying at the hotel and only IHop and Denny's open before 6 (at least according to the hotel desk). The waiter was very nice and accommodating to get us our check so we could make our bus however the hostess pushed us into the restaurant and said it was the "best deal". This buffet was in no way the best deal but was actually outrageously overpriced and the food was mediocre. If you are looking for a buffet walk 150 yards down the beach to dukes at outrigger and save $20/person!

    (1)

  • Brian M.

    I have been twice and enjoyed everything I ate here. Kai market buffet has food for the local and tourist palette. Food selection is very good,also have different things on the buffet line that you normally don't find. Alcohol is available from the beach side bar (price not bad for Waikiki). Beautiful views of the beach and infinity edge pool from the Outside seating. Definitely one of my favorite buffet places to eat!

    (4)

  • Joanne A.

    My boyfriend and I both agree that Kai Market is by far the best buffet we've been to and is now one of our favorite places to celebrate special occasions. We recently celebrated his birthday there, and we both felt like we were in food heaven! Everything we ate was sumptuous and delectable...especially the prime rib, steamed snow crab legs, steamed fish, beef short ribs, and bread pudding. Our waiter was really friendly and refilled our drinks fairly quickly. I mentioned to our waiter that we were celebrating a birthday, and before we left, the staff came by with a little cake and sang happy birthday to my boyfriend. We were quite full by this time, so our waiter went to another restaurant to get a to go box for us. Needless to say, our tummies were completely satisfied at the end of our meal. On top of that, there was live music and they offer a 25% kamaaina discount! We'll definitely be back again!

    (5)

  • JJ L.

    I'm not going to repeat what everyone is already saying about this place. I LOVED this buffet. Even though it's not as expansive as other buffets, the food here is awesome, short of orgasmic. The ambience is great if you're sitting outside by the bar/beach and near the live music (Kapena was playing alongside his two talented daughters). Our waiter was attentive and quick. He didn't even complain when I asked for cocktail sauce (to make oyster shooters) and it was RIGHT there on the buffet where I overlooked it. The crab legs are warm. The Korean kochijan (spelling??) roast is amazing. The chowder is to die for. The desserts are plentiful - you have to get the bread pudding. I ate here with the hubs to celebrate our 6 month (awww ... no puking readers!) and it was such a great experience. Again, I don't want to repeat what everyone else's reviews are saying. This place is worth a visit and it's great that there's a local discount. This place is a better alternative to Tsukiji Fish Market and Restaurant (in Ala Moana Shopping Center). Though it's on the pricier side as far as dining out is concerned, it's all-you-can-eat and parking is validated. Plus, after dinner you're right in Waikiki and you can either stroll along the sandy beach and watch the moonlight or go down Kalakaua and get your shopping on!

    (4)

  • Lindsay G.

    This is one of the best buffets in Waikiki. Yes it is a little more experience at $55 a person but there is a kamaaina discount and the food is well worth it. Everything from the poke to chicken to desert tasted good and everything was fresh. The deserts were delicious!!! I recommend trying the Thai Coffee Custard... it was so good I went back for one more! A must try buffet.

    (4)

  • Mae D.

    My family and I came here tonight for the first time to help my father celebrate his birthday. Friendly staff! Our server, Mariano took really great care of us! I love that this place was buffet style with such a great selection of food to choose from! Don't forget the prime rib! Highly recommend this place! Superb quality of food and awesome staff! We will definitely be back during the weekend for the crab leg buffet (that's the only time that they serve crab legs). A bit on the pricey side but well worth it!

    (4)

  • Marjorie C.

    Located in the Sheraton Waikiki (same place as Rum Fire) the view is amazing as well as the food. This buffet pretty much ruined all other buffets that I've been to here. The food was well presented, the area was clean, there are herbs growing in trellises on the wall (sweet basil, lavender and rosemary) and the floor to ceiling glass doors overlook the beach. Came here to take my mother out for her birthday and knew from the Yelp reviews that this place would be awesome. Thanks yelpers you guys were right! Made sure to let the staff know we were kamaaina ($41 instead of the $55). Loooooved the dessert area, went back for coffee jello, mango pudding with li hing pineapple, thai coffee custard...okay, okay, I went back for almost ALL of the desserts. The puddings were amazing and were interestingly mixed, lemongrass panacotta was one of my absolute favorites. From the entree area I absolutely loved the fish and sweet potato...so much so that I'm only now getting off my sweet potato obsession (my mom's birthday was on the 2nd). The food signs let guests know where the ingredients come from and I was pleased to see that most ingredients were locally sourced (Molokai sweet potato pie torched meringue!). Took a star off because although the staff were present and polite, it wasn't 5 star service but the expected 18% or 20% tip makes the assumption that service is of 5 star quality. I understand it may be for foreign guests but the sticker shock of seeing a "recommended" 18% or 20% gratuity at a buffet was a little of a downer. I'm not one to argue especially when the guest of honor sees the "total" with tip and insists we leave that amount...but it does put a damper on the meal when someone walks away with a $40 tip for refilling water and bringing 5 drinks...

    (4)

  • Cameron B.

    *Breakfast - $28.95 per adult, $14.50 per child* Recently came here for breakfast with friends that were staying at the hotel. I listed the price above but apparently if you buy certain packages, breakfast is included with our hotel stay. We came on a Sunday and the line wasn't very long. They give kids these individual food trays, similar to the ones you get as a child. Everyone else gets plates lol. Our server/bus guy was the best worker ever. He was extremely quick and got everything we needed before we even thought we needed it. He pretty much was the best worker I've ever come across on the island. Food - the breakfast was an all you can eat buffet. Each station was different. Starting with the cold section - fruits & yogurts. Dry - cereal, toast station, jams, etc. The toasters sucked so expect to wait. Hot items - bacon, sausauge (varies from what I heard, can be portugese sause can be regular breakfast sausage), individual ramekins filled with either loco moco or some other local treat. The loco moco to me needed more salt - but that's just my opinion. there was also an omlete station where you pick the items that you want and you give it to chef who cooks it on teh spot. lots of things to choose from so everyone will be happy. Price of buffet and food items? not really worth the $30 but if you're there and want to have breakfast try it out. Plus, you can't beat the views. Big open windows, cool breezes and since the restaurant is located right next to the adult pool area - NO Screaming kids ruining the embiance! win win!

    (4)

  • Albert F.

    For our anniverary, we chose to try a new restaurant. Kai Market is highly rated so we booked a reservation via OpenTable. When we got there, it felt like we were tourists (we rarely venture into Waikiki) and so we tried to find our way to the restaurant. It wasnt clearly marked but I suppose you couldnt really get lost either. We found the restaurant and felt over dressed. Many tourists we in line, trying to get a table, many in casual wear. We got a seat at a table that wasnt lit quite right. The overhead light was aimed at some spot on the edge of the table, somehow making the rest of the table (and our food) a little hard to see. Perhaps it was just me. The waitress immediately knew we were locals and made us feel comfortable but was rarely seen after that. On to the food! Perhaps we were expecting alot after reading the reviews here and because of the $55 price tag. We started at the appetizer section. Ahi Poki, Sashimi, Tako Poki, some kind of fiddlehead fern salad, a nice assortment of cheeses and lavosh flatbreads were all I saw in this section. There was also tossed green salad, potato salad, and some other filler but I skipped all that. I did try the Niihau clam chowder which included clams, taro, and shrimp, it was okay. ------------------------------ The Rules of Buffet: WE ARE AT A BUFFET! Buffet rules apply. Do you know them? You eat by the price per pound. Its a challenge to me to get back my monies worth. Did you know I am Chinese? Yup, thats right. No bread/starch/cheap eats for me, I can eat that at home! Crab legs are about $20 per pound right? So to get back my $55 price tag I need to eat ONLY 3 pounds of crab legs! ------------------------------ Next was the entree section. It having been Saturday, the menu included laulau, prime rib, snow crab legs, kambocha mashed potatoes, Hong Kong style steamed fish (I think it was a snapper), braised short ribs (soft and tender but basically pot roast), black bean clams, and some other stuff. It was all done adequately but nothing really wowed me. Well the drawn butter was especially tasty you probably shouldnt eat that as a dish. The main thing we liked was the desserts. I liked the Thai coffee custard thing, the chocolate mousse was chocolatey. Unfortunately we were too stuffed to really eat more, but I did anyway. I tried a dab of portuguese sweet bread pudding with vanlla anglaise - that was okay. There was a mango custard dessert with li hing pineapple that my wife loved. There was so much more but I could not eat another bite.

    (3)

  • Track X.

    I am not sure whether I went to the same place everyone else is praising, so I looked at the receipt again. Yep, it is it Kai Market. Food is mediocre to say the best, and price is $55/person. I decide never to go to any restaurant in Waikiki again. If you have a car, go places like Nico's on pier 38, then you will know what I mean...

    (2)

  • Julie M.

    A little overpriced, but the food was pretty fresh and tasty. The view of the ocean is beautiful. I do not eat enough for a buffet to be worth it, so I ate the eggs benedict. The ham was hearty and the dish was delicious. I would have given 4 stars, however the price was expensive so I knocked one down.

    (3)

  • NinjaDoll I.

    Not worth the money and as noisy as a cafeteria. We were there on a Saturday night and even the crab legs were not worth the bother...skinny and flavorless. The only good thing I can say is it's at the Sheraton (love that hotel). Two stars for the waitress, none for the food.

    (2)

  • Cat K.

    I've been here a total of three times. Once was this past Mother's Day. First off, I like that you can make reservations on Open Table. It's nice to be able to make reservations at 1 AM and get points for it too (2,000 Open Table points = $20 dining check)! Okay, so it's not cheap here even with the Kama'aina discount, which is a nice touch, BTW. As for the food, I think it's pretty darn good for buffet style food. They use fresh, local ingredients and I think that's important. Although I wasn't wild about the Chinese style fish (because I don't particularly like Chinese style fish), I really liked a lot of the other offerings. Mother's Day dinner was $69pp. The carving stations included prime rib, Chinese style fish, macadamia crusted rack of lamb and roasted turkey. Usually they only offer prime rib and fish for their daily buffet menu. They also had honey glazed ham, Korean style spare ribs, whole fried shrimp, stuffing, mashed potatoes, steamed asparagus, oysters, ahi & tako poke, strawberry spinach salad, hearts of romaine Caesar salad, seafood chowder with taro, and so much more... They offer a huge selection for dessert. Save room because some of the desserts are amazing even on their daily buffet menu. There was some kind of Thai coffee dessert that was incredibly good and I always enjoy a good bread pudding. This is a great place for special occasions and if you get an outside table, what a beautiful ocean view! There is also a fire dance show near the pool/bar area during dinner.

    (4)

  • Annie K.

    I was sooo full that my tummy hurt all night. Kai Market had an assortment of entrees, salad, and dessert. I tried some salad and some hot entrees. But what I was saving a small portion of my tummy for the dessert. Like I said, my heart calls for the sweets. Kai Market is a buffet. There was good amount of salad selections, but just a little shy on the entree variety. There were snow crab and prime ribs and noodles, mash potatoes, fried rice, fish, chicken, and beef, but missing flavor. In my opinion, when it comes to buffet, there's at least two chicken dishes or two fish or seafood dishes. And all the entrees seem to be very bland. Now, we talk about the dessert. There was a whole lot of going on this side of the buffet line. Truffles, pudding, tapioca, cake, pies, mochi, tarts, fruits, almond tofu, and bread pudding. OMG! I was in heaven. The rich chocolatey taste of the truffle tingled every body part of mine. The Thai coffee pudding was served in a glass with a delicate piece of white chocolate standing on top of it. Coffee pudding had a burst of caffiene to keep my awake for more dessert tasting. The mashmallow tart was petite and a perfect bite-size of campfire fun. The almond tofu was sweet and texture of the gelatin was perfect. Kai Market offered a great variety of desserts and delicious snow crabs (I really don't like to work for my food. No shells, please.) Overall, it was an OKAY buffet.

    (3)

  • Rueben B.

    took my cuz. out for dinner one evening here with family in tow. it was alright not a fan thou. especially when u gotta pay 50$ /head, luckly i got half off..had better like halekulani its way better, food, service, etc. worth the price

    (2)

  • Allen H.

    This is a buffet, and the food is not bad, in fact some of it is pretty good. that being said, a lot of the food was stale, cold, or over cooked. The ambiance is nice, and surprisingly nice for a buffet. Those are the nice things about it. The not so nice is that the service was terrible, the drinks were terrible, and the price is absurd. We went their to celebrate valentines day. Every table was being given roses, we weren't offered to buy some. Our server, while relatively polite, didn't even provide us an explanation about the food or drinks. When we ordered cocktails, he appeared confused as to why we might consider such a thing. The biggest surprise was the price tag! Our bill came, and for two people, and two drinks, the bill came to $201! That's right folks, you're paying for 5 star dining and getting chuck-o-Rama food and service! I will never go again, and will advise others to avoid it as well.

    (2)

  • Samoa Surf Gu Y.

    If you're holidaying in Waikiki and you want to treat yourselves to a Hawaiian dinner experience then go to Kai Market. It overlooks the Pacific Ocean, has dinner entertainment, and the food is not too shabby either. For dinner they have a great little bbq going on outside, and a carvery and seafood going on inside. This is where the wife breaks out the new mumu and all her bling, and the husband in that ridiculous aloha shirt. Make sure you get there early and take in that sunset. Good atmosphere, good food, and good service.

    (4)

  • Janet K.

