Need to know
Area
Chinatown
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Description
Senia is one of the best restaurants in Oahu. They opened in 2016 to tons of fanfare and have stayed hot ever since. It’s upscale, but without being pretentious.
Their constantly changing menu pulls from a wide range of flavors and cultures, using fresh ingredients found in Hawaii. People even freak out about how good their simple cabbage dish is. The ala carte menu is all small plates meant to be shared.
Pre Covid, the best spot in the house was at the tiny 8-seat chef counter with a view of the kitchen and a $185 price tag. This is where you get to watch the chef prepare a 12-course tasting menu right in front of you. They're bringing it back Fall 2022 after a renovation.
The cocktails and mocktails are also fantastic and pretty to look at. The dessert menu is delicious.
Reservations open up 60 days in advance and fill up fast so book early or get your name on their Resy waitlist.
In 2020 they were semi finalists for a James Beard Award for Best Chef in the Northwest and Pacific Region. It was the first time in over a decade that someone from Hawaii had been nominated and there are only 3 in Hawaii that have ever won it. It was postponed due to Covid.
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Website
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Menu
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Reservations
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Address
75 N. King St.
Honolulu, HI 96817
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Contact Info
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808-200-5412
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Hours
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Tues - Sat â– 5:30pm - 9:30pm
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Price
$$$$
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Shareable Plates: ~$18 - $30
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Larger shareable plates: ~$65 - $80
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Sides: $10
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Cocktails: $18
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Nearby
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The Pig & The Lady — 2 min walk
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Local Joe — 2 min walk
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Maguro Brothers Chinatown — 3 min walk
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Skull & Crown Trading Co. — 3 min walk
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Bar Leather Apron — 6 min walk
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Jolene’s Market — 6 min walk
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Bar Podmore — 8 min walk
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Liliha Bakery — 2 min drive
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Foster Botanical Garden — 5 min drive
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Nico's Pier 38 — 5 min drive
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Kaka’ako Street Art — 6 min drive
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Nisshodo Candy Store — 7 min drive
One of the most anticipated restaurant openings in Honolulu. Regional American / Hawaiian small plates meant to be shared. Books up far in advance. James Beard Semifinalists.
Senia
NEW AMERICAN / HAWAIIAN
Good to know
PHOTOS
AMENITIES + PERKS
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Their 8-seat chef’s counter faces the kitchen and serves a tasting menu [Temporarily UNAVAILABLE but returning Fall 2022]
TRY THE...
The menu is constantly changing, but here is a sampling of some of their top past dishes:
Food
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Roasted Bone Marrow
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Smoked Ahi Cigars
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Charred Cabbage. (Yes, everyone freaked out about this one.)
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Hot-Smoked Salmon
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Tako a la Plancha​
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Brussels Sprouts Caesar
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Crab Bucatini​
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Beef Cheek Marmalade Rolls
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Ahi Brioche​
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Duck Ragu
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Chiffon Cake
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Carrot Cake Butter Mochi
Drinks
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Kaji
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007 (This one’s so cool to look at)
TIPS + TRICKS
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Bookings open 60 days in advance and fill up fast, so make a reservation early.
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If you can’t get a reservation, go on Resy and get on the waitlist for the dates you want. As you get closer to the date, there are always cancellations, but they go fast so you’ve got to grab it the second you see the notification.
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The tasting menu is supposed to return Fall 2022 after a renovation.
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Parking: They recommend the Chinatown Municipal Parking lot on Smith Street located in Marin Tower. Street parking on King Street (mountain side) is available after 6:30pm.
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Let them know if you’re celebrating a special occasion. They may bring you a special dessert
DID YOU KNOW?
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Senia was started by British Chef Anthony Rush and local chef Chris Kajioka. They met while working at Thomas Keller’s Per Se in New York and became quick friends. They each had worked in some of the world’s best restaurants, but always stayed in touch.
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Chef Chris Kajioka left Senia in 2020. He now heads Hau Tree at the Kaimana Beach Hotel, which serves small plates and fun cocktails.
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In 2020, only 3 years after opening, Rush and Kajioka became semifinalists for the James Beard award for Best Chef in the Northwest and Pacific. The award was put off due to Covid. It’s been over a decade since someone from Hawaii was nominated for the award and only 3 chefs in Hawaii have every been awarded with it — Roy Yamaguchi, Alan Wong and George Mavrothalassitis.
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Senia is a play on the word “xenia,” the ancient Greek ideology of hospitality where strangers and friends alike were treated with the same regard.
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Executive Pastry Chef Mimi Mendoza is originally from San Francisco. She left Michelin-starred restaurant Chez TZ to move to Honolulu in 2016 to open Senia. She grew up in California but her family is from Hawaii. She actually studied visual arts in college before she decided to go to culinary school.
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Chef / Owner Anthony Rush and wife Katherine Nomura opened Bar Podmore focusing on brunch and cocktails. It’s about a 10 min walk away.
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Senia was the 2019 Hale ‘Aina Award Winner. They won Gold for Hawaii’s Best Tasting Menu and Silver for Oahu’s Best Restaurant.
Last Updated 8 / 23 / 22​
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