Morimoto Asia Waikiki (Hawaii 2018): Pan Asian Fare

As I mentioned on my post on Momosan Waikiki, Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto has opened up not one, but two restaurants in the heart of Waikiki (both in the Alohilani Resort). Unlike the more casual Momosan Waikiki which serves up ramen, kushiyaki, and appies, Morimoto Asia Waikiki is a bit more formal and covers a more Pan Asian theme (with a decidedly non-Japanese leaning towards many dishes).

There’s plenty of eye candy in this restaurant located on the 2nd floor of the Alohilani Resort and those lucky enough will have a great patio view overlooking Waikiki Beach. Most of the tables, however, are indoors and provides a view of the hectic kitchen separated by a glass wall. We started off our meals with a Lilikoi Slush ($8) made with lilikoi (passionfruit), lychee water, orange juice, and simple syrup as well as a Shore Break ($8) made with POG (passionfruit, orange, and guava juice), lime, simple syrup, ginger beer and club soda. The Lilikoi Slush was really refreshing and the Shore Break had a decidedly strong ginger kick.

Our first dishes to arrive were the Jellyfish and Beef Carpaccio ($12 each) both served in a yuzu soy vinaigrette with ginger, and garlic chives. I really enjoyed the beef carpaccio (topped with micro cilantro) as each piece just melted in your mouth.

Next up was a couple of dim sum dishes. As I mentioned, I found it interesting that this restaurant seemed to have so many Chinese dishes… they even had a special Peking Duck dish for $60 that’s carved table-side (I’m kind of regretting not ordering it but we didn’t think we could finish a whole house-roasted duck). Instead, we wound up ordering the Shrimp Har Gao ($12 for 3 pieces) stuffed with bamboo shoots and water chestnuts and the Pork & Shrimp Shumai ($9 for 3 pieces) stuffed with mushroom and water chestnuts. Perhaps it’s because we’re from Vancouver and we have some great dim sum restaurants back home but I just found these dim sum plates to be just meh. I would definitely order the Beef Carpaccio over their dim sum.

While the appetizer plates here tend to be a bit on the small side, the Shrimp Pad Thai ($22) more than made up for that. This was a really good version with a light tamarind sauce and about 7 large and plump shrimp. Fish tofu, scallions, macadamia nuts, pickled turnip and bean sprouts round out this dish.

Service was fairly good as they had plenty of wait staff working and our water glasses were constantly being refilled. As they had just opened, I think they were still working through some issues but nothing overly serious. For Pan Asian fare, there are some hits and misses so you just have to be careful with the items that you pick. If we ever come back, I’d love to try their duck.

2490 Kalakaua Avenue (2nd Floor of the Alohilani Resort)
Honolulu, Hawaii

morimotoasiawaikiki.com