    I give this place 3 1/2 stars. First off, it was a Monday. I'm sure if it was a weekend, the selections would've been greater. That didn't take away from being fully packed on one of the supposed "slowest days of the week." Maybe because it was storming outside? The tourists were lined up outside... thank goodness we had a reservation. My favorites were the sashimi, poke, seafood chowder, lamb, prime rib and all the vegetable dishes. I usually don't care for lamb, but this lamb was not gamey at all. The seafood chowder, which usually end up tasting and smelling really fishy at other places, was perfect. The vegetables were naturally sweet and cooked perfectly with a nice crisp finish. My least favorites were the miso butterfish and most of the desserts. The miso butterfish had potential for greatness, but it wasn't marinated long enough. A lot of other places make this same mistake. There's nothing more bleh than a piece of fish with no flavor. Oh wait, there is something more bleh than that! A dessert with no flavor. Kai Market desperately needs a new pastry chef STAT! How can the creme brulee, haupia, and all of the desserts in the glass cups have no flavor whatsoever? I mean c'mon... throw some sugar in there and don't be shy with the vanilla in the creme brulee. It was inedible. Stick to the bread pudding and the pies. I think the pies are from Ted's Bakery. Service was spotty. One should NEVER ask for more water, soda, or to take the old plate away at a buffet! You don't even have to take our food order. The least you can do is buss the plate and refill our drinks. I mean, isn't that all you HAVE to do? If they hire a new Pastry Chef, I'd go there again. I guess they don't serve the Satura Cakes anymore. T_T

    (4)

  • Jonathan L.

    I never been this stuffed like this in a long time. Surely eating here is not good for my diet but it was free for me so what the heck! I came here for breakfast and to my surprise it was fairly empty. We were seated right away and served ice tea, coffee, and water. Now that's what you call quick service. One of the items I got a lot of was bacon and ham. I must have gotten at least 15 pieces of bacon and five slices of ham. The bacon and ham were whatever nothing really special it tasted the same as any other place. This is not the only plate I got. I also got another plate of pancakes and french toast with their banana syrup. It made the pancakes and toast taste 10X better compared to regular syrup. My last plate had eggs eggs and more eggs all different style. We had scrambled, poaches, and steamed (i think). Everything was pretty delicious but tasted more bland once I got full. You also can tell the chefs to make you an omelet. I think you can tell them what you want inside. But over all good experience that everyone should try once. Not a lot of places I know have a breakfast buffet in Hawaii. Did I forget to mention that the service is excellent! Note: We parked in the Royal Hawaiian instead of the Sheraton but the manager was nice enough to give us a special ticket so we would get the discounted pricing ($1.00)

    (4)

  • Jamieee D.

    Great local food and it tastes fresh as they say. If you're looking for a place to take your gf or bf, this is the place. Its located at the Sheraton where there is a beautiful view of the ocean, live music, and fireshow on the weekends. Although their buffet menu had a few to select from, food was still great. You must save some room for dessert because their selection is bomb. They taste a lot like Satura Cakes which I used to love eating at during our late study sessions a few years back. Sadly they closed and I think they only have one store in Harbor Court which isn't the ideal place to go to because it's located in the busy downtown area. Service at the Kai Market was excelente. It made up for the lack of selections on their buffet line. Because we spent our 2 year anniversary there, they gave us a beautifully made pallet of chocolate and white chocolate covered strawberries with a nicely done, handwritten Happy Anniversary message (also in chocolate) and a lighted candle as a special touch. Not to happy about the price. Even with Kamaaina discount, the bill turned out to be over $100. I think that's pretty much the con about this place.

    (5)

  • Raych D.

    Just got back from eating brunch here for a friends birthday party...First off let me say that there "fresh herb wall" is so smart, original and cool! They got 2 behind the chef who cooks and one outside the restaurant. Those herbs where grown upside down and everything looked so fresh and grew so long! Herbs ranging from mint, thyme, basil, oregano, parsley, sage, chives, and rosemary! It doesn't get more fresh than that on your omelette that's being made right in front of you! For a party of 13 we had the best seats in the house away from the traffic to the buffet and the entrance. Our waiters where so nice and fast in serving us with our coffee, juices, water and mimosa's! The buffet had 2 buffets in the far back with pretty much the same thing on each buffet area. The buffet included a salad bar, a fruit bar with the freshest fruits of pineapple, papaya, watermelon, and bananas. There was also a cheese bar and a toast/bread and yogurt bar in the end corners along with the soups such as miso soup and in the middle where the scrambled eggs, bacon pieces, eggs Benedict, fried rice, roasted red potatoes, stirred of various vegetables and a omelette's section. The line did get a little long because there was only one chef making 2 omelette's at a time. Basically you just choose your ingredients, hand it to the chef and say if you want cheese on it or not...the section for your ingredients was all fresh vegetables and you even had an option of adding more fresh ingredients of herbs from the herb wall in the back of the chef. For the birthday girl they made her a plate of chocolate dipped strawberrys with designs on the plate...super cute and colorful, only thing was they spelt her name wrong but it's okay since her meal and dessert was free! Overall the food was awesome, and even though I'm not a breakfast eater I did eat several times and enjoyed my mimosa. Complimentary of our manager she bought a bottle of champagne for our mimosa which was $30 for the bottle and fed 4 of us....kinda sketchy because usually a champagne bottle with orange juice can feed more than 4 people but whatever. For the breakfast buffet I believe it is $35 per person but because our friend who coordinated the party is the sister of the manager at Kai Market we only got it for $18 with tip and beverages, not bad considering how much food we ate and that it's a buffet in Waikiki! Next time I want to try there dinner buffet because I heard it was a lot better and more selection, but I ain't complaining with how cheap we got our breakfast!

    (4)

  • Lance T.

    Probably the best seafood buffet I've ever eaten. Wait, I think Las Vegas Rio was better...............nah! This place has the atmosphere and ambiance over Vegas. Try to get a seat outside. What better way to eat a seafood buffet than at the beach of Waikiki?! It's a bit on the pricey side, but in the end it was worth every penny since I ate over 3 lbs of fresh crab legs.

    (5)

  • Reid O.

    Celebrated a birthday last night at the seafood dinner buffet and the food was GREAT. The fresh island steamed fish Chinese style was so GOOD!! This is the first buffet that I've ever seen someone serve you the crab legs. It's not sitting in a chafing dish with a pair of tongs where you help yourself, it's behind the glass and the chef plates the snow crab legs for you. I guess that way they can control their food costs. Will definitely be back again!!

    (4)

  • Kalei F.

    Ahhh Kai Market :) Let me tell you why I gave it a 4: I LOVE that we finally have a decent restaurant that only uses local ingredients, adopted the whole "farm to table" concept, and is actually good!! Even the fish and the prime rib is from Hawaii!! They have a living herb wall and around the partition that separates the inside from the outside, they also have a bunch of fresh herbs planted all around!! Where do you ever see this! Some of the dishes change regularly, though they definitely have regulars. I LOVE LOVE LOVE their Ni'ihau clam chowder!! You must try this!! The flavor is just really creamy and good! The prime rib tends to be pretty rare, so don't say you weren't warned!! And the fish rotates between three different fishes but they're generally pretty moist and flavorless (as most of the chefs are Chinese and like a simple flavor) , however, the lobster sauce that comes with it is a definite MUST!! Their appetizers are good and their ahi is fresh and melts in your mouth!! Now to their desserts!! Probably the best part of the meal!!! Their desserts rotate frequently as well (I've been here 3 times so far and it's always been a variation). You should definitely try the bread pudding!!! My favorite for sure!! With the sauce of course :) I also love their flan, chi chi dango, and their chocolate haupia pie!! I'm so full from all this delicious food! Kama'aina is 25% off all the time and sit as close to the outside as you can. They have an amazing fire knife dancer that comes on usually twice a night, and they have really good Hawaiian music every night. It's a perfect place to really relax in Waikiki and to have a fresh, natural meal experience. The main dishes aren't anything to write home about, but understanding their philosophy makes you want to come back again and again!!! Bread pudding...I Love you!!.....until next time :)

    (4)

  • Doris D.

    This is a great buffet with a view. It's sort of an "upscale" buffet and it's actually good quality food. I mainly ate the raw oysters on a half shell and crab legs, which are actually a warm item as opposed to the usual chilled variety. The raw oysters aren't anything bombshell but very good quality for what it is: buffet raw oysters. There's also some good black bean clams for another seafood fix. My husband also really liked the prime rib. I really dug the dessert buffet, lots of nice options like mac nut and haupia pies (suspiciously of the Ted's kind), cupped desserts, bars, mochi, sweet potato meringue pie, green tea haupia, mini tarts, etc. I think what makes this place a good family option is the view and breeze of the semi-outdoor restaurant. We got the Kama Aina price which is about $40, but check with Kai Market to be sure. Service was also good.

    (4)

  • Leo S.

    What a difference one year has on the quality and variety of food here. We were looking forward to our annual Sheraton waikiki buffet, but this time the menu lacked the outstanding dishes. ie. No crab, oysters. . . Went here around 7pm and it was almost empty. Table for 7 people took sometime to get seated last year because the place was full last year. I hope they go back to last year's full menu. Service was ok.

    (2)

  • Jody S.

    Soooo I was definitely lucky to have received a gc for two to Kai Market. I had heard about Kai Market but had never gone there, not since it was the original Sheraton buffet many moons ago. And considering that the price is quite costly for a buffet (about $58/person), it was truly never on my radar. However, this past weekend the family decided to make a trek over to Waikiki and enjoy time spent at Kai Market. I had heard about the buffet from several friends, but as somewhat of a food skeptic, I wanted to make my own decision on the cuisine. I am also not your typical buffet-goer so truth be told, even when people tell me how ono the food is, it really doesn't matter. And because the price seemed so high, I was definitely going to be an even harsher critic. So when we arrived, I was pleasantly surprised by how friendly and awesome the staff was. The rug rat was sleeping so they ended up helping us create a "mock" bed out of two chairs so she could lay down on it and we could actually eat! They even brought her a towel to keep her warm! On to the buffet, I admit I was pleased with how fresh and savory many of the food items were. The steamed onaga was moist, delicious and mouth-wateringly good! The crab legs were soft and easy to break, making it easy to get to the meat without having to struggle through a wild session of crab shells flying in your hair! The seafood chowder was however, my all time fave. The flavor was divine and I had to have two bowls AND no extra salt or pepper needed. The flavor was spot on! The hubby devoured the shrimp, the chicken and the seafood cake noodle...all favorites of his. We were quite grateful for the treat and amazing dining experience. I am hopeful we will be back someday, despite the high price range, for a special occasion or two!

    (4)

  • Sandy N.

    I'm giving this place 3 1/2 stars. It wasn't the best but it wasn't bad. Service was great and you couldn't beat the beautiful scenery. My girlfriends and I went here for our little Xmas get together on Friday's Plantation Seafood night. My favorite items were: - kahuku prawns (so big and fresh) - steamed onaga (once again very fresh) - cake noodles (pretty good) - taro lavosh - prime rib wasn't bad either - crab legs were perfectly cooked, according to my friend she said if the meat comes off easily they cooked it perfectly! - clams in black bean sauce - wide selection of desserts, I liked the many different types of desserts in the small glasses. The gingerbread house was so creative. It had kakimochi and hee haw flakes roofs, and li hing mui and honey ball walls. This is a good place to take out of town guests!!!

    (4)

  • Shandis C.

    Ever since I heard about this place I've been wanting to try it, but YOWZER! $50 bucks for a buffet? (Hey, I'm a stay at home mom = great satisfaction in life but not so much $$). So you can imagine my delight when I read the reviews right here on yelp and discovered that they give a kama'aina discount! Hooray! It was exciting to me that there was finally a buffet that existed with a healthy, FRESH quality to it and to top it off mostly LOCALLY sustained. The hot entrees were fresh and not too greasy, and served in small serving dishes which I liked because that means that they are replenishing the food often = fresh, hot food that has not been sitting for a long time. I actually really liked the cold items more than entrees though, and not because the entrees were bad, but because the cold dishes were SO tasty. AND, a big bonus was that they serve PLANTATION iced tea for drinks...unlimited! Bottomless plantation iced tea gets a thumbs up in my book. One thing that made me appreciate the meal even more was reading the descriptions of each dish. That's what is so special about this buffet - that the ingredients are fresh and local. I don't know about you, but somehow, knowing that I'm eating Ma'o greens from our very own land, vs. bulk Costco greens from who knows where is much more satisfying. Then only negative thing about our experience was that upon arrival, the hostess seemed irritated because we had made reservations through an offsite location and apparently "We don't have any tables available tonight, I told them not to book anymore parties". Made us feel like we were not wanted there. She then informed us "well, luckily people are showing up late tonight so we can seat you." Strange, because as she walked us through the restaurant, there more MANY open tables. But it's ok, that did not prevent me from fully enjoying my meal!

    (4)

  • Tricia K.

    For the price it was fresh and decent but nothing really life changing.

    (3)

  • Corinne W.

    Would give them 6 stars if I could! Seafood chowder, braised short ribs, black bean Manila clams, salt & pepper Kahuku shrimp, and prime rib. The list goes on and on. Didn't want to stop eating!!! Also excellent service! We can't wait to come back!

    (5)

  • Winnie H.

    all you can eat buffet catering to the japanese tourists in the sheraton. Most of the food has an asian flair, it was good. just not $58 dollars a plate good. Thinking back, we could have gotten a great dinner at Roys, or Top of Waikiki for the same price. Oh well, lesson learned.

    (3)

  • Seth H.

    My brother's girlfriend took the whole family for his birthday, thanks again Tanya, well must say that this buffet rates right up there with the Prince, and I also think you get a discount for being local, just show your drivers license, think at the Prince you get a discount with a Marukai card? What was really ono was the deep fried prawns and the ayce snow crab was also very good. They also had a nice prime rib at the carving station, the deserts were all very good with a wide variety of choices. Do recommend this place, be sure to park at the Sheraton Hotel for full validation, shopping center parking you pay full price.

    (4)

  • Cici T.

    During our five hour layover in Honolulu, we decided to venture to the beach and refuel for our five and a half hour flight home. Waikiki Beach seemed the place to be, and so off we went! We stumbled upon Kai Market and decided to have a leisurely (buffet, I might add) brunch. Ohh was that brunch satisfying! The food seemed Japanese influenced with an East meets West kind of flair. Omlettes, waffles, edamame salad, pineapple and melon salad, croissants, muffins, cheeses and deli meats, sausage, coffee and tea, juices, fried rice, and more. The presentation, plating, and setting of the buffet was very Japanese inspired - clean and dainty, which only made the dining experience that much more enjoyable. What I love? Most of the food was prepared with local Hawaiian meats and produce. I'm a bit embarrassed to say this, but I loaded up on their toast, which was paired with the freshest, purest butter! I have a love affair with butter, and boy was their butter legit!

    (4)

  • Shayna K.

    It's a clever marketing ploy. Looks exactly like the old Sheraton buffet--even the prime rib and soup stations are in the same place--but redone to be more current. I came for a finer dining experience and even though I don't prefer buffets, I was willing to check out this one because of the fresh local theme. Farm to table idea=a gimmick. Tell me what farm grew the fried rice and portuguese sausage, "da kine" mac salad and the Costco seaweed salad? And I swear the greens looked like they came straight out of the Costco spring mix box. Maybe my expectations were too high. I was told it's not your typical buffet and that there are just a few selections but they are high quality. To me it was completely typical from the way they usher you in like lemmings to the retarded waitstaff. I was told there were king crab legs and clams. No such thing the night I was there. Paniolo night sucks. I figured for $49 there we wouldn't be sitting in a cafeteria. More gripes: 1. the wine glasses are PLASTIC! OMG, somebody just shoot me now. 2. the waiter took 15 minutes just to greet us, then get us the drink menu, another 20 minutes to bring our drinks. 3. He didn't check on us once except to bring us our late drinks and waaay later, the bill. Oh but he did ask us if we wanted coffee--TWICE. NO! We don't want coffee!! 4. He stiffed us the Kamaaina discount. We had to remind him "Hel-lo, lolo..." 5. It was our anniversary, so I made sure to tell the host when I made the reservation that we were celebrating our anniversary. The most we got was at the very end of the night, the waiter brought us our corrected bill and said, "Oh, it's your anniversary, yea?" 6. Oh, yea, and don't even bother making reservations. You have to stand in line with everyone else anyway! It was like that Seinfeld episode at the Chinese restaurant. What is the point of having a reservation when there is only one line? To be fair, I loved the tiramisu from Satura cakes. I do like cocktail shrimp and the baby bok choy / acorn squash dish was pretty fresh. But the next time I'm craving paniolo cuisine, I think I'll make a trip to MAkai market and save a hundred bucks of hard earned $. In sum, we walked out of there shaking our heads and saying, "Shoulda gone Alan Wong's."

    (2)

  • J A.

    "Celebrate good times, come on! (Let's celebrate) Celebrate good times, come on! (Let's celebrate) There's a party goin' on right here A celebration to last throughout the years So bring your good times, and your laughter too We gonna celebrate your party with you" Kool and the Gang Came here to celebrate a major life achievement for my beloved husband along with his parents and the kiddo. I was very excited to eat here because for one, it's a buffet and most importantly, they support local farmers. I sampled just about everything there and I wasn't dazzled by the food. I think the greatest spotlight of the night was the dessert. I loved the flan custard but was greatly disappointed with the sakura cakes. The kahuku shrimp was difficult to eat because I had to peel it and it was literally stuck to the shrimp. Makana was playing live that night at the bar right next to the restaurant and we were able to watch him from where we were sitting. My MIL mentioned twice that the music was too loud and it was difficult to talk over. Aaah, this place was just okay for me.

    (3)

  • J Z.

    We came here on last Sunday during the Honolulu Festival. It was not very crowded when we arrived but the place filled up quickly around our first round. The food selection was good, not much seafood though. We enjoyed the ocean view seating very much. The service was great even after we took our server that we going to hang around until the fireworks begin. This is definitely one of the better buffet places on the island. Would recommend.

    (5)

  • Dean H.

    Yeah, it seems like I like every single place I eat at but really, this week was a 4 time hit week I guess! Lots said about this place but really it was a delight. --Wait help was very attentive even with a packed house. --Seated right away at the first seating. --Entertainment consisted of a fire knife performance, and it rocked, my daughter and I were super impressed. Food: --Cold section was really good, spent most of my stomach space there with the sashimi, raw oysters, and poke. All were very cold and very presentable and tasty!!! --Hot section was good with many things to choose from....wife liked the cake noodle and clams, daughter enjoyed the shrimp and crab legs, and I had 2 slices of the prime rib (gotta eat that protein!!). --Deserts had good choices, not many, but all of them were good according to my table. I had the bread pudding and crem brulee. Good choices! Ambiance: --Nice to be right on the water, high ceilings, and lots of space to just move around and not feel like you were PACKED in like sardines like most buffet places out there. Bathrooms were shared by the pool so that was the only thing that was a downfall but it was a very slight downfall at that. For $35 bucks (kamaaina rate) it was a steal. It was really a nice night for my father in laws bday celebration! RECOMMENDED FOR SURE!

    (4)

  • Sissi X.

    Great food and service! It just that nobody told us the snow crabs and lobsters are only serve on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday! We went there on Thursday and found no lobsters or crabs at all! Other food are amazing though. You can tell each types food are cooked by serious chef. Just a little disappointing that no one told us the special timing before. I didnt think Kai has much variety at first, but Compare to the other buffet: Hakone, this place is actually not that bad!

    (4)

  • John D.

    Quality was ok.... Selection was below avg

    (2)

  • Joshua J.

    Came here for the start of fine dining week, one of my friend's was leaving in two weeks so we decided to go to every place that someone works at. Kai Market for those of you who don't know is in the Sheraton Waikiki, instead of going straight into Rum Fire hang a right. We went there for dinner which I was told was 55 a person. They have your typical buffet items, poke, salads, two soups, action stations with prime rib as well as a fish dish (on this night it was onaga). To start I will say the poke was extremely fresh and well seasoned which I enjoyed. I also liked the potatoe salad because to my surprise there was bacon in there. The prime rib was good too, and enjoyed the fact that the horse radish had a little kick to it. We lucked out too because although there was no crab featured today we got hooked up with a basket per table so that was great. The only thing I would knit pick on was that the desserts were a little lacking. The only one I found myself going back for was this coffee parfait and chocolate mousse cake. All in all though it was a great experience with good food.

    (4)

  • Greg Y.

    Second visit was better than the first. A little on the pricey side but kids eat free to offset the cost. The food is tasty but deceptively laid out. Dishes repeat every few stations, making the menu seem smaller. The desserts are plentiful and features a few items from Satura Cakes. Changing the presentation and layout of the main food items would go a long way in improving the cost/value appeal.

    (3)

  • Eila S.

    Okay, the location here is AMAZING. Even if I didn't eat that much, the proximity of the restaurant to the ocean is totally worth it. There was a live band playing on the patio next to the bar making a nice touch to the aesthetics. Although the music was a little loud making it hard to have a descent conversation. The food itself was really good. The variety was huge. The desert buffet, in my opinion, was significantly better than the actual dinner buffet. The food was slightly above average. A little disappointing that they served things that typical buffets in the continental US serve like chow mein and fried rice. I was hoping for slightly more exotic food like they had at Five Star Buffet but it was still good nonetheless.

    (4)

  • Yuko A.

    Go to Kai Market on Friday/Saturday night. It's seafood night and who doesn't love all you can eat crab legs, raw oysters, shrimp, poke, snapper, and more seafood. My bf and I skipped out on lunch and went early (5:45) since we didn't want to wait in line. It wasn't crowded at all, but by the time we left at 7:30 the place was packed. My bf and I split ways as soon as we hit the buffet line. I personally like to start off with appetizers and light/cold dishes and then move on to the entrees, and then dessert. He was there for the crab, crab, and more crab. I had the ahi poke, tako poke, caesar wedges, and the oysters. The ahi poke was good although I liked the tako better. It was so soft, not chewy at all like tako sometimes can be. The caesar wedges were fresh, maybe a little too much dressing but thats just my preference. Onto the oysters. I love raw oysters so I was psyched when I saw a long plate of them waiting to be eaten. They were fairly big for a buffet, could have been a little sweeter but they shucked them pretty well and I didn't find too many shells while eating them...I had six, would have eaten more but I wanted to eat the entrees as well. There were a number of chinese dishes in the entree section. Bok-choy, steamed mussels with black bean sauce which was delicious, cute single servings of pan-fried noodles with shrimp, squid (so tender), and scallop sauce. There was also kim-chee fried rice, fried head-on shrimp, and marinated chicken. At the carving station they had snapper cooked hong-kong style, salt-crusted prime rib, and steamed snow crab legs. I enjoyed everything I ate and was pretty stuffed by my 3rd plate but I wanted to have some of their famous bread pudding. I actually overheard one of the waiter's telling a young boy to try it. It was like custard, it tasted like the bread had been soaked in the batter for hours. I was so full yet my hand kept grabbing the fork and feeding me the delicious bread pudding. For those who may not love bread pudding like me, don't worry there is a number of other dessert offerings. Haupia, banana, and choco/peanut butter pie. Cute s'more tartlets, fruit, mochi, chocolate tartlets, and key lime pie. The service was great. Our waitress was attentive and came by often to see how we were doing. Its $58/person on seafood nights, $55 on other nights..I'm not positive but I'm pretty sure they have a special kamaaina rate so make sure to ask when making a reservation! Yelp365: 001/365

    (5)

  • Scott H.

    Wife had her work Christmas party here. Place was PACKED! Food was delicious! Prime rib was great. They had laulau the night I went. Standard small buffet laulau, but was good. Steamed fish was great. Plenty of sashimi to keep me happy. Was glad the quality hadn't suffered like every where else.

    (5)

  • Thomas W.

    Go early on a Friday or Saturday night for the seafood buffet and a great show. Quality over quantity for this buffet after you get over the shock of the prices! Their raw bar of oysters, shrimp, and various sushi, and Hawaiian New England Clam Chowder is a a meal all unto itself. The prime rib, and stone crab legs are truly wonderful. The butterfish, seafood paella, and Thai long life noodles are wonderful. Of course the grilled fish, rice, and fresh fruit are also not to be missed. Make sure you bring your appetite. THis is a great place for a special family event or a great highlight to a Hawaiian vacation!

    (5)

  • Omar V.

    Review is based on dinner on a Sunday night. Decided to make a reservation based on all the ratings and comments. Let me start off by saying, I should've read ALL the comments. I don't know if most of the reviews are based on Seafood Night but there wasn't a variety of food to choose. Ratings below based on location, food selection/quality, service and price. LOCATION: 4 stars, located in the Sheraton right by the beach is a big plus assuming you're seated in a good location. It's tucked in the back of the hotel, kind of hard to find SERVICE: 3 stars, the staff are attentive considering it's a buffet. Only quarrel I have is that it took 15 minutes for them to grab the check FOOD: 2 stars, the food itself consisted of only a few selection. Quality is pretty much comparable to Golden Corral. The main courses were either covered in gravy or cream (no real flavor). The dessert selection is what really gave it 2 stars. PRICE: 1 star, the food doesn't justify the price of $55/person OVERALL SATISFACTION: 2.5 stars, if given the opportunity again; I would recommend eating at one of the many actual restaurants within the same area. The big setback from my experience would be the food selection and taste.

    (2)

  • Stephanie N.

    Meh. I was expecting a lot more from Kai Market based on word-of-mouth, and online and printed reviews. It was alright, but not great. For the price you pay, I guess it's for the number of offerings, not the caliber of the offerings. We went on a Friday, which is seafood night. From the pupu/salad/starter area, the best things were the sashimi (really basic, no cooking needed, but the quality of the ahi was great), Moloka'i sweet potato salad, and the seafood chowder. The first thing that comes to mind is "uninspired." It is what it is. Nothing outstanding. Everything seemed to be bland. It's the usual food at pretty much any moderate hotel buffet in Hawai'i. There are no "Wow!" dishes. For dessert the bread pudding was okay, key lime tart was good, as was the coconut tapioca. However, the venue is nice and relaxing with the beach just beyond, the breeze blowing in, and the live music from the bar next door. Thank goodness for the kama'aina discount because there's no way I'd pay full price.

    (2)

  • Chelle S.

    Let me start off by saying that I am not a buffet fan. However, Kai Market just gained another return-customer. The clam chowder was definitely something to have and enjoy. They offer different types of breads and I think I had a bite of most of them and enjoyed them with the clam chowder. Like previous reviewers mentioned, their poke is melt-in-your mouth good. A friend of mine went back for 3rds and I still cannot fathom why he didn't get sick after consuming that much raw fish. Lol! The prime rib was also a hit with my mom, who isn't a big steak fan. The sea salt and other seasonings used in the prime rib were spot on. The crab legs were so-so. My parents made comments that they enjoyed the crab legs at another buffet. They also serve you the crab legs at Kai Market which is more or less rationing the food. It wasn't that big of a deal to me but I can see how that's an inconvenience for the die-hard crab eaters. I also enjoyed the desserts Kai Market offered, contrary to a few reviews I had read prior. They had a pretty good selection the evening we went (a Saturday) and the ones that stood out the most were the Thai Coffee mousse and the kalamansi chocolate tarts. The biggest downside IMO is the price. It came out to over $50+ per person so that's definitely a set back for some. The mixed drinks were also priced high at $10+ for a small cup. Other than that, looking forward to my next visit!

    (4)

  • Kelsey T.

    I'm not much for buffets, but I really liked Kai Market's brunch buffet. Normally, I would be all over the omelet-to-order station, but there were lots of other good things so I skipped it. Really love that they use a lot of local products - from the produce to the bread and jams. There's even an herb garden on one wall, where they get their herbs! They have a great variety of food, and even offer ethnic foods from the countries where they get a lot of tours. I even saw sealed containers of natto on hand (not that I would ever eat that). Our server (I think his name was Henry) was exceptionally polite and made it his mission to keep my glasses full of juice and water. Things I loved: Crustless quiche w/ maui goat cheese and local farm fresh vegetables: Presentation was really cute, it looked like a musubi - but made with egg. It was just the right ratio of cheese: egg. Loco Moco Benedict: Okay, so it's pretty much just a small portion loco moco served w/ a poached egg instead of the more traditional sunny side up or easy over egg. And it's served in a cute egg-like container. I liked it so much, I had two! Portugese sausage fried rice: Portugese sausage is always a winner, and I really liked that this one wasn't overly salty. Daily short toast with local breads: Very cute, tasty french toast strips. They're soft, but not chewy and the smaller strips mean you can try to pick out one of each type of bread. The only problem is telling the different types of bread apart. There's a slight difference in taste when you eat them, but they all look similar in the tray. Old Hawaii Recipes Jams: Seriously, really good jam. I put almost everything in the tiny jar onto one piece of bread.

    (4)

  • Mason N.

    While the Dinner buffet was good, it wasn't $55/person good. I guess im just bitter because I spent almost $150 for 2 people and then found a $10 off/per person coupon in one of those magazines later that night. Highlight was the prime rib, salt/pepper shrimp with the head on, and the specialty Hong Kong style fish. The Poke tasted ok and everything else was what you expect Buffet food tasted like. The big highlight was the dessert section, do make room for dessert after the main course. Service was what you would expect from a buffet, servers take away your plates when you leave the table and for the most part, stay away unless you hunt them down.

    (3)

  • Daniel C.

    I have to say that I was disappointed when I dined here. The food wasn't that good and selection wasn't vast. It was over priced for the food you get and I didn't care for the decor and ambiance. Will definitely give it a try again if someone really wanted to take me there but not going to just go and eat there.

    (3)

  • mINCe I.

    "Kai Market offers discerning palates Hawaii's freshest, locally-grown products masterfully prepared by Executive Chef Darren Demaya. Kai Market's cuisine was inspired by the "food fair" of plantation tables of Hawaii over 100 years ago that brought on an influx of ethnic cuisine to the islands. Kai Market will serve both the traditional Hawaiian meal of fresh seafood and exotic fruits, and the many dishes that were inspired by the multi-ethnic generations of Hawaii's people and their roots to the plantations." My friends and I recently went to Kai Market for a friends birthday. According to the staff, the menu changes daily depending on what is fresh. Everything we had was fresh and tasty. The high light of the night was the Niihau Island Chowder which included taro, the alae salt and herb crusted prime rib was also ono and the crispy hawaiian sea bass. The buffet is expensive but if your kamaaina, you get a 25% discount with a valid Hawaii State identification. There's also free parking validation.

    (4)

  • Matthew L.

    It was our last night here and we wanted to have a memorable dinner. The Kai Market restaurant is right by the pool side inside of the Sheraton looking out to the ocean. It was truly amazing view. We came there right during sunset which just made the views spectacular. The food was fantastic with the normal buffet items shrimp, prime rib etc steam whole fish. They even had fresh red bean mochi! The restaurant is pricey in my opinion but I think it was well worth it because of the view. Would I came back? Probably or stay at this hotel just because the pool is right in the ocean.

    (5)

  • Lily B.

    The Kai Market buffet is located on the first floor of the Sheraton Hotel in Waikiki. After Yelping 'buffets', it seemed as if the Prince Court and the Kai Market were top 2 contenders. I finally got to have dinner at the Kai Market on Saturday. Parking: Private garage for the Sheraton Waikiki shared with the Royal Hawaiian Hotel. Lots of stalls on the night we went. Validated parking for up to 4 hours if you dine in the hotel. Otherwise, valet parking available for a fee. (not sure what the fee is) Ambiance: Very 'chill' and 'touristy'. There is indoor and outdoor seating. We opted to sit outside on the lanai. They was live music for the first hour of our dinner, and then pre recorded music afterwards. We were literally right next to the ocean; you could hear the waves and smell the ocean; it was gorgeous. We were also next to the infamous "Infinity Pool" which is beautiful in and of itself. There was also a clear view of Diamond Head which only aided to the gorgeous all around view. We had a late dinner, but I would think that they are quite busy around sunset because the view would be that much more beautiful. An actual 5 stars for the view/ambiance. Service: 2 males were working the host station. Both were friendly and courteous. Our server (forget her name) was very nice. She was 'local' and I guess beause she knew we were local, she used some 'slang'/'local talk. We didn't mind at all. Our dishes were cleared away promptly, our drinks were refilled when needed, and she was pleasant and friendly. There are certain items on the buffet line where you need a chef to serve you. The chefs were very friendly as well. Food: As I did with my other review, I will try to 'visualize' the buffet and list the items that I remember. The names of the items are VERY 'fancy', so I will just get the basics. Cold section: -nalo greens w/ assorted dressings -cucumbers -lima beans? I dunno some kinda beans for your salad -baby romaine caesar salad [not bad] -potato salad [yuck] -tomatoes (some kinda tomato salad something or other) -papaya salad [yuck] -california roll and one other sushi roll [BF said not bad] -sashimi [THICK slices, BF liked it] -ahi poke [BF said not bad] -tako poke [BF said this was EXCELLENT] -seafood chowder [DELICIOUS!] -assorted cheeses w/ lovosh [did not try] Hot line: -white rice -molokai honey potatoes [TOO sweet] -chinese style cake noodle [overdone] -mashed potatoes which turned out to be mashed pumpkin [it was DELISH!!!] -kim chee fried rice w/ portuguese sausage [BF said it was okay] -deep fried prawns [large but once you peel off the shell the shrimp had no taste] -chinese style seafood mix (shrimp/scallops/squid/baby corn/other veggies) [not bad, but either the seafood was overcooked or sitting too long in the warmer] -seafood paella [BF tried it, didn't like it] -clams in an oyster sauce [BF said it was okay] -shoyu chicken [nothing special, same as from any chinese take out place] -braised short ribs in a ko choo jang sauce [the tender pieces of short ribs were delicious, the overcooked pieces were rubbery and tough] -island style fish (did not specify the fish) [DELICIOUS; some kind of ginger/shoyu/garlic sauce; whole fish that they portioned out for you, YUM!] -asparagus [nothing fancy] -bok choy in a shoyu sauce [BF liked it] -snow crab legs [I'm NOT a fan of snow crab and LOVE king crab, but I will say, these snow crab legs were JUICY and SO FLAVORFUL (without butter), definitely impressed w/ the crab legs!] -prime rib [I know many reviews raved about the prime rib, but I actually found it to be 'okay' and lacking flavor'. We actually only took a couple bites and did not eat the rest of the slice] Dessert: -chocolate haupia pie [okay] -macadamia nut pie [okay] -strawberry pie [okay] -blueberry cheesecake -mango cheesecake -chocolate walnut cake -red velvet cake -chocolate tart -lime tart -chi chi dango [same from Longs Drugs] -peanut butter mochi -azuki bean mochi -tapioca [not bad] -almond float [weird after taste!] -fresh fruits (watermelon, pineapple, and something else) -assortment of 'puddings/gelatos' -chocolate -pineapple w/ li hi mui -mango -espresso [the BEST out of the 4] -bread pudding [THE BEST BREAD PUDDING; just as good as the bread pudding we had at a wedding at the Kahala Hotel] -there were other desserts but I can't remember Cost: We went for the weekend 'seafood buffet' which is $58/per adult. I did NOT think that the buffet was worth this price. We DID receive a kama'aina discount of 25% off ($14.50). So the total per person was $43.50. Soft drinks are $4. Verdict: A beautiful location to dine at, especially if you eat early and are able to enjoy the sunset. The quality of the food is okay. Given the choice, I would much prefer the Prince Court buffet at the Hawaii Prince Hotel. The quality and selection is MUCH better. Still, I'm glad we gave them a try, and everyone has their own preferences, so I would recommend you giving both places a try as well.

    (3)

  • Jenel O.

    I couldn't decide whether I wanted to give this place 3 stars or 4 so I went with 3... but it's more like 3 1/2. I think I went here with high hopes. I was kind of let down. Food was pretty decent, service was awesome... but nothing like the high quality I imagined (for the food) and it's pricey to boot! I'd go again for a discounted price but I'd never pay full price for that.

    (3)

  • Dustin E.

    Wow, great ambience... great food... great entertainment... great company. I took my family there for my parent's 50th wedding anniversary. Let me tell you, I was overwhelmed by the appreciative satisfaction of everyone! It was a seafood Friday buffet, and selections were outstanding. Chef Daniel even came out personally to congratulate the Happy Couple with a custom decorated chocolate cake! Oh so special! I had reservations go to see the Hilton fireworks, but my family was too engrossed in the dessert bar. Haupia delights, and mousses, and taste treats that were unusual, yet spectacular. I would definitely recommend reservations and ask for a special table if it is a special occasion. 5 stars, baby! Whoo hoo!

    (5)

  • Casey H.

    Overpriced for a very limited selection. Most buffets that I've been to, you get as many crab legs as you want. A plate full at a time if you want. They have someone serving the crab legs here, so you get pieces (not clusters). The food was okay. With the limited selection, I expected spectacular food. Anyway, $58 per person for a buffet that left us feeling ripped off for days.

    (1)

  • Krys Y.

    This place is not only nice with its hardwood tables and chairs, but it's also well stocked in terms of food. It is definitely a pricey at about $60 bucks a head, but if you're a big eater, they have a lot of good things to eat. There's crab, prime rib, sashimi, clams, poke, soups, salads, rice dishes, and a WHOLE SECTION of desserts, including, chocolate haupia pie, peanut butter pie, tarts, fruits, and whipped desserts in cups. I LOVED it here. If you're Kama'aina, DON'T forget to mention that because it brings the price down from about $60 to $45. Definitely a good place for an anniversary or for a special dinner with the family. Edit: Ate here for dinner again this past weekend. We were Saturday night walk-ins, it wasn't busy, and the people were really nice (and also pointed out the Kama' aina discount for the locals. I wanted to mention that we parked in the Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center parking structure (because we didn't know where we were eating) and ended up at Kai Market at the Sheraton. The waiter asked if we needed parking validation at the end of the meal, and we told him we were parked in the Royal Hawaiian parking. He responded with "OOOOHHHH NOOOOOOOO....", paused, and said, "wait, let me try check with my manager." (They don't validate for Royal Hawaiian parking)... But the manager in the back CALLED the Royal Hawaiian parking people, and our waiter gave us back our ticket with a validation sticker on it! Parking came was FREE! I was thoroughly impressed with that unexpected service. +1 for Kai Market!

    (5)

  • Stephanie C.

    I've been to a lot of buffets in Hawaii and I have to say Kai Market is my favorite by far. It's located in right next to the beach with a gorgeous view of the ocean. The food is all extremely fresh and tasty and each dish is delicious enough to stand on it's own. There's a large selection so the most difficult thing is not to get too full before I can try everything I like, which is everything. Yummy!!!

    (5)

  • Mary D.

    the food is soooo ono! The butterfish, the crab, the poke, everything is awesome. My favorite was the sweet potato mash they had last year. We're having another dinner her for Xmas and i can't wait to see what they have for us this year. The view is spectacular if you go right before sunset. It gets somewhat crowded as the evening progresses but there are so many choices, you have a lot of different areas to go to if the main line is a bit long. It's definitely worth the price you pay for. GO HUNGRY!

    (5)

  • Brent K.

    I was very surprised, The food was really good. from the sushi, fish, the variety of veggies and meat done in different styles, deserts were delish ! cappachino machine. Poke was good. Good service. The place looks the same as before. But the food is way better now.

    (4)

  • Chris O.

    They need more selection for $60/person. No noodles, 1 Chicken selection, no salmon, 1 kind of sushi roll etc. All else was fine. Come hungry.

    (2)

  • Kristine M.

    Bufei, boofet, boofay, however you pronounce it... Kai Market is winnahs! First of all the renovations done for the Sheraton Waikiki are fantastic! Who did that? Good job you! Love the ambiance and overall feel of the place. I especially dig the vertical herb gardens located in the restaurant entrance and along the buffet lines. Both times I've eaten here I've been quite pleased. The dishes are made with locally grown ingredients and change depending on what's "fresh". The salad bar was awesome. Enjoyed me some ahi poke, sesame tako, and local greens. There were also fresh oysters, but I was distracted by the fantastically flavorful misoyaki butterfish, "Ohhh misoyaki..." and crab legs! "Ohhh misocrabby!!!" The dessert is, like, "OMG". There is this chocolate mousse cup thingie that is FAAABUULOOUUSSSS!!! I actually got upset when another person took the last cup, knowing full well that they would be bringing another round out. I was ready to clothesline an old Japanese tourist for a cup of mousse. When the servers brought out another round, I felt my eyes brimming with tears. -OK, exaggeration nation. But seriously, the desserts :) Eat here. It's great. Just watch out for all the sand that some tourist leave on the tile floors leading up to the restaurant (sue job!!!)

    (5)

  • Leona Y.

    My parents love the breakfast buffet here since there is a wide selection of Japanese breakfast items (rice, miso soup, natto, etc). They have all the essential breakfast dishes such as bacon, eggs, omelets, etc. The juice they serve here is the POG juice which I LOVEEEEE and I had at least three servings :D I recommend coming here EARLY since a line starts forming by around 8am. We got here at 7am and we had a choice of sitting outside or inside (we chose outside of course!) and got seated right away. This place is great if you're looking for an affordable breakfast buffet and are staying in Waikiki. Adults pay around $30 per person for breakfast which is about average at nice hotels like the Sheraton. If you sit outside you can also enjoy the view of Diamond Head in the distance!

    (5)

  • Hiep N.

    This place is a bit of a splurge but well worth it. We went on a Friday night, which was seafood night. It had endless amounts of oysters, poke, crablegs, prime rib, and amazing desserts. It's located in the Sheraton Waikiki Resort and has amazing views, live music, and indoor/outdoor seating. The employees are super friendly and cordial. You wouldn't expect such great service during a buffet, but my waiter went above and beyond all my expectations. If you want a variety of Hawaiian foods and don't want to go to a chain restaurant like Roy's or Ruth Chris's I definitely recommend this place.

    (4)

  • Hazel G.

    Now I typically do not eat at hotel buffets but had to try it as day in and day out there was a line out the door. Kai Market actually was very impressive. The price is steep at $50/person unless you are a local and it drops to $38/person so Kai Market is a place to go if you are hungry. We ate at Kai Market on a weekend so it was packed and there was still quite a line to get it. This buffet has quite an assortment of food ranging from miso butterfish, sashimi, ahi poke, prime rib, salads, soups, variety of desserts, etc...all beautifully arranged. Although Kai Market is busy, service is very attentive. Would recommend to both tourists and locals alike.

    (4)

  • Glenn S.

    Most buffets are like your typical sports team...you have 2 star athletes (prime rib & crab legs) surrounded by a bunch of middle of the road players (AKA buffet fillers). The buffet at Kai Market is like a All Star game. From your salad/soup and appetizer section to the hot entrees and desserts...WOW I kid you not....they have such a good spread of dishes it is hard to eat everything as you can get filled up eating one thing or the other. *sigh* The food at KM is always fresh and filled which is a big + in my book. I hate buffets with food that looks old and are not kept filled as it is so unappealing! My only complaint is that everything is so good that I can't eat enough of what they have. I usually go one the weekend for seafood night and if you are non-kamaaina it will run you $58. Kamaaina's get a 25% discount, just need to mention to your server. Parking is in the Sheraton Waikiki garage and free with validation.

    (4)

  • Chris W.

    Went to Kai Market for my friend's birthday this past Saturday. The food was great!!! Prime rib was awesome, as was the fresh oysters! The had a great variety of foods, so there is definitely something for everyone! I also liked the way the food was grouped in the room. There is also enough room between the tables to walk without bumping chairs. The service was lacking. I know this is a buffet, but it is supposed to be a premiere buffet! We were seated quickly, and everything was explained to us. After we got our first plate, the waitress came by to see how everything was going. After that, we are lucky if we saw our waitress twice more... during the next hour and a half! There was no anticipation by the staff to see if we needed more water, soda, etc. I will be going back for those oysters and prime rib! The food was great (I don't think I tasted one thing that was not good), but will not anticipate anything in the way of customer service.

    (4)

  • Adam P.

    5 words to get your mouth watering interest, "Sea Bass with Lobster Sauce" Friday is when you want to go for this awesome delight, but what's even better that this fish is the price you can get for the meal. Sure it's expensive to experience this dinner meal, but it's sure better when you get a discount! that's right. if you patiently wait around the check-in/lobby there will a demo stand with a sample of whatever they have for a selection, I got a sample of Clam Chowder, someone would be there informing you about the buffet and hand you a card that will give you a discount for you dinner. DONT FORGET TO GRAB A COUPON!!!!

    (4)

  • Kate A.

    I recently stayed at the Waikiki Sheraton while on a business trip and ended up eating a breakfast and a dinner here because of the convenience factor. The views are MAGNIFICENT. If you dine outside, the water is literally right in front of you....it's stunning. I had a delightful waiter in the morning who brought me a newspaper and chatted pleasantly with me. The food was alright. It's incredibly overpriced for what it is, but they DO have some unique local fare that makes the experience fun. I was excited to see guava taro bread, coconut pancakes, a large assortment of mochi desserts, great fresh/local fruit, etc. Just don't think I would ever come back on my own dime at nearly $70 a pop. For breakfast though, the $35 is well worth the view and serenity.

    (3)

  • Andee L.

    I should have read more reviews before choosing this place to eat for my birthday. (Which no one asked if we were celebrating anything when I made the reservation by the way.) I stood there in line wondering why I'm waiting with the rest of the people who don't have reservations. They have a sign that says reservations on the right and walk-ins on the left but no one paid attention to it. After reading other reviews I realize I'm not alone... My expectation were WAAAY to high for this place. My opinion is that it is highly overrated. I don't know what the old Sheraton buffet was like as mentioned in previous reviews but I've definitely had similar experiences. Don't get me wrong, the food is good. The decor a little weird for me with the plants on the wall but the rest of it had a modern, natural feel to it. The one thing that impressed me was how fresh the poke and sashimi was although I've had similar grades at other restaurants. I was warned that the buffet selection was small (which it was) but the quality of the food superseded the quantity. Hmm...the selection was small, yes. Quality...the dishes were definitely fresh but nothing was especially impressive. The fresh catch of the day (hawaiian seabass) was flavorful, the snow crab legs were good (nothing special)...and that's all I can really remember from almost a week ago. I would think if it left a better impression on me I would remember more... The one thing I was REALLY disappointed about was that they ran out of creme brulee. And it wasn't even close to closing time!! Would we go back?? Maybe...but not by ourselves...maybe if our group of friends wanted to eat there for some reason we may tag along. If not for anything else but to try the creme brulee...

    (2)

  • Claire B.

    Modernized Hawaiian Buffet, I loved it! Located in the beautifully redone Sheraton Waikiki Resort. Though it is heavily packed (always) since who can blame them, it's floor to ceiling cascading doors open to the Pacific Ocean!!!! Eat inside or out for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Yes, it is very pricey for Honolulu standards but worth the price, it's all you can eat buffet. Attire is casual but respectful. Remember, the Hawaiian culture demands respect around food, so please wear a cover up over your bathing suit and men please wear shirts. Guests tend to forget that even though you're in paradise and next to an amazing infinity pool, please cover up :)

    (5)

  • Kuuipo D.

    Unbelievable!!!! I took my hubby there for our 15 year anniversary. The food variety was phenomenal. There was so much food to choose from that we actually skipped the salad & poke area to fill up on the main entree & dessert areas. I specifically took him on Saturday for the crab legs (this is an additional charge on seafood nights). The crab legs were always stocked and they kept it coming. My hubby said it was ok. There was mini laulau, prime rib, saki marinated roast beef, shoyu chicken, & so much more!!!! The dessert tables were stocked - bread pudding (awesome), tapioca pearls, mochi, tarts, pies, and more. The wait staff were wonderful, but they did get busy after an hour & half, so it was hard to get refills on our drinks and to pay. My one big complaint was that the bathroom was outside of the restaurant. It had to be shared with people coming from the pool. That means wet seats and wet floors. So if you are dressed nicely, be careful! Other than that, the food was great and plentiful. Choices were many and just a really nice time. PS - Although the reservationist called me back to confirm that I was celebrating an anniversary, we didn't get any "special" treatment or goodies like other reviewers mentioned.

    (4)

  • Ken E.

    First if you can get a end table outside and if you get there early before sunset, its all worth the eats and view. After a long day of exploring the island and not really eatting that much during the day, this place was a wonderful treat! My gf and I first explored the goodies and once we got back with a full plate of food, we sat down and pointed our heads down lifted out forks to out mouth and didn't say a single word. After almost chewing off our fingers thinking they are lady fingers, we looked up and realized we were really hungry. Great selection of all kinds of cultural foods, we went back many times to try at least one of everything. Remember to share everything with your gf, I was munching a wonderful coconut pie with little macs on it. After a few bites and we finished our chat, I noticed there was nothing left and gf was waiting to finally taste the yummiest pie. But I ate it up and had to run off to find if there was more pie for her.... whew. Take the time to explore all the foods, its important because you may miss something.

    (5)

  • d s.

    Hmmm...wanted to come here today for breakfast and guess what? There is no kids deal BUT the website doesn't reflect this. The worst thing is I think they charge kids the same price as adults! WTF?! I would tell folks to come here to because the food is good even though the selection is not what you'd expect for nearly $30. No more... Sheraton's lost my business and I'm guessing a lot of other local folks too.

    (1)

  • Alohilani K.

    Great, great, great customer service! We got there late; our reservation was at 8:30, and we didn't get there 'till 9:10. I called while we were on the way to let them know that we were running late, but when we got there no one was at the front desk and they had a "Closed" sign posted. After waiting around for a few minutes, a man came up and asked if I needed help. Turns out, he was the guy who took my "We're running late" call. He said he had been trying to call me to let me know that we had to be there by 9:00, but the call wouldn't go through. I explained to him that it was a Hilo number, so he should have dialed "808." He said he would check to see if they could take us in. Fortunately, he was able to seat us and a waiter came shortly after to let us know that the food was going to be put away at 9:30, and to see if we wanted anything to drink. We felt bad for being late, so we just drank water, but he came back again to make sure we didn't want anything else to drink. We piled our plates and got to eating. The food was good. I'm sure it would have been better had we not been feeling rushed, but everything tasted great and there was so much to choose from. Before the 9:30 mark, the waiter came back to our table to ask if we wanted to get more food before everything got put away. Very considerate, but we declined. To top it all off, he came back with our check, saying he charged us the "senior" price since we hardly had time to eat! (A total savings of $40.) We couldn't have been more pleased with the service. It was totally our fault for showing up late, but they still accommodated us with a smile!

    (4)

  • Miki H.

    Love! The Kai Market buffet is a welcome addition to the buffet scene in Hawaii. I think I would still head over to the Halekulani for a special occasion like Easter or Christmas but Kai Market would be my choice for almost any other day. The buffet line is well maintained and while the selections are fewer, the quality is there. Dinner: Prime rib is excellent. I appreciate that the crab legs are kept in a steamer basket over a water bath so that they meat doesn't dry out. I also like that they're served to you so you know grimy little paws haven't been all over them. They have the standard salad bar and cold station as well as a dessert section. The desserts are all gorgeous but they're not all tasty and some are a little weird. You should try them all though--why not? There is a thai coffee dessert that's out of this world...and I don't drink coffee or usually eat coffee anything. Also, they have a selection of Satura Cake's "cupcakes" for you junkies out there...I'm not but I know you exist! Breakfast: The breakfast buffet's last seating is 10:30 am and the buffet closes at 11 am so if you're going for an early morning meal it really does have to be early. The same standard applies for breakfast where the buffet line is kept clean and the selections are more than enough to choose from. There's cheese, yogurt with fruit compote, miso soup, salad, create your own omelette and more. They have egg whites :) There's also a toast your own Punalu'u sweet bread selection and I swear they have all the colors/flavors... I hadn't heard about a kama'aina discount but after reading other yelp reviews on this place, I'll try asking about it next time. Also, they validate for 4 hours so after your meal, you can wander around Waikiki for a couple of hours!

    (4)

  • Nikki R.

    Kai Market was a HUGE disappointment service wise. For $55 per person, the restruant half empty, and the wait staff not having to serve food, I expected excellent service, but the service was lacking. The waiter had no manners, he removed wine glasses without asking, he did not clear plates promptly, he insisted that he did not forget to bring a drink that was ordered when he did forget, he had no clue about the wines that the resturant was serving, he was argumentative at times and not attentive to any customers at all, it was just overall bad tableside manner. The bill inlcuded at 17% gratuity which I had the manager remove. The manager was very nice and said that they were in the process of revamping their wait staff and re-evaluating their service standard. He apologized profusely and provided his card in case we wished to make new reservations. The food was great and the ambiance was awesome, but the great food and the great amibance was overshadowed by really bad service.

    (2)

  • Dave F.

    Went for the seafood buffet recently and it was really good! If you enjoy things like steamed fish Chinese style, sashimi, prawns, prime rib, then you're going to enjoy it here. The selection of food that is served is enough to satisfy even the pickiest eaters! I especially enjoyed their clam chowder which was rich and so creamy, the fresh salad bar, the prime rib carving station of course, the dessert bar, it was a fabulous meal to partake in and the service is very attentive. They will make sure your table is clear by the time you get back from your trip to the buffet line, but will ask you courteously if you are done if you are sitting at your seat. Parking is plentiful, but if you're like me, you'll opt for the valet as you will be glad you used their service after your meal!! The Sheraton has really done itself good by opening up Kai Market. That was my second visit there this year and I'll return again next year!

    (4)

  • Jason P.

    Prime rib...Excellent! Sea bass with lobster sauce...choice! Kai Market at the Sheraton Waikiki is an overall great buffet. Great selection of local foods prepared with local ingredient. They have a wonderful open air ocean side ambiance and live entertainment. My expectations were pretty high for this buffet, because of all the great reviews and suggestions as well as their spendy price. About half the buffet was spectacular and the other half just ok. They need some improvement on their fresh appetizers, such as their sushi, and definitely their desserts. The selections change daily, so perhaps Mondays are not their strong nights. It wasn't particular busy, so the food will tend to sit out under the lights. Get it while its fresh! With their generous kaimaaina discount there is no need to complain.

    (3)

  • Norm D.

    Based on logic, if I love food; therefore, I must love buffets. That may be the case; however, not all buffets are created equally. It's typical that when I go to a buffet, I'll only like a few select food items as the majority looks like it was put together as an after thought. The main draw for me when I go to buffets isn't the prime rib or omelet station; but, it's the endless crab legs that induce me into a buttery food coma. So I heard good things about this buffet place called Kai Market that is located in the Sheraton Waikiki Hotel and I wanted to give it a try. All my friends know that I'm a big fan of the buffet and that my "if I was a teddy bear with a pull-string" phrase would be "I'm Hungry!" So it was no surprise to a couple of my buddies when I called and asked them to participate in this binge-fest of food. However, they weren't too keen on the $50 price tag that came along with it. Luckily, Kai Market offers a 25% discount Kamaaina rate to draw in the local crowd. Lucky you live Hawaii! Thinking that it'd be best to make reservations, I go onto the Sheraton website and look for a phone number to call (921-4600). BIG MISTAKE. I wait and wait and wait for over 10 minutes with no pick up. I then 'googled' Kai Market and find its Facebook page and it has a different number to call (922-4422). Yay! Within a couple of minutes, I made reservations for dinner within the hour. FYI - YELP has the 921-4600 number listed. If you call and have to wait, try the second one. If you go to their website ( sheraton-waikiki.com/kai… ), you can view the menus for every day of the week. In this particular experience, it was Saturday, and they had CRAB LEGS! Anyway, let's get to the important stuff - the food. Here is the skinny on this binge-fest experience. Food (just the highlights): * Alae salt crusted slow roasted prime rib - ONO. This usually doesn't draw me in, but this was good. * Miso marinated Hawaiian sea bass - Delicious! This practically melted in my mouth. * Chinese salt and pepper head on Kahuku shrimp - OMG. Talk about flavor! * Chesapeake Bay crab cakes - I couldn't get enough of it. I was eating one while in line. * Hawaiian style Ni'ihau seafood chowder - BROKE DA MOUTH good. I'm telling you, I would go back just for this chowder. I was pretty amazed. * Steamed snow crab legs - slightly disappointed. I've had better and bigger at other places; however, the other food items made up for it. * Chocolate haupia - WOW. I've never had that before and it was good. * Haupia cream pie - My favorite dessert. Even though I was super-duper full, I kept thinking I had to finish it. Service: * Helpful hostess who already reassured us of the Kamaaina rate without me asking for it. I must look local because my two friends don't. * Awesome server who kept our drinks filled and cleared the table of empty plates and crab shell debris. * Buffet staff was helpful and loaded our plate with crab legs. Ambiance: * Nicely decorated and brightly lit. You have the option of having an indoor or outdoor experience. Preferably, outside would be nice during the day or at sunset; however, if it's way past that point, sit on the inside as it is closer to the food. * The live band playing Hawaiian music is great. It makes you feel like a tourist, even though you already live here. * Bathrooms are clean. Anyway, at the end of the meal the bill came out to $115.45 (including tax and net of the $36.75 discount) for the three of us, which is essentially $38.48 per person. Unfortunately, I was only able to make one trip to the buffet line (GASP!) as they had these HUGE dinner plates. We were informed by our helpful server that the sizeable plates are not the usual case; but, that wouldn't have mattered as I probably would have gone up for seconds. Overall, I thought it was well worth the experience for the price and I wouldn't mind coming back again. This was the first time that I actually enjoyed everything I tried and I'm looking forward to it again. One thing I did find amusing was that the suggested tip started at 18%. WTF happened to 15%? Lastly, parking is free with validation in the Sheraton Waikiki parking structure. Unlike me, don't get it confused with the Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center parking structure.

    (4)

  • Mike F.

    The food was great. The selection was amazing. We were celebrating our anniversary and they gave us 20% off our bill. The desert options tasted as good as they looked. Delicious

    (4)

  • Alyssa K.

    We went here for Christmas Buffet. I asked my fiance, "how many stars out of 5 would you give Kai Market?" and he said, "5" The food is very yummy here, and we both loved the fact that they use fresh, locally owned ingredients in their cooking. Fiance's notes: - prime rib - it was great. they had 2 stations. 1 was medium rare, and the other was medium to medium well. - kahuku shrimp scampi was really good. wasn't oily, more like a cream sauce. plump shrimp - niihau fisherman's soup (like a chowder) was good - omelet station was great. made to order station. My notes: The fish was great. loved the niihau fisherman's soup. staff always made sure to replace our used plates. we'll definitely come here for brunch again!

    (5)

  • Adam C.

    High quality dinner buffet, everything on the menu was super fresh and delicious. The living walls added even more freshness. Tonight's special was prime rib, snow crab legs and onaga, done to perfection. I even got some fresh picked rosemary right from the living wall behind the carving station. We really enjoyed the kama'aina discount and the "all you can eat" deal but as usual at buffets, ate too much too fast and wasn't able to fully enjoy dessert, which was very luxurious too. The bread pudding was my favorite, followed closely by the Satura carrot cake. This buffet ranks among the highest quality of the Waikiki buffets. I'd say better than the Hawaii Prince, but probably right on par with Hakone. Sheraton had a very nice makeover too, the infinity pool at sunset was amazing.

    (4)

  • Keith A.

    We stayed at the Sheraton Waikiki and got the "breakfast included" deal....which was at Kai Market. That being said, I was astounded to learn what the going rate for this buffet was....and my advice to anyone paying for it is....so not worth the $25 per person for breakfast. However, since it was "free" for us....it was actually pretty good. If I had to pay for the buffet, I'd say it's worth about $10 to $15 for breakfast. I noticed one reviewer dissing the omelet makers and we noticed quite the opposite. This one elderly gentlemen was so nice and polite he truly seemed to enjoy making everyone's omelet made to your specifications. He was cooking three at time and he was "poetry in motion". I always enjoy watching someone skilled in their craft! The best part is that the omelet's were delicious! As for the other items, we were amazed at the variety and how they catered to so many different cultures. Who eats salad, goat cheese or salami and crackers for breakfast? But if that is your speed...they have it. Yogurt, granola, fruit, cold cereal....that too. For the five days we stayed at the Sheraton, it was awfully nice to go down and eat as much or as little as you wanted. We always got a patio seat and enjoyed the outdoor atmosphere.....even the shooing of the pigeons got entertaining when some little kids got into it. Service was always prompt and friendly. We never did the dinner buffet, as we couldn't stomach the price at $50 per person. However, we did walk thru and check it out a couple times and it looked alright....albeit pretty standard buffet items. The one time I was so tempted to succumb was when they were cooking kalbi ribs one night and the smell of the meat grilling on the BBQ was wafting up to our ocean front room. Standing on the patio taking in the sunset and smelling those ribs just about did me in. But we ended up going elsewhere that night. We did talk to a couple one day at the pool who said they had eaten at the buffet for dinner the night before and said it was "so not worth it" and to spend the $100 elsewhere.

    (3)

  • Kaili N.

    i just got home from the sheraton waikiki and it's the first time i've been there in over a year. i was invited to try the new "paniolo" night buffet at kai market and brought my bff mel to come with me. all i kept saying from the moment i entered the sheraton's lobby was..."wow!" as we walked to the table, the hostess asked whether we would like to sit inside or out. we chose inside to be closer to the buffet ;) and we still had a nice view of the ocean and diamond head. "wow!" the salad bar was super duper fresh and i was ooohing and aaahing over the little enoki mushrooms and cucumbers cut to perfection (like snowflakes without the holes in them). "wow!" they pay attention to all the little details and it shows. dressings were good, too! as we walked through the buffet line, i grabbed a little of everything...swordfish, ribs, chicken, baked potatoes, prime rib...omg, they had a bowl of finely chopped chives for the baked potatoes which was oddly and impressively cut to perfection (again!) which got another "wow!" out of me. yeah, i'm a dork that's easily impressed...but hey, so was the lady standing behind me! anyway, everything tasted just as good as it looked. of course, the highlight for me was dessert. wow, what a spread! the bread pudding was SO good. they also had haupia, fresh fruits (i passed, too healthy for me), a huge assortment of cakes - the chantilly cake was pretty good (but can't beat liliha), coconut butter mochi might actually be better than my mom's but don't tell her i said so (yum!), and 4 different types SATURA cupcakes. "WOOOW!!!" i LOVE satura cupcakes! i bet i could eat the price of the buffet in just satura cupcakes. "wowowowow!" oh, they also had a live band playing that started at around 6pm at "the edge" poolside bar. there was a fire-knife dancer and then a hula dancer as well. the music was soft enough that we could carry on a conversation without straining, but loud enough that we still paid attention. "wow!" soft drinks are included with the meal and we also got hot coffee and tea. oh, there is also NO TIME LIMIT on the buffet. "wow!" parking is validated for 4 hours and is totally free. our server was cool and took the time to talk to us after dinner. he asked what we liked about the buffet and told us to come on fridays and saturdays if we like seafood - there's crab legs! damn, i love crab legs. the price of the buffet is $49 but if you are kamaaina then you get 25% off. yup, sounds good to me. after dinner i took a look around rum fire. "wow!" i can't believe i haven't been there yet. which rock have i been living under? looks like an awesome place for a romantic date. i can't wait to go back! i was impressed with kai market and the sheraton as a whole. definitely a good sign when you can't wait to go back as you are leaving. :) i will definitely recommend everyone checking it out!

    (5)

  • The Next Time O.

    Located in the Sheraton Waikiki. The best buffet in Hawaii that we have tried. Better than Plumeria House at Kahala Hotel and Orchids. While there might be fewer choices than the comparables, the items they do have on the menu are done right. On the night our family went, the Poke, Onaga(snapper), prime rib, salt and pepper shrimp, noodle, and fried rice were excellent. The salad and dessert were bonus. The atmosphere is relaxed with the seating connected to outdoor bar with live music. The Next Time: The buffet menu changes daily so check the site for 7day menu and go on the day that we prefer.

    (4)

  • Eric L.

    Great buffet. Love the seafood chowder.

    (4)

  • Valerie F.

    I'm so glad we read the reviews and waited for the seafood buffet on Saturday night. It costs a wee bit more, $58. I think, total for 2 with tip was about $150. Well worth the price for me, but not for a teenager that believes pepperoni pizza is food of the Gods. The sashimi was sooo good, poke, perfection. Everything was amazingly perfect and fresh. I had never before had any raw fish or any mussels. Crab and shrimp were about as exotic as it gets for my tastes. But since we were on this heavenly trip, we decided to eat local fresh cuisine. This isn't your typical buffet by any means. It is making me a little sad, to be home writing a review, instead of being there to enjoy this amazing experience right now. Hopefully we can go back next year and do it again. However, if my boy hasn't learned to appreciate fine dining by then, he can call room service for a pizza! Don't forget to make reservations! You may be out of luck, we saw a few people turned away and others were waiting in line. Also, the location is on the beach awesome. Have fun and enjoy every moment. Reservations are not required, but are highly recommended.

    (5)

  • Larry P.

    One of my favorite buffets anywhere. A great assortment of local, Japanese and American dishes. Kona Ribs are great. Two kinds of shrimp, aha poke, stir fry noodles. Great salad bar and dessert bar. Come Friday-Sunday for an expanded spread.

    (5)

  • James C.

    Yes, it's pricey. If you're a kamaina, be sure to let them know. Some wait staff are better than others at acknowledging it. But for a 25% discount, it's worth asking. The food is fresh. I especially liked the sashimi.

    (4)

  • Gina B.

    I LOVE eating at buffets and Kai Market is now my favorite. I'm a chowder enthusiast and their Niihau island chowder was the best I've ever had. In fact, I plan to go back to Kai Market just so I can eat their chowder again. I may spend money to eat as many bowls as I can possibly consume...and nothing else. It's just that good. The story behind the fresh seafood and taro chowder is that it's inspired by local fishermen and it's simmered over kiawe wood for 24 hours. I also ate prime rib, Onaga (snapper), garlic mashed potatoes, bok choy and more. I didn't care for the lemongrass roasted chicken only because I like lemongrass and I didn't taste any hint of it. Save your stomach space for sashimi and poke....and dessert. The restaurant features Satura cupcakes. My only suggestion is that they label the various flavors. I also liked that locally grown products are used. And, as a useful decorative piece, they have a wall where fresh herbs are grown. I ate here on a Friday night at about 7:30 p.m. Our server was attentive and friendly which made the meal that much more enjoyable. I can't wait to go back!

    (5)

  • Mike O.

    Went to Paniolo night this week. The starters like salad, shrimp and poke were good. Their chowder was excellent. When we moved on to the main courses, we were disappointed. They were ok but nothing stood out. They hyped the grilled rib-eye and prime rib. Both were raw and tough and cold. Best thing on the main course were the Kalbi. Desserts were good. Strawberry SC from satura was yummy as was the creme brulee. My wife loved the shrimp cocktail. This was a trial run for Paniolo night and the service was excellent. Our server was prompt and friendly. He talked story with us but wasnt over bearing, he knew when to let us eat. Now that they have our comments, I am sure they can improve on their main dishes. I really want to try their seafood buffet.

    (3)

  • Jeff L.

    You know how when you really enjoy something the first time you do it, think about it, and build it up to something that's unreachable the next time you do it? Well I went back to Kai Market... ...and it was just as good as I had built it up to be! Again the service was awesome, the food was just as incredible, and the experience left my friends with smiles from ear to ear. One even commented, "I wish I wore a dress," because her pants were too tight upon leaving! One thing I liked even better was that that this time I was able to better game plan my meal. I knew what I liked and didn't have to sample all of the delectable flavors. I was able to focus on the Chinese style opakapaka and not worry about having to try the coffee-infused ribs, roasted chicken, or any of the vegetable dishes. Yum! I will definitely going back soon! Hope to see you there!

    (5)

  • Spencer L.

    The breakfast selections for the day itself rated five stars: mini loco moco, fried rice, and natto! They had me at mini loco moco. Everything else was a blur. Service was attentive, although I think the waiter had too many tables to handle. Discount for kamaainas always a plus.

    (5)

  • tawny w.

    One of the best buffets i've been to. What gives Kai Market the edge is THE OCEAN VIEW. It was surreal sitting there cutting into my delicious medium rare prime rib with a side of poki, while listening to the waves crash onto shore and feel the warm ocean breeze accompany each bite.

    (5)

  • Anh V.

    3.5 stars for the brekkie buffet. our coffee and juice cups were consistently filled. one downside of getting an outside table is that you had some feathered friends waiting for you to leave the table between rounds. some standouts included: eggs bennie loco moco the island bread pudding crustless goat cheese and spinach quiche guava butter - i was putting that on everything including the fried chicken! they would be more successful if they focused on the variations of island food but i guess that it is the sheraton afterall. the eye sores included the natto, jook and continental spread for those unwilling to try some yummy nouveau island food. thumbs up: fresh farm ingredients - some of which are growing on the wall next to you!

    (4)

  • Garik M.

    too expensive 4 That kind of food, really bad experience , only dessert was good but to pay $150 for dessert?

    (1)

  • Soojeon P.

    Not really feeling all of the rave reviews that are here. I'm not really a fan of seafood so my review will mainly focus on the nonseafood items. I started off with a chicken item which was a bit dry and hard and tasted a bit like duck. They had some beef in Korean sauce which was one good thing. Next I went for the prime rib. I had recently eaten a prime rib at the Aulani buffet and I can say that this did not compare at all. While it was soft, it lacked flavor. I also tried the oven baked Mac and cheese. While it looked good, it was very bland in general. Last, the corn was overly buttered and sweetened. Bright bright bright yellow. Just gross. Later I tried a potato purée. It tasted like mashed potatoes but it was nothing special. The dessert selection was very large and someone could even make you custom s'mores. The flan was very soggy, but I enjoyed the mango pudding. The service is fine and we received boots and neckerchiefs apon arrival (kinda weird for Hawaii but I'm not complaining. 2 stars overall.

    (2)

  • Malia E.

    My family and I went there to celebrate my 40th birthday with Kai's seafood buffet. We normally go to the Halekulani for the Sunday Orchids brunch. On this day, I just wanted to try Kai as I had read the mostly positive Yelp reviews. Lets start with the great and the good. 1) We had reservations for 5:30. We were running late. They were willing to push us all the way back to 6:15. That was cool of them. We got there early enough that the crowd wasnt too bad. But within the hour, the place really packed up and lines formed. The super cool part was that there sure was a solid local contingency there. Good mix. 2) Yes, the seafood chowder is amazing. Sheraton could make a fortune if they bottled and sold that soup. Sooo ono. 3) Overall, the food was solid. Nothing really was not good. On the other hand, other than the soup and one of the dessert choices, nothing was OHMYGODTHATSAMAZING! 4) The seafood selections were fresh and ono: raw oysters, shrimp, and sashimi were all delicious. I enjoyed the snow crab, too. 5) The prime rib was a perfect compliment to all the seafood. My kid must have had three servings. 6) They did manage to provide me with the single handedly best dessert I have ever had at a buffet, maybe anywhere: a thai coffee mousse with vanilla bean sauce served in a small glass cup. OMG!! This thing was cool, creamy, silky, and just GIMME5MORE delicious!!! The not so good and the irritating: 1) If youre going to serve oysters, please have real horseradish available, too. 2) There was drawn butter for the crab, but it was cold. 3) Enhance the salad options. Go check out HaleKoa for some excellent salad offerings in a buffet. Kai is definitely lacking in the salad area - which is surprising for their 'local, fresh' theme. 4) If youre going to serve snow crab, please have those little shimmys that allows you to cut open the shell and helps push out the meat. I asked - and the staff looked at me like I was nuts. So, I had to use my fork. 5) They should consider making other seafood-related dishes. Hows about Clam Linguine? Seafood dynamite? 6) Staffing issues: a) We had to keep asking for plates to be removed. That would never happen at the Halekulani. If youre going to charge Halekulani prices, your staff had better be sharp, responsive, and fast. If you take the silverware, they should know to replace it. I kept having to take from the neighboring tables. b) My kid spilt her full glass of guava juice everywhere. The busboy slowly came to help - and our waitress had no idea that we got charged again. Really? c) when we asked for new napkins because we had all used ours to clean up the guava juice, the clueless waitress looked annoyed and then gave us paper napkins to replace our linens. d) We went looooong stints without anyone checking on us. e) No one asked if we wanted coffee after dinner, Isnt that standard? f) They did bring me a birthday dessert - but after we had our huge plates of buffet dessert. Common sense says bring it before I pig out at the buffet. g) We waited for at least 20 minutes, if not more, for our check. Thats a very long time just to pay. h) Basically, the thing we observed is that there is just not enough waitstaff to keep their attention to the guests at the level that it should be for the price of this buffet. Service should be impeccable - and its not. Its not even close. Overall, three stars is the right call for this market. But if you love, love, love oysters - then you'll love this place. Just bring your own horseradish!

    (3)

  • Jane S.

    Way over priced and a poor buffet selection for dinner.

    (2)

  • Zoe B.

    We went on the past Friday for the seafood dinner buffet. We are a party of 4. Me and my husband are from here and our 2 friends are visiting from Chicago. The restaurant was nice enough to give us all kama'aina discount! So nice of them. And the food was also great. Seafood lovers are gonna enjoy this buffet alot. The oyster is very clean and fresh, very impressive. The clams are good as well. My friend said the sashimi was great too. The crab was also delicious. We also like the prime rib and the braised short rib. Basically we like everything there. We arrived at 6pm and ate till after 9pm. My advice is that you'd better be there as early as they start the dinner buffet, because I noticed that when the time is closing to 9pm, a lot of seafood items are gone, I think it's because they don't want to make a new steamed fish when it's closing soon as it's gonna be a big waste for the leftover. Besides, be reminded that seafood buffet is on Friday and Saturday only, so you have to go on Friday or Saturday if you want seafood night.

    (4)

  • Joseph B.

    So this place was good. I found out about through my friend and from restaurant week. I like the fact that they use a lot of local produce. They had steamed onaga Chinese style and that was delicious. The prime rib was a tad bit on the rare side. They had crab legs and the desserts were good. Look for the bread pudding. So yum. Plus kama'aina discount.

    (4)

  • Anthony H.

    The food was worth the price for the taste and presentation. I went there for breakfast and dinner and still brag about it today. Sitting right on the beach was very epic, the atmosphere could only be described as "serenity". When I think of taking a stay-cation on Oahu, I want to stay at the Sheraton for Kai Market and the Infinity pool.

    (5)

  • Grace M.

    My family and I ate breakfast here everyday while on vacation recently. We had a package from Costco that included a daily breakfast buffet at Kai Market. The breakfast selection is pretty good, includes the usual fixings, eggs, omlette station, bacon, sausage (different kinds daily), fruit station, pastries, breads, quiches, eggs benedict (different kinds daily). My family and I thoroughly enjoyed having breakfast here, either sitting inside or outside. The service was good, we had quite a few great servers who recognized us towards the end of our trip, hehe. They bring you coffee and passionfruit juice right when you sit down and you can order another drink if you'd like. They are quick on refills and have the Aloha spirit!

    (4)

  • Dave H.

    It's hard to find a good quality buffet, but when you do, you definitely have to give them their props. I judge a buffet by how greasy their food is. The less oil used, the better. Although, the variety of food seems somewhat limited, the quality of food is great. Service is great, so give it a shot!

    (4)

  • Andrew P.

    located inside our hotel the waikik sheraton where we stayed at. had the morning brunch buffet. $28 per person. specatular ocean view. not cheap but you get what you pay for. quality and variety of food was up to par for the price.

    (4)

  • Amanda Z.

    This review is for the breakfast buffet only. After a horrible check-in experience at the Sheraton (review forthcoming), the hotel comp'ed us 2 free breakfasts at Kai Market. I guess it was worth it, as I would never normally pay $30/person for breakfast (it's the Chinese in me). It was Saturday morning ~930am and we were seated promptly (restaurant was less than half full). View of the beach was gorgeous. Also, the outdoor ambiance was nice, but the birds walking/flying around was so unsanitary! The service started out just fine, water and juice was poured and plates were cleared on a regular basis. The buffet was pretty big, but there were some duplications. Some of the highlights: kalua pig eggs benedict (no english muffin, this was really good!), crustless quiche w/sundried tomatoes and local goat cheese (decent), fried rice, breakfast mac and cheese (super cheesy, penne pasta, ham, GOOD but a bit heavy for breakfast), made-to-order omelet station, tons of breads/pastries and delicious lilikoi jelly in mini-jars and whipped strawberry guava butter, fresh fruits, all kinds of yogurt. At first I was really excited and tried a bit of everything b/c it all looked so good. The second time back to the buffet I felt baffled b/c I wasn't sure what I wanted to eat more of. I'm interpreting that to be that the food was good, but not great...and at $30 a head, it better be great! Back to the service, halfway through the meal, our server became unattentive (empty water glasses, hello?!?) and almost seemed to want to rush us out. It made me leave w/mixed feelings. Sad face.

    (3)

  • Christine N.

    I think I came on a good night, since every item out was great. I liked the prime rib, short ribs, baby back ribs, honey glazed sweet potatoes, bacon baked mac n' cheese, and seafood chowder. Had multiple helpings of prime rib. We skipped the salad section entirely and focused on the big players. The dessert spread was extensive, with many variations of pies, mochi, mouses, tarts and asian inspired desserts. I don't mind paying the price for food, ocean view, and live entertainment and fire dancing during sunset. We took our sweet ass time for seconds and tried every dessert.

    (5)

  • Eddie P.

    Quite disappointed. For the $51 price tag, it is not worth it. The kamaaina rate of $38 makes it a two star. I won't be back. The buffet was a bit sparse. But I was expecting a "less is more" experience. If you have a few good things to eat, then it should be prepared well. The Niihau clam chowder was the best thing. Very tasty with chunks of seafood. The prime rib was good but not outstanding. Similar to what you would get in any Las Vegas buffet. Certainly not a Lawry's. I don't understand why it can't be. Must be the quality of meat. The second entree was a chilean sea bass. Not bad, but not great. The other hot entrees included a short rib braised dish (nothing special) and some type of chicken. But who really eats chicken at a buffet. That's just poor eating strategy. There were some clams which were tasty and shrimp dish (bland). The sashimi was a bit brown so I didn't touch it. The poke was standard. Dessert was nothing special with some pies and fruit. I didn't get to taste anything else. Two stars for ambience and the mini hula show. If you only have stomach space for one buffet in Hawaii, don't go here. Halekulani's brunch was better.

    (2)

  • Jason L.

    I came here for a joint birthday between me and my sister. We came with a party of 7 for a Saturday night (seafood night) buffet. The Saturday night buffet comes at a hefty $58 : / which is a lot.... I liked the: crab legs, fresh oysters ( had about 16 of them), sashimi, prime rib, lemongrass panacotta dessert, mocha coffe mousse dessert, fresh opakapaka or onaga steamed chinese style with green onions ginger and shoyu, seafood chowder, cheese plate there were many more other dishes in the buffet line but none else were worth mentioning. Our waitress gave us excellent service. She constantly came around to refill our drinks and to ask if everything was ok. And she ALWAYS had a smile on which is A++++++ in my book. the bus boys came around often to remove our plates of empty oysters and crab leg shells. Overall the food and desserts were good. But I do not think even I could eat my $58 worth and i am a 6 foot 240 lbs pure CHINESE eater! and i am by far the biggest person and largest eater in my family. Bottomline, the food was great, service was great, BUT NO ONE SMALLER THAN 6 FEET and WEIGHING LESS THAN 240 pounds COULD EVER EAT THERE $58 (plus tax and mandatory gratuity) worth here, but then again i guess you pay for the wide selection of different foods at a buffet.

    (4)

  • Dawn T.

    Although it's quite pricey $55.00 weekdays, w/ Kamaina discount its $41.25. All of the cold and hot entrees were excellent especially the fish, ribs, kaboocha mash potatoes & Kahuku shrimp . Not as much selection as Makino Chaya or Hawaii Prince but what is offerred is of high quality. There is still much to choose from and the dessert bar was great especially the bread pudding and keylime pie. Worth the price for a high quality buffet.

    (5)

  • Terry S.

    My family enjoyed the dinner buffet here last week. The fresh, local ingredients that they advertise is evident in the high quality of the dishes. My favorites were the prime rib and the Niihau chowder. Onaga was offered that night and was great. Various cooked vegetables were done to perfection with nice thick mushroom slices in some of the dishes that really added a nice touch. Sashimi was good, but not great as were the tako and ahi poke. My son loved the fried rice with Portuguese sausage. Overall, not as much choice as some of the other high end buffets in town, but excellent quality. Service was excellent too. Try this place out now before the masses discover it. I think they're holding back on their advertising until some outside remodeling is finished. Our waiter guessed that construction would be done by the end of October. Nice view of Diamond Head and the hotel's new infinity pool. The night we went it was less than a quarter full. Make sure you request the 25% Kamaaina discount because they don't advertise that anywhere. 4-hours free validated parking in the main Sheraton parking lot.

    (4)

  • Eric X.

    The best buffet I've eaten in Hawaii -- which isn't saying much because I rarely go to buffets; I'm not that big so it generally ends up being a waste of money for me. The food is apparently mostly locally sourced and the quality was good. For a buffet, the quality was excellent. Most people go for the obvious stuff like the prime rib and crab legs. At this price, roughly 50% more than the Oceanarium, I would hope for king crab. The Oceanarium occasionally does king crab. Anyway, I rather liked the seafood chowder, crab cakes (remarkably ungreasy but unfortunately not in the least bit crispy), poke (mm crunchy salt bits gives it that real Hawaiian feeling -- the only thing we use salt this size for back where I'm from is traction on the roads), seaweed salad (something sorely lacking at the Oceanarium), kahuku shrimp (actually I believe these were prawns). I wonder why the mashed potatoes were sourced from Ewa while the potato salad supposedly comes from Molokai. Delicious, leprous potatoes. The Sheraton hotel is one of my favorites in Waikiki. This was my first time back since they remodeled the outside area with a brand new ocean side pool. It's got a great vibe, and the live music and dancing within eye and earshot from our table completed the ambience. The only thing stopping this place from getting the full 5 stars is the price. However to be fair, they do include soft drinks and coffee in the price -- the Oceanarium does not.

    (4)

  • Mr P.

    Went on a Saturday night for their seafood buffet. The fresh oysters on a half shell, Manila clams with black bean sauce and Tako poke were my favorites. Fresh sashimi and prime rib was ok. For $55 I was expecting king crab so i didnt try the snow crab. The desserts were heavy on the cream pies, short on the fresh fruit. Would I go back? Free parking up to 4 hours, kamaaina rate; I'll go back in a year after going back to Todai and Makinos

    (4)

  • Caitlin G.

    I wanted to try this place after reading that they try their best to source as much of their ingredients as possible from local farmers. I happened to be staying in Waikiki and thought I'd give them a try for Friday morning breakfast. Upon seating I was told they were only serving buffet, which I generally think are a rip off, but I thought what the hey I'm already here-how expensive could Kama'aina be? I sat down and ordered a hot tea and got my food, which was fine-not exceptional but good-I have no complaint about that. The tea unfortunately was the cheapest Lipton's that is available, and it was stale at that-which is unfortunate considering even McDonald's has great locally made Hawaiian teas. When I got the bill it was $30! For one person on a weekday morning! When I was seated I mentioned that I was Kama'aina, but it wasn't until after I had finished eating and received the bill that they told me there was no Kama'aina rate that morning. I understand this is in a nice hotel in Waikiki, but that is no excuse to gouge even your non local customers-Hawaii is expensive, but I felt Kai's was simply ridiculous.

    (2)

  • D K.

    Let's start with the positive. The wait staff is friendly and courteous. Now, the reality is the food is terrible, the omelette chefs look absolutely miserable, and the pigeons outside are unbearable. Not only is this breakfast buffet a complete waste of great ingredients due to the ill preparation of most items, but furthermore is a complete rip-off and should go for something around $9.95. Don't waste your time. If you're looking for a great buffet breakfast go to the Halekulani or the Kahala Mandarin.

    (1)

  • Clark C.

    Good food but it was completely mobbed with people this year on Christmas Eve. It appears they added far more tables and over sold them for the size of the buffet. Last year, we also went on Christmas Eve and enjoyed the food and atmosphere so much that we booked it again for our party of eleven on Christmas Eve this year. The food was equally good with a slightly larger selection, but it was so overcrowded that everyone was standing in line quietly and looking very serious. The prisoners in the cafeteria in the movie "The Shawshank Redemption" looked happier about getting their food. We had fun at our own table, but everyone else in the restaurant really created a bummer of an environment when we were expecting a festive holiday good time.

    (2)

  • Mallory M.

    Kai Market how I'm still thinking about you... My boyfriend got us a hotel room for the weekend of my birthday. My birthday fell on a Thursday but after reading a few reviews I decided that I could wait another night for seafood night! Got there and the hostest sat us right away. We got sat inside but now I wish that we sat outside. Right as we sat down entertainment started with fire knife and hula dancing. I recommend you to request to sit outside if your into that type of scene. I started off with the salad and soup line. Not to much because I was saving myself for crab of course! I got the clam chowder which was really good. Everything is made from local ingredients too! Prime rib was cut a little to thick for my taste but the crab is always the best! When it was time for dessert I was really wanting to try the bread pudding I heard so much about, but it was empty!!! :( I guess next time... Our server was great and never let our glasses get empty. We will definitely come back soon and I can't wait! :)

    (4)

  • Natasha G.

    OMG this place was delicious! The atmosphere was enjoyable and relaxing. I went there with 2 other friends on Christmas Eve for brunch and we sat outside right along side the ocean. My favorites were the loco moco and the french toast! MMm yummy! It is pretty pricey but for a once in awhile indulgence with friends it was perfect.

    (4)

  • Aileen W.

    We love this place! Great quality foods, great location and great service!! I love their grilled butterfish!! Pink lemonade is so good too. I always come back to this place because of their deserts. sooo yummy!!! Breakfast is really good too but shame they don't have kamaaina discount for breakfast anymore. But we LOVE Kai Market!!

    (5)

  • Caligurl M.

    Great ambiance, great quality food, and great margaritas! what more can i say? Not too many selections, but I'll choose quality over quantity any day....the service was impeccable and live music was da bomb.

    (5)

  • Dave E.

    Great buffet with quality of local foods. Good selection of seafood, prime rib and poke. Finally, a great buffet with high quality food.

    (4)

  • Renee A.

    I found my favorite buffet!!! This place is THE BEST! The food is super fresh and the selection is great. I also love the ambiance & location of the restaurant. They have the menu posted online so I'd recommend reading it before deciding to go. My favorite is their Friday's menu. Saturday is not bad either :)

    (5)

  • theresa s.

    kai market has always been very satisfying for us. love the selection and the food is always good, just wish the prices were more reasonable. tonight, we again went for dinner and the server recommended the cabernet sauvignon, so we wanted to go with her recommendation. she brought us a bottle of sauvignon blanc instead-- it was a misunderstanding when i was ordering, so it was no big deal to us-- still good wine! we decided to stick with the white after we tasted it. she later brought 2 full glasses of the cab so we could try it. super great service and the food always tastes so fresh, even something as simple as marinara sauce can taste bright and flavorful! love the desserts selection-- especially the satura cakes!

    (4)

  • Lawrence S.

    I favorites there are the seafood chowder, sea bass, and butter fish (black cod). Sashimi and poke was very good. The Kahuku salt & pepper shrimp and black bean clam is pretty good too. Desserts are always a hit.

    (4)

  • Sandy D.

    Took my husband for his birthday along with my dad and two children (3 and 8). We had a 6 pm reservation which was nice because it wasn't busy and we had very attentive waitstaff until it got a bit more crowded. The downside of being there early is that the food sits for a long time so the prime rib was dry. The fried rice was also crusting on the edges. The steamed fish Chinese style was dry and not warm. The salad area is a big hit. Things look fresh and tasted fresh. The seafood chowder tasted too rich and creamy for my daughter. The crab legs were dry and not hot or cold. The Korean braised shortribs were tasty but by the time I reached my table, it was cold and getting gummy. The desserts were the highlight of the night. The chocolate pot de creme that I had was wonderful! The kids and husband enjoyed the desserts also. I did let them know that I was celebrating a birthday and after we asked for the bill and was ready to leave, they came to sing happy birthday with the little cake. Too late. When it gets busy, it's hard to get the attention of the servers. Overall, I most likely won't go back. Very pricey for what you get. My dad who is really picky finally waited for a new prime rib to come out and enjoyed their green ocean salad. They did give a kamaaina discount and the kids ate free.

    (3)

  • C Y.

    I would rate the food a 4*, but the service really made me want to lower the score a lot. The food was good and desserts were stellar. The thing that I liked about this place is the food didn't taste too oily or over salted. The service was horrible. Waitresses kept bumping my seat without apologizing and drinks took a long time because they kept passing off orders to each other. For an more expensive buffet, I expect service to be above the rest. As far as food items, the prime rib was cooked to perfection, even if it seems like a no brainer, I have had pretty horrible rib from buffets. Dessert selection was awesome and most all of them were great. If the service was there, this place could be a lot better, but I guess since it is Waikiki and they don't care because they get tourists coming in all the time...

    (2)

  • Wade H.

    I had heard good things about Kai Market but I was skeptical since it was at a hotel and it was a buffet. I also thought the price at $55 as listed on the Sheraton Waikiki website was a bit steep. Lucky for my party, we had four seniors (age 60 and above). Cost was $35 per person and two Kamaaina. Cost was $45. Children pricing is also discounted. I made a reservation for a Friday night and got the earliest reservation at 5:30pm. Note: They asked for a credit card as they have a cancellation policy. If you decide to cancel, you can do so within 72 hours without any issues. Recommend making reservations eventhough this restaurant is large. I forget which restaurant was here before it became Kai. There are lots of hotel guests who come to the restaurant. I think they had some coupons so the hotel is discounting the meals. The Sheraton Waikiki Hotel can be confusing. If you park in the garage, take the elevators down to the ground floor. Once you get out of the elevators, head towards the main lobby. The restaurant is located past the shops. The signs aren't too good either. If you see the ocean, make a right turn towards the Ewa side. There are two lines. One for reservations and one for no reservations. We were seated rather quickly because we had reservations. The person at the counter asked if we were Kamaaina. I said yes. The waitress then asked as we were sitting down how many seniors. The menu and price changes daily so be sure to check out the website. For Friday night, the main dishes included: prime rib (excellent), fish (excellent), snow crab legs (okay). To me, it was worth it for the prime rib and fish. The 3 entrees are served so you can't necessarily take what you want, although the guy who served me was very generous. If you go early and get the 5:30pm reservation, you pretty much get first crack at all of the buffet items. Here is what the selection was on the salad side: oysters Nalo greens lots of different salads and condiments tofu salad noodles Different breads (this was good) Tako poke - tako was rubbery. :( Ahi Sashimi deveined shrimp. Kind of like shrimp cocktail but with a nice sauce. Very TASTY! For the other entrees: crab cakes - okay whole chicken - chinese style fresh steamed vegetables - very good mashed potatoes - excellent cake noodle - okay scallops, shrimp, mushrooms, etc. Desserts: Satura cakes - Heard that it's like $3 for just one serving. Different flavors mochi and chi chi dango - kinda hard. :( portuguese bread pudding with and without raisins fresh fruits - pineapple and watermelon - pineapple was sweet different kinds of moose in glass cups The mainstay of Kai is using fresh local ingredients wherever possible. I like the concept. Because it's a buffet, you can try different things and go back for the stuff that you like. Lots of local people eating when we were there. Lots of celebrations. Noise level high because music from pool area blaring into restaurant. It's open with lots of birds but just kick em aside. Wait staff pretty good. Filled water. You can order beverages. Beer is like $5.72 PER CAN... Validated parking for up to 4 hours so you can check out the Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center for a little while before leaving. Dress is very casual. You can wear shorts and a nice top. Slippers too. I"ll be back!"

    (4)

  • Indigo L.

    We had a party here for dinner. The management and servers were very accommodating while we were in the planning stages of our party. The ambiance was great, there was live music + hula dancing and a fire dancer at one point. We were seated on the covered lanai next to the ocean. There was a great selection of choices, to please all of our guests. The highlights included the snow crab legs, prime rib, & Satura Cake desserts. It's definitely a place where you are paying a high price for the total package (quality food, quality setting and quality service). Now, if you don't care about any of these things, the Oceanarium will suffice. All in all, we were happy we chose Kai Market for our special celebration.

    (4)

  • michelle y.

    Had dinner there last night and food was ok. Not a large selection as stated in Honolulu Advertiser and some items were less than room temp, like the prime rib. Overall the quality is good but would not choose to go there again. Maybe it was an off night? Not many people there. Too high in price for what is offered even thought it was a kamaaina rate.

    (2)

  • Michael S.

    So I was looking to avoid Mother's Day crowd. I had read the reviews of Kai, didn't know that the restaurant had changed. So we booked there for Sat. night instead of the Sun. brunch. (probably sold out anyway being last min. )I would recommend the chowder, sashimi and poke! My wife went to town on the crab (Seafood Night) and the salt and pepper shrimp! The red snapper was steamed to perfection! The prime rib was good too! But the desserts were the bomb! Maybe next time I go back ( I will be back!!) I'm just going to 1. skip breakfast and lunch and 2.hit the dessert first! The desserts are not in huge portions but are BIG in taste! Service was very good! Not once was a plate left on the table when we went back for more food! Drinks were refilled when needed, Free soft drink refills too! Kudos to Kevin F. our waiter! He made this a great experience! Oh and for local folks with kids, especially nice!!! Local discount is 25% off. Kids 1-5 eat free, 6-12 free with full paying adult and 12-16 1/2 price! Very hard to beat this place with the food, discounts and service! Oh and I was expecting to pay for parking but it was FREE.

    (5)

  • Toni R.

    They have a good rotating menu (different menu depending on the day of the week). I can't remember exactly which days offer which menu, but there's a seafood night, a BBQ night... and some others I can't recall. (Its been six months). Staff are super nice... they give kama'aina discount. We are considering this place for a post-wedding day brunch. There is an indoor and outdoor sitting area... The outdoor looks out into the infinity pool and the ocean.

    (4)

  • Dijon Y.

    The buffet was $50 as it was valentine's day. Pretty damn expensive. Like most buffets, not worth it. The prime rib was ok, not great. I've had better for $7 in cafes in mediocre casinos in las vegas. The food quality is good overall but like most buffets, I didn't really feel compelled to try 2nds of different entrees, as nothing really made me go wow, got to get more of that. The seafood chowder was the one thing that stood out though.

    (3)

  • bucca d.

    Okay the food here is really fresh and very good. Although the price for Chinese was quite steep i thought at $50 a person. Even with the Kamaina discount down to ~$38 it was a little steep for essentially Chinese. Many of the fresh vegetables were really just Chinese vegetables. The steamed fish was very good. The fresh herbs from the living wall was fun. It almost felt like a very high class Panda Cuisine with a little western fusion. They also have decent salads and raw oysters and poke which was good. The desert station was quite impressive as far as selection and overall quality. All in all though this place with the Kamaina discount wasn't bad. The waitresses were also relatively nice considering our son, who was free because he was under a certain age, made somewhat of a mess. So for a Kamaiana meal for two was about ~$80, not including tax and tip off of the price of $100. The total then with everything is about $105 - still an extraordinary price to have to pay, but alas the buffet was good.

    (3)

  • Eric S.

    great service i loved how the receptionist gave me great information regarding the 25% percent off discount on food for locals. food was awesome with a touch of elegance yet simplicity and complexity ranging from sashimi to porchini stuffed pasta. i even like the fact they had wet wipes for your crab legs usually i only seen them offered at rib places. one big plus is the satura cakes imagine the killing there taking from that alone cuz just to buy one at satura cakes is about 4 dollars. the one thing i loved the most was this dessert called lemongrass panacotta infused with lychee and strawberry can i say awesome it reminds me of my childhood cuz it had a lingering finsh of fruit loops. thanks to everyone who gave me suggestions for where to take my gf i choose this place and it was a great recommendation.

    (5)

  • Steve c.

    This is the best buffet you have ever been to. The service is excellent. Ask for senior discount. It is $20 on a $55 meal! don't miss this!

    (5)

  • kenneth m.

    One of the best breakfast buffets I have ever had. Very fresh food, nice variety and wonderful service. I look forward to eating there again.

    (5)

  • L K.

    dinner food is really good. we've been on several different nights and they've all been very satisfying. love the raw oysters on seafood nights, love the lamb chops on mondays. BUT we learned tonight that they've grown a serious pair of balls. we had a party of 8 adults and they AUTOMATICALLY tacked on a 20% TIP!! are you kidding me!? 15, sure, 18, maybe, but 20!? had it been any of the previous times we'd gone we would have had issue and spoken to a manager, but this time we had the greatest waitress. we actually added to the 20, she was that good. very attentive, cleared dishes promptly, brought wet towels for easy clean up (evil, tasty prawns), even tried to bring a treat for the birthday boy (but her back of house took too long and we had to leave - she boxed it to go for us). we will be back, god willing we'll get her again.

    (4)

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Map

Opening Hours

  • Mon :6:00 am - 11:00pm

Specialities

  • Takes Reservations : Yes
    Delivery : No
    Take-out : No
    Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
    Good For : Breakfast, Dinner
    Parking : Valet, Garage, Validated
    Bike Parking : Yes
    Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
    Good for Kids : Yes
    Good for Groups : Yes
    Attire : Casual
    Ambience : Casual
    Noise Level : Average
    Alcohol : Full Bar
    Outdoor Seating : Yes
    Wi-Fi : No
    Has TV : No
    Waiter Service : Yes
    Caters : No

Kai Market

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